July/August 2026:
"Desert Blooms"
Dear Church Family,
As we approach the hottest part of summer we can begin to imagine what we are in for: cracked dry ground; yellow, crunchy grass; and sunburns. Somehow, some plants will continue to blossom with bright orange and yellow faces turned toward the sun as if completely unaware that conditions are less than ideal.
It made me think of you. And of us. And of how often life hands us seasons that look a lot more like desert than garden.
We've all been there, haven't we? Seasons where our spiritual lives feel as parched as that cracked ground. Prayers that seem to evaporate before they reach the ceiling. Scripture that feels dry on the page. Faith that once bloomed freely now struggling to survive. If that's where you are right now, I want you to know something important: you are in very good company.
Moses spent forty years in the desert before God spoke from a burning bush. Elijah fled into the wilderness so depleted that he asked God to let him die. The Israelites wandered desert paths for forty years, learning things about God and themselves that simply couldn't have been learned anywhere else. Even Jesus began his public ministry not in the synagogue or the temple, but in the wilderness.
The desert, it turns out, has always been one of God's favorite classrooms.
Isaiah caught a glimpse of this when he wrote: "The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy" (Isaiah 35:1-2). He doesn't say the desert will be replaced or escaped – it will bloom right where it is. The transformation happens in the desert, not after it.
I think that's an important distinction for us. We often pray for God to remove our desert seasons, to quickly transport us back to lush and comfortable spiritual gardens. And sometimes God does exactly that. But often, the invitation is to discover what can only be found in desert places: A stripped-down, essential faith that isn't dependent on feelings or circumstances; a deeper awareness of God's presence precisely because other distractions have fallen away; a compassion for others in their desert seasons that only comes from walking through your own; and a resilience that smooth and easy paths simply cannot produce
Zinnias can teach us something this summer. They don't seem to be waiting for better conditions before they bloom. They've adapted, sending their roots deeper in search of water, conserving what resources they have, and still – somehow, defiantly – producing those bright, cheerful flowers.
What would it look like for us to be a little more zinnia-like in our faith? Not pretending the drought isn't real, but refusing to let it have the final word?
Here are a few things I've found helpful in desert seasons: Simplify your spiritual practices - When everything feels dry, don't abandon prayer – but maybe let it become simpler, more honest. Sometimes "Help" is the most powerful prayer we can pray.; look for small signs of life - Desert plants bloom unexpectedly and briefly. Train your eyes to notice tiny moments of grace you might otherwise overlook.; stay connected to community - The desert feels less vast when we journey together. Don't isolate yourself in dry seasons.; trust the roots - What you've built in greener seasons isn't gone – it's just working underground, going deeper, preparing for what's next.
John Wesley wrote that God "is in every place, and there is no fleeing from his presence." That includes our desert places. Perhaps especially our desert places.
So wherever this summer finds you – whether you're enjoying a season of abundance or pushing up through cracked and stubborn ground – know that the same God who makes deserts bloom is at work in your life. The drought doesn't last forever. The zinnias know it. And deep down, so do we.
Still blooming (mostly),
Pastor Brian
P.S. If you're walking through a desert season and could use some company on the journey, please reach out and I’ll tag along.
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HOSPITAL VISITS
Just a reminder that hospitals do not usually contact the pastor should you (or someone you know) end up in the hospital. Please contact PB directly or through one of the church offices to pass along that kind of information or to request a visit. Don’t think, “I don’t want to bother him because someone else will call.” PB says, “I would rather hear two (or more) times than not at all.”
Rev. Brian Lucas, Pastor | blucas@susumc.org
Be sure to check out this article in our full newsletter from July / August 2026 - Click Here!
