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The Sword

                 This is what the Lord says: “The people who survive the sword will find favor in the wilderness; I will come to give rest to Israel.” The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:2-3)

 

We all have moments. Sometimes, they last longer than moments. Yesterday I had a few. I ran out of soil in the garage before I ran out of beds to fill. I was thinking of buying soil (a first!) today, but the weather forecast said “Rain.” For once, it’s correct. I couldn’t find a vital document to finish my taxes. A book I was reading was pushing all the wrong buttons. These and other little things tripped up my attitude. They were tiny swords, but swords none-the-less.

None of it was terribly traumatic. The traumatic makes me feel justified in my emotional response. The problem was that I had a problem that (in my mind) didn’t justify and response at all. And today, I found myself in another situation that wasn’t really a problem, but I caught myself responding as if it were (fortunately, not publicly.)

My life is way too easy. My moments are petty. But there are people who remain with a sword-wielder because they think it’s their duty or because they think the wilderness is worse. The Israelites were told how long their exile was to last, and certainly, if you’re facing a sword-or-wilderness decision, you should do so prayerfully. But the Lord told them that they would find favor in the wilderness, not with the sword.

It's not too far from Peter getting out of a storm-tossed boat to walk on the water. Sometimes it’s wiser to face a fear than to continue in pain.

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