I live in a town that is very different from many towns these days. People from all over the country have flocked here to find work. Housing is scarce right now. It just can’t be built fast enough. There are an estimated 40,000 men in the area living in housing called “man camps”. Campers, cars, and hotels have become a place to call home. It is not unusual for men to show up with their belongings in a backpack, their last dollars in their pocket, and the hope that they will find a job before those last dollars are gone. A majority of these men have come without their families. They work long hours for many days in a row. What has drawn so many men here in the last couple of years? What is it about Williston, ND that is different from most of the rest of the country? Oil! The oil industry is not new to Western North Dakota. The first well was drilled in 1951. However, new ways of extracting the oil have been developed causing a present-day “gold rush”.
What is actually drawing people to the area is hope. While most of the rest of the country is struggling financially, there is money to be made here. Families see a glimmer of hope to save their homes, feed their children, and regain a sense of security.
What if we approached God like that? To be anything but in the center of His will results in us being in desperation mode, even if we don’t realize it. It is only when we see that desperation that we can start to have hope. It doesn’t solve anything to sit in a house that is going into foreclosure, knowing that North Dakota can offer solutions. Likewise, recognizing our desperation for hope and not accepting the solutions from God doesn’t do anything either. It is only when we leave our hopelessness and give our lives to God that our hearts can prosper. If you are in that place of desperation, before you take another breath, receive the gift of hope that God has offered to you. It is worth far, far more than the oil in the Baaken.
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