What is water to a desert? Is it a drop in a sandy bucket or
life-giving refreshment to dryness? These past two weeks in Tanzania, I
have seen how the deserts of our lives can lead to streams of living water if
we allow for healing to take place.
I met a woman in King’Ori (the first village we visited in Tanzania) named
Jacqueline who is a pastor’s wife and is completely broken. I had no idea when
I stayed behind on a day when my team was going door-to-door (a ministry I
absolutely love) that I would have the opportunity to pour life and the love of
the Father upon her broken heart. As I showed her verses in my Bible from Song
of Songs that she could translate into Kswahili using her Bible, I saw the
movement of God upon her heart. Finally, I asked if I could pray with her and
as we prayed her tears began to flow. I had no idea what was going on with her,
but I held her and let her tears fall on my shirt, my skirt, my hands. Her
tears were the physical oil of healing.
Two days later, our team prayed over the pastor and
Jacqueline. I moved to kneel next to Jacqueline and as her tears flowed again,
they poured out upon me. Again, they dripped and flowed over hands and clothing
as streams in dry places, soaking in, bringing growth and healing in their
wake.
Later that same day, we went to a house of a woman named Magdalena who had shared at church and broken down
crying. At her house, I shared with her about Mary Magdalene and the heart she
had for Jesus. When we prayed for her, she dropped to her knees and I followed
right along with her. Again, tears of desperation poured from her eyes and fell
upon my skirt in distinct drops. As I held her, I was moved by what I can only
describe as the compassionate heart of God to hold her close and delight in
these tears that will only draw her closer to the Lord as He is near to the
brokenhearted.
All I can say from this experience is that brokenness and
recognizing the end of self leads to healing and growth. Similar to streams in
the desert, it takes time but seeds take root in broken ground.
