As I was scrolling through twitter my attention was drawn to a video of an elephant trapped in a narrow water canal. It was desperately trying to climb the steep bank in order to rejoin his family. There was a large crowd of people trying to help him climb up.
They dropped a rope to which they tied several tires. Yet after several failed attempts, the elephant gave up and headed the wrong way to where the water was dangerously deeper. Someone set off firecrackers to reroute him back to where it was safer. Even there, the level of the water was deep enough to drown him if he collapsed. And he was tiring! The good news is that the elephant finally made it out to the other side and was able to join his family.
Analogies are hardly ever perfect, but a thought struck me as I watched the drama unfold. How much am I like that elephant! How often do I feel like I’m in a ditch or rut, and I can’t get myself out! How about you?
Sometimes these rut times feel like eras. We become discouraged – at least I do. One thing I am sure of – like the elephant example – God often sends firecrackers to reroute us, and also to remind us that we aren’t forsaken. We can’t get ourselves out of our canals through our own steam. We must continue looking to God and waiting on Him.
I’m taking encouragement from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening (Nov 11 AM):
God – the eternal God – is himself our support at all times, and especially when we are sinking in deep trouble. There are seasons when the Christian sinks very low in humiliation. Under a deep sense of his great sinfulness, he is humbled before God till he scarcely knows how to pray, because he appears, in his own sight, so worthless. Well, child of God, remember that when thou art at thy worst and lowest, yet “underneath” thee “are everlasting arms.” Sin may drag thee ever so low, but Christ’s great atonement is still under all. You may have descended into the deeps, but you cannot have fallen so low as “the uttermost;” and to the uttermost he saves. Again, the Christian sometimes sinks very deeply in sore trial from without. Every earthly prop is cut away. What then? Still underneath him are “the everlasting arms.” He cannot fall so deep in distress and affliction but what the covenant grace of an ever-faithful God will still encircle him. The Christian may be sinking under trouble from within through fierce conflict, but even then he cannot be brought so low as to be beyond the reach of the “everlasting arms”–they are underneath him; and, while thus sustained, all Satan’s efforts to harm him avail nothing.
This assurance of support is a comfort to any weary but earnest worker in the service of God. It implies a promise of strength for each day, grace for each need, and power for each duty. And, further, when death comes, the promise shall still hold good. When we stand in the midst of Jordan, we shall be able to say with David, “I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.” We shall descend into the grave, but we shall go no lower, for the eternal arms prevent our further fall. All through life, and at its close, we shall be upheld by the “everlasting arms” – arms that neither flag nor lose their strength, for “the everlasting God fainteth not, neither is weary.”
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. Psalm 23:4-6
Sharing is caring!
