July 23, 2018
The Lesson of a Beekeeper
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light (Psalm 18:28).
Friend to Friend
A beekeeper once told author F.B. Meyer how some of the young bees are nurtured to ensure their healthy development. The queen lays each egg in a six-sided cell, which is filled with enough pollen and honey to nourish the egg until it reaches a certain stage of maturity. The top is then sealed with a capsule of wax.
When the food is gone, it is time for the tiny creature to be released. The wax is so hard to penetrate that the bee can make only a very narrow opening. It is so narrow that in the agony of exit, the bee rubs off the membrane that encases its wings. When it finally does emerge, it is able to fly.
The man telling the story said that a moth once got into the hive and devoured the wax capsules. As a result, the young bees crawled out without any effort or trouble. But they could not fly.
When a crisis hits or a pit seems to swallow me whole, I want out - fast! I look for the nearest exit that will allow the easiest escape. But sometimes the easy way out or the simplest solution is not God’s plan.
God loves me enough to teach me that the purpose of the pit is to purify and then to restore. God is in the restoration business. He is not interested in my comfort as much as He is committed to my character. And sometimes it takes an excruciating struggle to emerge with a lesson that can only be learned in the darkness. Some things simply cannot be learned in the light. It is through the struggle of the trial - the journey out of the pit of darkness that the very best part of us takes flight.
Two of my favorite words in the Bible are “But God.” Those two words create an eternal backdrop that changes everything.
Everything looks different when God comes.
Everything is made right by His presence.
Every problem is resolved when God is factored into the equation.
To survive and succeed in life, we must refuse to fix our gaze on the “little things” that are meant to divert God’s purpose. If we really want to become a strong warrior, our glance must be on the circumstances of life and our gaze must be on Him. When we instill that spiritual discipline as a reality, life becomes the joy God meant it to be.
Stress will give way to peace.
Doubt will give way to faith.
Fear will give way to trust.
Darkness will give way to light.
Defeat will give way to victory.
Does that mean we will float through each day without facing trials, defeats, enemies or impossibilities? No – it simply means that the backdrop against which we view those dark moments will be replaced with the truth that God is enough.
When the stress of life threatens and it seems you can’t go on, rest in the truth that the same God who called you will provide everything you need to accomplish His purpose in your life.
Let’s Pray
Father, forgive me for not trusting You to deliver me from the trials and pits in life. Please help me learn the truth each crisis holds, and then empower me to apply that truth. In the midst of my pain, give me the strength to choose the right response – the choice to be bitter or better, the choice to praise You even when I don’t want to, the choice to trust You, knowing the pain is for my good. I love You, Lord.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Read Isaiah 45:3 that says, “I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”
In your own words, record what this verse means to you. What treasures have you discovered in the hard times? What riches of truth has God given you in the midst of your pain? In what ways have these riches and treasures impacted your life?
More from the Girlfriends
Mary’s book, Hope in the Midst of Depression, is a tool you can use to overcome the dark times of life. Based on Psalm 40:1-3, this book will help you discover the treasures and truths God has for you in each trial you face. Check it out!
Be sure to check out the FREE MP3son Mary’s website and connect with Mary through email or on Facebook.
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Originally published Monday, 23 July 2018.
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