I don’t know about you, but sometimes it just seems like I’m walking through a spiritual desert in search of some cool, refreshing water. That’s the way it’s been over the last several months. There were the personal disappointments of having to cut loose our Romanian friends who seemed intent on taking advantage of the German government. There was the disappointment of a good friend turning from Christ, only to return to a life of alcohol and marijuana. There was also another alcohol dependent friend who, though enjoying our church, decided he didn’t need Christ.

Last summer, we buried one of the residents in our Christian charity. Super guy but he did not know Christ or have interest in Christ. He was nearly run over by a truck on a public street and because he was poor, he didn’t get good quality medical care. I fear he took too many pain pills and did himself in.

More recently, another of our residents was hospitalized with failing liver and kidneys after years of alcohol abuse. He was in the hospital for a couple months but refused treatment for his addiction. Upon release, he promptly returned to the hard stuff, only to be sent back into the hospital again nearly dying. Had he not been sharing an apartment with a former alcoholic; he’d also be dead. At the moment, he’s still in intensive care.

He also has no interest in Christ, won’t allow us to pray with him and says he’s ready to die, even though he’s only in his mid-forties. He’s had no contact with his family since a teenager and has no friends – other than alcohol. He lights up with joy when I visit him, but he seems to have already scheduled his wake.

Suddenly an Oasis in the Desert

Then, suddenly, one of our residents – the one who turned from Christ and returned to alcohol and drugs, called us and asked if we’d take him to church. He’d reached rock-bottom and was ready for change. Of course, we took him, but he was having some serious stomach problems and asked me to take him home immediately after the service.

Later that day a friend called an ambulance, and he was in the hospital. After a week, he was released but realized that much of the problem stemmed from alcohol. He’s been doing well ever since but still needs to schedule treatment. He’s been coming to church regularly and it’s the best we’ve seen him in the last couple years.

That by itself was reason to rejoice. But then, out of nowhere, another of our residents – the one who decided he didn’t need Christ, decided to return to church. He super-enjoyed the service but we weren’t sure if he’d come back the following week. Nevertheless, it gave us even greater reason to rejoice!

What really blew us away, was when he contacted us to say that he’d been telling the woman in a neighboring apartment how much he’d enjoyed church and she decided to come too! So last Sunday our car was full, shuttling them to and from church! Once again, we were rejoicing.

A Spring Bursts forth, making the Desert Bloom

My wife and I lead a pre-service prayer team, so I told our visitors to have a seat in the bistro and we’d meet them after prayer. But they asked to come along! Then, in the middle of our prayer time, the resident with no interest in Christ, suddenly started praying out loud, asking God to help all those who were suffering from violence throughout our world.

It was truly from his heart, with him saying, “Jesus Christ, if you hear me, please answer this prayer”. It was humbling yet exciting. Here was a man who recognized there was no reason for God to listen to him and answer, but his heart was genuinely seeking God.

We’ve since learned that his friend also enjoyed the service and plans to come next week, and we are overcome with joy! Scripture says that no one knows from where the wind comes or to where it blows. For us, it seemed like the wind of the Spirit had long ago moved on. But God doesn’t abandon His people, nor does His word return void.

I have no idea what brought this about, except that God loves the sinner, and loves showing His love, power and mercy to those in need of Christ. Two Sundays ago, I was in tears during our service, rejoicing that our friend had returned to church, ready to live for the Lord. Last Sunday, it was my wife, rejoicing over a car full of people in search of Christ.

I have no idea what will come next. But I can’t wait to see what God will do. For those who’ve similarly found themselves in an extended time in a spiritual desert, take heart. It’s taken us a few years to build these relationships, but our friends see that we love and care about them. They know we are there for them, whatever they need. And it’s drawn them closer to Christ. How humbling, that God chooses to use us, despite how flawed and imperfect we are. All glory goes to Him, that he would cause rivers of living water to flow from our parched, dry bones.