“The Desert Shall Rejoice: Hope in Advent”

Rev. Rob Jones. Devotion December 10, 2025

Isaiah 35:1-10

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus ²it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.

³   Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. ⁴   Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. 
          He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.” ⁵   Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; ⁶   then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; ⁷   the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

⁸   A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; No traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. 
⁹   No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; 
     They shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. 
¹⁰  And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Reflection:

In early 2023, atmospheric rivers brought record rainfall to California following years of relentless drought. Headlines revealed how parched hills and seemingly lifeless valleys suddenly burst into wildflower “super blooms”—seas of brilliant color where none had been seen for years. Communities gathered in awe to witness this transformation. Biologists and locals alike marveled at how dormant seeds, patiently waiting beneath cracked soil, needed only the right rain at the right time to awaken and fill the land with unexpected beauty. (Blackstone, 2023)

Isaiah 35:1-10 offers the people of God a vision of joyful anticipation. Not rooted in fleeting circumstances of their everyday lives, but in the unchanging character and sovereign promises of God. The prophet declares that even the desert—a powerful symbol of lifelessness and a reminder of Exodus and exile—will rejoice and blossom under the redemptive hand of God. This restoration is not dependent on human merit or ability but on God’s promised faithfulness and unmerited grace. Our faith as Christians affirms that God alone initiates and accomplishes our redemption, guiding His people from ruin to restoration for His glory. Our hope, therefore, is secure, anchored in the immutable promises of the cross. God, who sovereignly redeems and restores us, makes the wilderness of our lives flourish with new life and everlasting joy.

Building on Isaiah’s promise of God’s faithfulness in times of waiting, James 5:7-10 calls believers to a posture of patient expectation: “Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient.” This reaffirms our understanding of Isaiah—we are to wait patiently, trusting in God’s perfect timing. Just as a farmer patiently tends the soil, anticipating the eventual harvest, our Advent posture should be one of persistence and prayerful hope, grounded in the assurance that, as Isaiah declared, “God is always faithful to fulfill His promises.”

If we look at Matthew 11:2-11, we will see that even John the Baptist is impatient when he sends his disciples to question Jesus, “Are you the One who is to come? This scene epitomizes the ongoing doubts that even the most faithful may face. Jesus’ response points not simply to His miracles, but to His fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the poor hear the Good News (cf. Isaiah 35:5-6; 61:1). 

In Advent, we proclaim the coming of Christ, the promised Messiah who introduces God’s kingdom. Jesus does this not merely with words, but with acts of servant leadership. James exhorts us, in turn, to patient endurance, like the prophets who waited in hope. Thus, Advent becomes a season to acknowledge our own doubts, remember God’s faithfulness to His promises, and staunchly wait for Christ’s ultimate return. Advent is the assurance that the Messiah has indeed come and is coming again.

As we journey through Advent, Christians must cling firmly to the assurance the gospel gives us: salvation is by grace alone. Just as Jesus declared good news to the poor and welcomed the outsider, we are reminded that the marks of the Messiah are not earned by human merit but demonstrated by God’s initiative of love toward us. In a season that sometimes stirs anxiety or doubt, Advent assures us that Christ has already done what we cannot do for ourselves. Our response, then, is to rejoice with gratitude, remain steadfast in faith, and boldly testify to the salvation we have received in Him. This is why we sing hallelujah during Advent. Let this assurance renew our hope, deepen our joy, and unite us as we await the fullness of Christ’s coming together

Just as the California desert endured years of dry emptiness, so Isaiah invites us to long for hope—even in the barren seasons of life—knowing that God’s promises can bring life where there seems to be only loss. The desert shall rejoice and blossom! 

• As Isaiah encourages us, let us be patient as we celebrate the coming Christ child, give thanks for Christ with us, and Hope for Christ who is to come. • Await Christ’s return with hope, trusting in God’s sovereign promise. The promise is sure, though not yet complete. • Live joyfully, confident in the work and presence of Christ, both now and in the future.

Works Cited

Blackstone, J. (2023, March 13). Southern California desert sees “superbloom” after winter of heavy rains. Retrieved from cbsnews.com: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/southern-california-desert-sees-superbloom-after-winter-of-heavy-rains/

NRSV Updated Edition Holy Bible. (2021). Holy Bible With Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament., Updated Edition. Washington, D.C., USA: Zondervan.