My church and I are working our way through the book of Genesis. If you’ve never read it, it is sooooo good and packed with so much that helps us understand ALL Scripture better. There’s a specific point in Genesis, when Abram and his nephew, Lot, were forced to separate. The land was too dry and lacked enough resources to support them both, as well as all of their men and all of their animals. So Abram told his nephew to pick a place, and he would travel and settle in the opposite direction.
The Scripture reads, “Lot looked out and saw that the entire Jordan Valley as far as Zoar was well watered everywhere like the Lord’s garden and the land of Egypt. This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So Lot chose the entire Jordan Valley for himself. Then Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other” (Genesis 13:10-11).
Lot called dibs on a beautiful valley, that was lush, had running water, and was compared to the Lord’s garden. Do you blame him? Meanwhile, Abram didn’t question it and headed towards dryer land. While Abram didn’t necessarily choose the dry desert land, he accepted it because his hope wasn’t in this land. It was in the coming promise land he hadn’t yet received.
Think about that for a second: Abram didn’t choose the dry desert land, but he did accept it, because his hope wasn’t here – it was in the coming promised land.
Do we choose our circumstances?
Do we choose when we lose someone or have to say goodbye?
Do we choose what hardships we face here?
Do we choose when the dry seasons of life will come sweeping in?
We don’t – but as believers in Christ, we, too, accept the drylands of life because we know that we have access to living water and a promised land is coming. Jesus said in John 7:37: “If anyone is thirsty he should come to Me and drink! The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.”
Friends, even though we don’t choose our hard or dry seasons of life, we are NEVER without hope or resources because we have access to living water. We know Jesus will never leave us in the wilderness without providing manna (see Exodus 16). In that and in Him, we also know that despite what tomorrow brings, we have the eternal hope of heaven in and with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Whatever it is that you’re facing today – whatever area in your life feels too hard or too big – remember we aren’t promised easy here – but we are promised a future with our King.
Friends! Next week is our THREE year anniversary! I am so excited! Help me celebrate by joining my email list (for FREE) to get these bits of encouragement, the audio version, and a prayer each week sent straight to your email. Thanks for reading!
Comments