God In The Burning Hut
The Lord has done great things for us. Ps.126:3
Surely this verse is one to which you (and you and you!) can relate. Is there anyone out there for whom the Lord has not done great things? Not likely! One man survived a shipwreck and was washed ashore on a small island. He prayed fervently for God to rescue him, but no help seemed forthcoming. Finally he built a small hut to shelter himself and his few possessions. One day when he returned from scavenging food he found the hut ablaze. All his possessions were destroyed. He quarrelled with God, wondering why he hadn’t rescued him in the first place and why he had allowed his shelter and few possessions to be destroyed. “God, how could you do this to me?” he cried. The next morning he was awakened by a noise, which he later discovered to be an approaching ship. When the sailors came ashore the man asked them, “How did you know I was here?” They replied, “We saw your smoke signal.”
Surely this verse is one to which you (and you and you!) can relate. Is there anyone out there for whom the Lord has not done great things? Not likely! One man survived a shipwreck and was washed ashore on a small island. He prayed fervently for God to rescue him, but no help seemed forthcoming. Finally he built a small hut to shelter himself and his few possessions. One day when he returned from scavenging food he found the hut ablaze. All his possessions were destroyed. He quarrelled with God, wondering why he hadn’t rescued him in the first place and why he had allowed his shelter and few possessions to be destroyed. “God, how could you do this to me?” he cried. The next morning he was awakened by a noise, which he later discovered to be an approaching ship. When the sailors came ashore the man asked them, “How did you know I was here?” They replied, “We saw your smoke signal.”
This man had concluded that God had abandoned him. But the very factor that made him think he was abandoned was that which proved to save him. When he thought God had been cruel to him he found out that God had actually been providing for his rescue. God had done great things for him.
So the next time everything seems to be going wrong, do not despair. Instead look and see how God may be using those seemingly negative situations to your advantage. Remember that God is at work in your life, even in the midst of pain, distress and suffering. So do not be despondent and lose hope when your hut seems to be burning. Instead, get behind the smoke screen and see it as a signal that brings rescuers to you. Anticipate the positive contribution that each disappointment affords. See GodÂ’s hand in the circumstances that attend you. And be confident that the Lord continues to do great things for you, even when you do not recognize them. Trust God even where and when you cannot trace him.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me, the next time my dreams seem to be all dashed to the ground, to see the good that comes out of that situation. Lead me to the place of trusting you completely, knowing that you are always ‘doing great things for us’. Amen.
So the next time everything seems to be going wrong, do not despair. Instead look and see how God may be using those seemingly negative situations to your advantage. Remember that God is at work in your life, even in the midst of pain, distress and suffering. So do not be despondent and lose hope when your hut seems to be burning. Instead, get behind the smoke screen and see it as a signal that brings rescuers to you. Anticipate the positive contribution that each disappointment affords. See GodÂ’s hand in the circumstances that attend you. And be confident that the Lord continues to do great things for you, even when you do not recognize them. Trust God even where and when you cannot trace him.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me, the next time my dreams seem to be all dashed to the ground, to see the good that comes out of that situation. Lead me to the place of trusting you completely, knowing that you are always ‘doing great things for us’. Amen.
Comments
No comments