Streams in the Desert: 21st Century Edition

Streams in the Desert is a daily devotional that was originally published by Lettie Burd Cowman in 1925. She was co-founder of the Oriental Missionary Society (later known as OMS International, and eventually the One Mission Society), and served as a Christian missionary in China and Japan, from 1901 until 1918, until her husband’s declining health motivated them to return to the States.

When Charles’ condition failed to improve, Lettie began writing Streams as a source of comfort, based on the couple's newfound hardship and continued fellowship with the Divine. She never intended for the book to become famous, though many still find a revitalizing connection through Streams, because, “it speaks so clearly to those who have difficulty relating their own sufferings to the noble and eternal purposes of a loving and all-wise God.”

Cowman often said, “I didn’t write Streams. God gave me streams.” The title of her book comes from the old Testament book of Isaiah,

“The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the desert.” – Isaiah 35:6