Agriculture is deeply impacted by water scarcity, a critical element of famine that threatens food production worldwide. Agriculture consumes about 65 percent of all water drawn from rivers, lakes, and aquifers, far surpassing the amounts used by industries and households. When water becomes scarce, especially during droughts, food production slows or halts as governments often prioritize urban needs over farms, leading to reduced crop yields or complete failure due to insufficient irrigation. Additionally, subsidized water prices create a false sense of abundance, encouraging waste and further straining resources. Pollution and declining water quality also pose severe risks to agriculture, with contaminants rendering water unfit for consumption or irrigation. Over-pumping has led to issues like seawater intrusion into aquifers, as seen in Israel, where coastal wells face closure due to salinity. Globally, over 10 percent of irrigated land suffers from salt buildup, reducing crop yields. Man's attempts to compensate for the lack of rainfall through increased irrigation have harmed the environment, further diminishing the capacity to grow food. The environmental consequences of water mismanagement affect agriculture profoundly, with dams and controlled river flows disrupting ecosystems. Upstream flooding and downstream water shortages have devastated farmers and fishermen, drying up entire communities. The loss of wetlands and degraded river systems further threaten the ecological balance necessary for sustainable agriculture. Social and political tensions over water resources also impact agriculture, as competition for dwindling supplies intensifies. Conflicts over shared rivers, such as the Ganges between India and Bangladesh, or the Jordan River between Israel and Palestine, hinder irrigation and food production. In regions like the Middle East, water scarcity has historically fueled disputes, with control over strategic water sources influencing agricultural stability. The increasing demand for water, coupled with falling water tables and drying rivers, continues to challenge the ability to sustain agriculture amidst growing population pressures.

God tests our faith to demonstrate our loyalty to Him, to clarify our trustworthiness, and to show we are spiritually alive in our faith as we work to accomplish His will. We do not have to worry about whether God will supply our needs, as long as we are genuinely concerned about and meaningfully act on behalf of those in need. The principle holds true that we do not have to worry about not having bread or food to sustain us physically, because God promises He will provide our needs. He will never leave or forsake us.

Planet earth is a marvelous creation, capable of sustaining a vast amount and diversity of life. Despite being abused by mankind through depleting the soil, expanding urbanization, depredations from war, industrial pollution, and even nuclear fallout, it has continued to produce increasing yields, repairing itself remarkably fast. However, food shortages around the globe are real, driven not by the agricultural industry's inability to produce enough food, but by economic challenges. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported that global grain reserves are at their lowest since 1960. Weather problems, such as droughts in the U.S., Australia, the Balkans, and parts of the former Soviet Union, have severely impacted grain-producing regions. Unusual incidents, like the spread of African Rust, a wheat fungus affecting areas across the Persian Gulf into Iran and threatening Pakistan and India, have also reduced yields. Spiking costs further exacerbate the issue, influenced by inflated fuel prices due to global economic demands, the international push for biofuels which diverts acreage from food to fuel farming, and worldwide economic development increasing demand for higher-status foods and grain-intensive meat production. In this scenario, an abundance of food exists in the world, yet economic and political barriers often prevent it from reaching those in need, leading to famine amidst plenty.

Because of drought conditions, the corn in many fields never reached its full height and now stands brown and withering. Ponds and streams have dried up or have dropped several feet. Some municipal reservoirs are dangerously low, prompting governments to impose either voluntary or mandatory restrictions on water usage. Car, driveway, and sidewalk washing are prohibited, and watering the lawn and flowerbeds is allowed only overnight after 9 pm. What has become of this well-watered land flowing with billions of gallons of clean, fresh water? Where are the rain clouds and the summer afternoon thunderstorms? What will happen if this drought continues?