Scripture Anchor
Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NLT) says, “This is what the Lord says: Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”
The Ache of Waiting
Jessica had grown weary of her singleness. Every summer she promised herself, “This will be my last summer single.” Yet year after year, the phone never rang with the call she longed for, and the outings with coupled-up friends only deepened her drought. Maybe you’ve felt that way too—watching the seasons change around you while your heart still waits for the blessing you’ve been praying to receive. Waiting for marriage can feel like wandering through a barren land, but here’s the truth: your drought doesn’t mean God has forgotten you. It means He’s preparing your roots.
Roots Before Fruit
Jessica tried everything to fill the ache—throwing herself into work, lining up one date after another, even daydreaming about what her wedding colors would be. But the more she reached for fulfillment, the emptier she felt. Her drought wasn’t just about not having a husband; it was about expecting someone else to water a soul that only God could satisfy. And that’s where so many of us find ourselves—tired, restless, and tempted to place our hope in people instead of the Lord.
Unanswered prayers can make life feel lackluster, almost as if hope itself has dried up. Many of God’s daughters begin to believe marriage may never happen for them, or they take chances by clinging too tightly to the first relationship that offers a glimpse of companionship. But God warns us that depending on another human being for our identity and fulfillment makes us like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no future in sight. He longs for you to be rooted in His love before you are ever attached to another.
Wholeness Before Marriage
Jessica thought her life would gain definition and meaning only when she had a husband. But attaching your worth to another person sets you up for disappointment. Jeremiah 32:17 (NLT) declares, “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!” God can bring you a husband in His timing—that’s the easy part. The harder question is, are you ready to receive that blessing without crushing it under unmet expectations? Sometimes blessings are paused, not denied, because the heart isn’t yet prepared.
This is why Mark 12:30 (NLT) sets the benchmark: “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” God deserves the fullness of your devotion before you ever join your life with another. When your love for Him is first, you’re able to love from a place of wholeness instead of neediness. If your dependency rests on a man instead of your Maker, it will drain the relationship rather than strengthen it. But when your trust is in the Lord, your roots sink deep, your leaves stay green, and you never stop producing fruit—even in long months of drought. That’s how breakthrough comes.
Reflection Question
Am I placing my hope in people to water my soul, or am I letting my roots grow deep in the Lord who never runs dry?
Soul Work
This week, take your journal and draw two simple pictures: a shrub in the desert and a tree planted by water (Jeremiah 17:5–8).
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Next to the shrub, write the areas where you’ve been tempted to depend on people or circumstances for your worth.
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Next to the tree, write declarations of trust in God — naming Him as your source, your joy, and your strength.
As you do this, pray over the tree and ask the Holy Spirit to make your roots go deeper in Him, so that even in drought, you remain fruitful.
Prayer
Dear Father God,
I confess that at times I’ve looked to people and circumstances to satisfy the longings of my heart. Today I choose to put my hope in You alone. Plant me like a tree by Your living water, with roots that go deep into Christ. Teach me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength so that I stand strong even in seasons that feel dry. May my life stay green, fruitful, and full of hope as I trust Your perfect timing and unfailing love.
In the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, I pray, amen.
Lift your eyes—this drought is ending. Your roots are ready, and fruit is on the way. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Long Months of Drought Coming to an End”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack and KLizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2025. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.
