No King in Israel

It seems there is so much to say these days and yet it is difficult to find the best way to say it.  We can believe, if we wish, that we are living in extraordinary times, that the chaos we are experiencing is something that the world has never seen.  But, in reality, that's not true.  Unlike the Israelites, we don't live in a theocracy.  Our nation was, however, founded on basic Judeo-Christian principles.  And, these principles have been slowly eroded as the teachings of secular ideology have advanced.  We now find ourselves with no King in Israel.

This phrase appears four times in the book of Judges (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).  In both the first and last instances, we are also told "everyone did what was right in his own eyes".  There were times when Israel repented and turned to God.  When sin reigned, however, they were plagued by their enemies and thrown into moral and spiritual chaos.  Was the problem solved once God finally allowed an earthly king?  Israel did have vast periods of peace and prosperity . . . as long as they followed God.  But, they were ultimately lead away into captivity - more than once - because they rejected the only true to King that matters.  Earthly leadership failed to be the spiritual guiding force for the people because it was never intended to be!

What a difficult revelation, especially as an American.  Our government, our substance as a nation, a people, is predicated on the belief that God has given us "unalienable rights".  And, we find our identities in our history and the documents that helped found our nation.  These documents aren't there to simply protect us as Christians, but all those who wish to live in a society protected from tribal or mob rule, who wish to exercise individual expression not collectivist culture.  But, is our Christian identity too entangled with our American identity?  Don't mistake me.  I believe in the ideals asserted in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  I think they are worth fighting for.  Yet, millions of Christians exist without these privileges day in and day out.  So what happens when our history is erased?  What happens when dissent is silenced and truth is exchanged for a lie?  Can we survive without our American identity?  

I must admit that I'm angry about what I see happening in our country.  And, I'm scared for the future my children may have to endure.  They already face ungodly spiritual influences, but soon they may face physical dangers that we, as a nation, have largely been insulated from.  I cannot offer any hard and fast solutions.  Though in this time of turmoil, let me leave you with a few thoughts:

• God allowed His people to suffer persecution when they sinned.  Repentance lead to reconciliation and protection.  Pray for a revival in our nation, that people return to the King.
• The first century church grew during a time of great persecution.  James tells us in James 1:2, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials."  And, Peter reminds us that, ". . . it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil" (I Peter 3:17).  I would suggest reading the entire passage of I Peter 3:8-17.
• Remember the words of the Lord to the nation of Judah during their captivity:  "Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit.  Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished.  And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace. . .  For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29: 5-7, 10-11).  Far from home, slaves to another nation; God tells His people to go on living.  And, He promises hope - the hope of eternal salvation and a home with Him in heaven.
• I'm proud to be an American.  But, my identity in Christ must come first.  As we stand for the righteous ideals of liberty and equality, let us remember to always look to the cross then we can  look to the flag.

When Life Gives You Lemons . . . Sing

"We must never rest until everything inside us worships God." 
- A. W. Tozer

Worship has several aspects, prayer for example, which we looked at previously.  But, my favorite part has always been singing.  It comes naturally to me.  I grew up singing - in worship, in the car with my dad, in the shower, while I played.  I sang to my children when they were babies.  Singing, like prayer, is like breathing out.  It has always and will always be an important and necessary part of our relationship with God.

Among the many examples of singing in the Old Testament we find that "Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: 'I will sing to the Lord, For He has triumphed gloriously'. . ." (Exodus 15:1-18).  The Psalms, which number 150, were written to be sung.  Psalms 146:1-2 reads: 

"Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

While I live I will praise the Lord;

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being."

In the New Testament, we see our Savior engaging in the act of singing.  After instituting the Lord's Supper, Mark tells us, "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives" (14:26).  Paul tells the Christians in Colosse and Ephesus to speak to each other in "psalms, hymns and spiritual songs" (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19).

And, singing won't cease once we leave this earth.  All Christians await the day in Heaven where we will "[sing] a new song, saying:

You are worthy to take the scroll,

And to open its seals;

For You were slain,

And have redeemed us to God by Your blood

Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,"

(Revelation 5:9)

Worship - in this case singing - "will get you through the [lemons] in your life because it shifts your focus from the problem to the problem solver.”  Even deep in a Philippian jail, Paul and Silas found a reason to sing (Acts 16).  "In dire circumstances we might think it was unnatural for Paul and Silas to be singing, but it was actually the most natural thing for them to do, just as natural as praying." (Why Do We Sing? - sermon by Ray White).  It’s difficult to be overwhelmed with our trials when we’re focusing on the author of all goodness.  

In light of all that God has blessed us with and His promise of an eternal home in Heaven with Him, let us consider the hymn written by American Baptist minister Robert Wadsworth Lowry and ask ourselves "How Can I Keep From Singing?":

My life flows on in endless song;

Above earth's lamentation,

I hear the sweet, tho' far-off hymn

That hails a new creation;

Thro' all the tumult and the strife

I hear the music ringing;

It finds an echo in my soul--

How can I keep from singing?

While tho' my joys and comforts die?

The Lord my Saviour liveth;

While tho' the darkness gather round?

Songs in the night he giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm

While to that refuge clinging;

Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,

How can I keep from singing?

I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin;

I see the blue above it;

And day by day this pathway smooths,

Since first I learned to love it;

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,

A fountain ever springing;

All things are mine since I am his--

How can I keep from singing?

When Life Gives You Lemons . . . Pray

One might ask, “Which is more important, breathing in or breathing out?”. Of course, they are both equally necessary for the continuation of life. In terms of our spiritual life, studying scripture may be viewed as breathing in while prayer and worship represent breathing out. Both aspects are necessary for a complete and fulfilling relationship with our God and our Savior. To abandon either leaves us weak and vulnerable. Previously, we looked at the benefits of scriptural study - our spiritual inhale. Now we turn to the examination of one aspect of our spiritual exhale.

I’ve heard it said, “When life brings you to your knees you are in the perfect position to pray.” In fact, it is our ability to kneel before God that gives us the comfort and strength we need to stand before the world in times of struggle. Right now our nation, indeed the whole world, is struggling. We must acknowledge the risks of the COVID_19 pandemic. Yet, there is also the reality that economies can't stay shut down forever. So many are finding it difficult to provide for themselves and their families. And, there are a plethora of opinions as to the right course of actions. One of the best things we can do right now is pray for our leaders, both secular and spiritual.

James tells us, "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (5;16). And, Peter reminds us “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers” (I Peter 3:12). In prayer, we run to God. We seek Him out. As He tells Jeremiah, “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29: 12-13). Through prayer we seek an intimate relationship with God. We acknowledge that He is our Creator; we lay our fears and worries at His feet and trust that He will guide us in all things. We know that God is on our side and that the victory is His. But, He's not interested in a one-sided relationship. Take the time to enter into that "sweet hour of prayer".

Sweet hour of prayer
Sweet hour of prayer
That calls me from a world of care
And bids me at my Father's throne
Make all my wants and wishes known
In seasons of distress and grief
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By Thy return, sweet hour of prayer

Sweet hour of prayer
Sweet hour of prayer
The joys I feel, the bliss I share
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for Thy return
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face
And gladly take my station there
And wait for Thee, sweet hour of prayer

Sweet hour of prayer
Sweet hour of prayer
And wait for Thee
Sweet hour of prayer

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Alan Jackson

Sweet Hour of Prayer lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

When Life Gives You Lemons . . . Turn on the Light

The great philosopher Albus Dumbledore once said, “Happiness can be found in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light.”  Physical light has many useful qualities.  It allows us to see clearly the path before us.  Objects hidden in darkness no longer impede our progress.  Instead, we have the ability to view them and move around them.  Light gives warmth.  Is it not a splendid sensation to feel the warmth of the sun on one’s face in the midst of a cold winter’s wind?  And, light gives life.  Children learn in the early stages of grammar school about the process of photosynthesis – whereby, plants utilize light to produce the “fuel” necessary to live.  There is, however, an even greater light source.  

The spiritual light guiding true believers is found only in God’s word which is Jesus Christ.  This spiritual light is eternal and life giving.  “I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).  Our lemons, our struggles are ultimately the consequences of a sinful, chaotic world.  The light of Jesus Christ brings order to the confusion.  In His first recorded act as creator, God literally turned on the light.  To see our way through the darkness that so often encroaches upon our lives we too must have light.  As the psalmist wrote, “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (119:105).  Christians find help and hope in Jesus who is the Light in a world full of darkness.  This light shines for us through God’s word and we reap the benefits with diligent and consistent study of the scriptures.

To understand just how important God’s word is, look no further than Psalm 119.  This psalm is the longest chapter in the entirety of the scriptures.  It’s sole purpose is in extolling the virtues and necessity of God’s word in the lives of believers.  Psalm 119 is composed of 176 verses compiled into 22 paragraphs.  And, it should be noted that each paragraph begins with one of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.  They appear in order, as we might say, from A to Z.


We cannot know Jesus; we cannot have His light in our lives if we do not turn on the light of His word in our hearts.  Moreover, without the light of Christ, we’re adrift in a lost and dying world.  Peter writes in II Peter 1:19, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place . . .”  If we hide the word of the Lord in our hearts, the sufferings and darkness of this world will not overwhelm the light of Christ in our lives.

When Life Gives You Lemons . . . Do Not Fear

This weeks topic is definitely apropos.  Fear is perhaps the strongest tool in the devil’s arsenal; and the current circumstances under which we are living give us plenty to "fear".  The word “fear” appears over 500 times in the King James Version; and the phrase “fear not” is the most uttered command in the scriptures (http://www.soulshepherding.org/2010/07/fear-not-365-days-a-year/).  It's certainly natural to be afraid - even under normal circumstance.  We contend daily with finances, emotional and physical trauma, concerns about our future and the future of our loved ones.  Just to name few.  The current Coronavirus pandemic can easily magnify these fears.  But where faith begins fear must end.  Christ tells us in Matthew 6:25-34, "do not worry".  Why?  Because worry doesn’t rid us of our lemons; it only robs us of our joy.  

Let us consider the example we find in Numbers 13.   Here we find Moses and the children of Israel preparing to enter the Promised Land.  Before they enter, Moses sent out twelve spies among whom were Joshua and Caleb. Ten spies brought back a negative report causing the children of Israel to become fearful and desirous to go back to Egypt.  But, Joshua and Caleb didn’t see the vast armies of the enemy; they didn’t see the giants of the land.  They saw the promises and the power of God!  We must all recognize that power in our lives.

Paul reminds us that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”(II Timothy 1:7).  God, our originator, our creator who made us in His own image has given you and me a spirit of power!  By placing our trust in God and His son Jesus, we choose courage over cowardice. We might not understand what God has in store for us or understand the suffering all around us.  But, we have a God who is never afraid.  We have a God who is never worried.  

When Life Gives You Lemons . . . Remember Your Origins

Over the next several weeks I will be taking the opportunity to post short blogs based on a book I'm writing.  The very title of my blog is taken from a post: When Life Gives You Lemons . . . Dig More Wells.  The original post was written a number of years ago for a previous blog but I decide to re-post it a few months ago.  I invite you to read that post as well, but for now, let's start at the beginning.

From Ancestry to MyHeritage to Geni, the search for one’s genealogy has become a billion dollar industry.  Yes, that’s BILLION.  While our dot com society has greatly increased access to such information, the desire to understand our origins is not unique to this modern era.  Genealogies were once utilized only by royalty or elite ruling classes.  Now the everyday man can gain access to tens of thousands of records.  What served as a method for establishing pedigree has transformed into a means of determining personal identity.  But, how much of who we really are is dependent upon our physical ancestors?

The inspired writers of God's word catalog several family trees.  And, the gospel writers Matthew and Luke establish Christ’s royal bloodline through genealogical means.  Most of us have heard the phrase “from good stock”.  It’s an indication that a person comes from a socially acceptable family tree.  If, however, we pause a moment and consider Christ’s family tree, it’s chock full of all kinds of undesirable elements: liars, thieves, adulterers, prostitutes, etc.  From Tamar and Judah to Rahab to David and Bathsheba, God takes the broken, the sinners, the downcast; He accomplishes His will through the most unlikely individuals.  Christ didn’t come from “good stock”.  He was a carpenters’ son from an insignificant town called Nazareth.  Born in a stable and laid in a manager, He didn’t enter this world through pomp and circumstance.  There was no silver spoon in his mouth.  The prophet Isaiah tells us that Christ was not beautiful to behold and that He was despised and rejected.  The King of kings had no place to rest His head and was crowned only with thorns.  

Satan works against us day by day seeking to separate us from God.  But, Paul writes in Romans, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (8:28).  Not that all things are good, but that God can take our pains, our sufferings, our lemons and accomplish His will in our lives.  When we consider this trend in genealogical research, we must remember that the only identity that matters is the one that comes from being a child of God.  Our origins are not tied up in fleshly bloodlines, but in the Spirit of our Almighty creator.

Spiritual Rehab

C.S Lewis wrote, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world."  Pain is a undeniable consequence of living in a fallen world.  Pain tells us that something is wrong - physically, emotionally, spiritually.  And, it is a stranger to none.  Still, in the words of Helen Keller, "Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it."


While different types of pain require different healing approaches, one that I'm quite familiar with is physical therapy.  I've just begun a treatment regimen for some neck, shoulder and hip pain.  A couple of my joints are hypomobile.  In other words, my body has gotten "stuck".  Hey, life happens.  I find myself pushing exercise to the side, repeating poor movement patterns and compensating for old injuries.  This can be true spiritually as well.  Unfortunately, it's all too easy to become spiritually "stuck".  


1. We may find ourselves zoning out during worship, simply going through the motions.  There are times when we must grant ourselves grace.  When my children were younger, I spent a good deal of time keeping them from being disruptive.  Often, I couldn't tell you what my husband preached on that morning.  However, as they grew able to sit for longer periods, it was my responsibility to then ensure that I focused on my worship to God.  If I wish for my children to have healthy spiritual habits, I must develop and exemplify them in my life.


2. Sometimes, we might avoid developing close relationships with fellow Christians because of past hurts we've experienced.  This is understandable.  One expects to find only love and kindness among other believers.  Still, the Church is made of fallible humans.  I've been hurt; but, I've hurt others as well.  When you experience a physical injury, your body has ways of protecting itself - scar tissue, tight muscles, stiff joints.  Our hearts protect themselves as well.  Jesus, in His eternal wisdom, tells us to forgive seventy times seven knowing a bitter heart can easily turn to stone.  


3. So too, prayer and bible study easily fall to the wayside of our already overcrowded schedules.  Between my online teaching, homeschooling and house work, I know this is an area that can always be improved upon.  You see, Satan doesn't have to tempt us to live openly sinful lives.  He just has to make it hard for us to put God first.


With physical therapy, it's not enough for me to simply attend my weekly appointments.  These sessions are important for me to begin my journey of rehabilitation.  But, they're just one part of a bigger picture.  There are exercises I'm responsible for completing at home.  And, I'll need to continue exercising and correcting old movement patterns to create good habits.  This is no less true in our spiritual lives.  Faith doesn't happen by accident.  We must exercise our hearts, minds and souls through dedicated worship, prayer and bible study.  It is also important for us to develop a support system within the body of Christ.  As Paul tells us, "And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it . . ."(I Corinthians 12:26).


Changing the way our bodies move and function for the better doesn't happen overnight.  It's a process of making the right choices day in and day out.  Spiritual rehab takes time and effort as well.  Moving forward, choosing Christ everyday.  Remember: You can't complain about the results you don't get from the work you won't do.

Heartbreak of God

Sorrow in the garden

Blood on noble brow

"Abba Father, Father"

Our suffering King cries out

Betrayed with a kiss

Denied in fear

He alone

The burden must bear

Crowned with thorns

Bestowed with purple shroud

"Crucify Him, Crucify Him"

Rang among the crowd

Led up the hill

Nailed to the tree

Soon from sin

To set us free

A darkened sun

A veil that rent

At last 

The Savior's breath was spent

Heaven's perfect Lamb

Dying for the flawed

Here at the cross

We break the heart of God

In the Lord's Field

Bible marking is a pretty popular topic these days.  There are also plenty of ways to approach it as it evidenced by the numerous examples on Pinterest.  A few years ago, I bought a bible specifically for the purposes of bible marking.  When I finally got around to using it, I began with a pretty straightforward book - Ruth.  The most common lesson of the book of Ruth centers on the Jewish law of the kinsman-redeemer - Boaz being an archetype of Christ.  There is also, of course, the example of God’s command for harvesters to “leave” some grain for the poor to gather.  Because of these circumstances we find Ruth gleaning grain in Boaz’s field.  

Ruth chapter two offers us insight into three of the blessings found for those who stay in the master’s field.  If Boaz is a foreshadowing of Christ, then his fields can be viewed as the kingdom of God.  In Ruth 2: 8-9, Boaz gives Ruth specific instructions regarding where and how she should glean.  Like Ruth, those who remain in the folds of the brethren are assured companionship, protection, and refreshment. 

Companionship

“Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘You will listen, my daughter, will you not?  Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women.’”  At the time Boaz sought her out, Ruth would have been gleaning in the back of the field alone.  The young women Boaz refers to were responsible for tying the stalks of grain.  Boaz offers Ruth a place among the harvesters.  Here she would find companionship with other young women and would also be one of the first to glean from the harvest.  No longer would she, a stranger, be alone.

From the beginning, God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make a helper comparable to him.” (Genesis 2:18).  Scripture has much to say on the importance of those we choose as our companions.  In correcting a false teaching, Paul reminds the Christians at Corinth that “evil company corrupts good habits” (I Corinthians 15:33). This, of course, echoes the teaching of Proverbs 12:26: “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.”  Solomon also extols the virtues of friendship in Ecclesiastes 4: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. . . . Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.  And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (9 & 12).  As Christians we are called to community.  And, it is when we remain with our fellow harvesters that we find companionship in Christ.

Protection

Further, Boaz instructs Ruth, “Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you?”.  Along with companionship, Boaz’ instructions provide protection for the young widow.  We find in verse 11 that Boaz is already aware of Ruth’s circumstances.  Even before he dons the mantle of kinsman-redeemer, Boaz seeks to lighten Ruth’s load.  Among the other young women, Ruth is allowed to glean in peace, unharassed by young men who might seek her favor.  Like Boaz, God provides protection for his people.

Psalm 91 tells us that we can find shelter under the wings of God.  And Psalm 34:7 reads, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.”  As members of the body of Christ we are called to “bear one another’s burdens” and restore those who have fallen from grace.  This goes back to what was mentioned earlier from the book of Ecclesiastes 4:12: “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.  And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”  The first century Christians were together on a daily basis.  Consistent fellowship with members of the body of Christ affords protection against Satan’s temptations.

Refreshment

Lastly, Boaz instructs Ruth, “And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.”  If she had been gleaning alone, Ruth would have been responsible for drawing her own water.  She would have possibly been exposed to unwanted attention.  It would also have taken more time to draw her own water, leaving less time for the actual gleaning.  As Christians we must find our refreshment in Christ and his church.

While the fields may be ripe for gleaning, life takes its toll on everyone.  It can be hard tiring work.  Therefore, the importance of Christian refreshment should not be underestimated.  Jesus commands in Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  Barnabas, known as the Son of Encouragment,  was also encouraged during his visit to Antioch (Acts 11:22-23).  After being released from prison, Paul and Silas visited the house of Lydia and encouraged the brethren there.  And, Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica instructing them “to comfort one another” (I Thessalonians 5:11).  Refreshment is an integral part of the Christian walk.  But, it is only available to those within the kingdom.


It is interesting that the number three often symbolizes completeness or perfection in the scriptures.  Boaz issues Ruth three instructions.  He first offers her companionship, a place among his workers.  He grants her protection from those who might disrupt her work.  And finally, Boaz offers Ruth physical refreshment from the hot sweaty work of gleaning.  As in Acts 2:47, God gives those who are saved a place in His fields.  He promises us protection in II Thessalonians 3:3.  Lastly, though physical water will quench our thirst but for a moment, Christ offers us refreshment that will be “a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4: 14).

When Life Gives You Lemons . . . Dig More Wells

Life’s Lemons

We’re all familiar with the proverbial phrase, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade”.  And, we also know that the saying is meant to encourage optimism in the face of adversity.  Like the sour fruit, life can make us suck in our cheeks, pucker our lips, and bring tears to our eyes.  Adversities such as death, abuse, addiction, etc. can often leave us feeling us though we are camped out under a lemon tree.  Still, lemons have their uses.

Lemons are great for cleaning.  You can find just about anything in any room of your home that can be cleaned with lemon juice.  You can even use it to clean your skin.  The acidic properties that make lemons so difficult to tolerate, also bring about the removal of impurities.  While not all suffering is the result of sin, suffering can be an avenue by which barriers are torn down. 

Jesus preached in Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Pain beyond our own human understanding and abilities reveals our absolute need for an absolute God.  When life brings us broken and raw before the Lord, our eyes can be opened to the intimate knowledge God has of us.  Not that He didn't know us before, but now we realize there is no hiding from God.  And, we can take comfort in the hope we have in Him.  The comfort He brings us while on our knees gives us the strength to stand before Him in times of joy.

God’s Wells

In Genesis 26, after the death of Abraham, we see that Isaac obeyed the command of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Gerar, the land of the Philistines.  The Lord blessed him and he prospered.  Soon, the Philistines became jealous and Abimelech asked Isaac to leave.  He moved from there to the Valley of Gerar.  The wells that Abraham had dug had been filled in by the Philistines.  So Isaac dug a well for water.  But, the locals quarreled with Isaac’s servants and laid claim to the well.  Isaac moved on and dug another well.  Again, the locals quarreled over the well.  So Isaac moved from there and dug another.  Genesis 26:22 tells us that there was no quarrel over this well.  So Isaac spoke saying, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

Isaac had to deal with the lemons the herdsmen threw at him.  He could have retaliated, perhaps spitefully filling in the wells belonging to others.  He could have turned bitter and decided to leave the land God had given his father Abraham.  But, Isaac chose not to let his suffering deter him from following the command of the Lord.  Instead, he dug another well and God provided a place for him – as promised.

Your shovel

God never promised to take away our hardships; He never promised a life without suffering.  He has promised His love and the salvation found only through Him (John 3:16).  He has provided His Spirit to comfort and guide us (Galatians 4:6).  He has prepared a home for us, an eternal home without suffering (John 14:1-3).  Paul wrote in Philippians 4:12, “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

If we are willing, there is water to be found, living water.  All our spiritual blessings are to be found in this water.  So here’s your shovel; let’s start digging.