Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024
Sometimes we go through seasons in life that are overflowing with goodness, rest and confident steps with our Heavenly Father. In other seasons we find ourselves desperately searching for any one of these. While these seasons are definitely more challenging, they are also the ones that yield the most lasting growth. Typically there is some work to be done deep inside of us in order to free us to go up to the next level of spiritual maturity. We may find ourselves fasting, worshiping, reading and praying more to ensure every step, word and thought is exactly what our spirit needs. We may discover places of our mind and body that need repentance, breaking off of generational curses, and/or declaration of scriptures to throw open the door of freedom. Other times the work needed is to choose patience, to choose to believe that our God is working even if we don’t see it, to choose seeking our Father from our places of desperation instead of any other temporary comfort.
These seasons are not glamorous. These seasons are harder to talk about. These are the seasons that we want to run from or hibernate somewhere until they have passed. We are hoping God will just instantly make everything clear and take away the dark cloud hovering over us. It’s from this place that we have a choice to make. Are we willing to do whatever work God asks of us or do we choose to sink under the weight of the season? Are we going to remain prisoner to the enemy or are we going to walk with the authority that Jesus died to give us?
I have been reading in 2 Kings recently and one of Elisha’s miracles has me thinking a lot about these challenging seasons. In chapter 3, the kings of Judah, Israel and Edom are heading out to fight against the king of Moab. Verse 9 says that they marched on that round about for seven days without water for the army or their animals. I have a few questions about that verse, but that seems like a topic for another day. At this point in the scripture, they sought a prophet of the Lord to tell them if they should continue on towards Moab or not. This prophet was Elisha. He asked that a musician be brought to play for him and then he said this (2 Kings 3:16-17):
16 And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ 17 For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’
That word valley in the original Hebrew means a stream bed or a narrow valley (in which a brook runs). This makes me think of our redeemed selves. Once we ask Jesus into our hearts, we get His living water running through our body. This isn’t based on our past, it’s the gift He freely gives to us. For some of us however, we have to do some digging to get this water to flow. We have work to do to make space for the water to inhabit. I’m curious if anyone in the army remembered the story of Moses striking the rock to get water. Do you think they said to themselves, “Man, can’t we just strike a rock, or can’t God just put water in our jugs?” Don’t we do the same thing? We almost always desire the quicker and easier path. If we could get healing or freedom or deliverance without the effort of digging up ditches, we would choose that. But this time, they needed to dig.
Final Thoughts…
It’s in the digging where our faith is tested and strengthened. It’s in the digging where we discover jewels for our testimony treasure box. It’s in the digging where we build community. It’s in the digging where we expose the places that need Living Water. Yes, the digging is dirty and exhausting, but sometimes it’s the only way to make space for the river to flow. Lord, strengthen all of us for the ditches we have to dig. Show us exactly when and where to dig. We know we cannot live without Living Water. We say, “Yes” to whatever water-exposing, excavating work You ask of us.