Isaiah 35:1-10 speaks of streams in the desert and paints a picture of hope blooming in the most unlikely places. The prophet speaks to a weary people whose lives felt as dry and cracked as desert ground. Instead of scolding them for their fear or exhaustion, God gives them a vision of creation bursting with joy, deserts blossoming with color, and streams flowing where there had only been sand. It is a reminder that God does not wait for ideal conditions. He steps right into the hardest spaces and begins His work of renewal.

Isaiah also speaks directly to the people themselves, calling shaky hands and trembling knees to take courage. Their confidence wasn’t supposed to rest on how well life was going, but on the God who promised to come. Isaiah describes a day when healing and restoration would touch every corner of brokenness, from blind eyes to discouraged hearts. Centuries later, Jesus pointed back to this very chapter when He revealed who He was. The signs of restoration in His ministry were God’s promise in Isaiah coming to life right in front of them.

The prophet then offers one more image: a safe and holy road where God’s redeemed people walk without fear, moving forward with singing. Joy crowns them like a gift they didn’t earn and can’t lose. It’s a picture of life as God intends it, where sorrow doesn’t get the last word and where His people journey home together. Advent leans into that kind of hope. It’s honest about the wilderness we face, but confident that God is restoring what feels barren.

For anyone walking through a dry season, Isaiah’s promise is a gentle lift of the chin. Look again, he says. God is already at work. Joy is closer than it appears. Even in the places that feel forgotten or empty, God is planting new life. Advent reminds us that the One who came is still coming, and even the wilderness will sing when He arrives.