FRIDAY, JANUARY 26
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:12-14 ESV
WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN: SHAKE IT OFF
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal brayed and cried miserably for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. There seemed no way to get the donkey out, and especially because the donkey was old and feeble anyway. The farmer decided the best thing to do would be to cover the old animal with dirt and just bury him.
The man invited his neighbors to come and help, and they all grabbed shovels and began to pitching dirt into the well. When the poor donkey realized what was happening, he squealed in fear; but shortly, to everyone’s amazement, he quieted down. After awhile, the farmer peered down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey shook himself, the dirt fell to the ground, and the donkey took a step up. Pretty soon, to the amazement of all, the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!
Sometimes we feel like we’re being buried alive. But we can use our problems as stepping stones. When the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, he wanted them to know that he had bad days too. But he also wanted them to know that he didn’t give up or quit. Instead, Paul pressed on and left the past behind him. He wasn’t staying in the well and he was using his past experiences to make him better and more like Christ.
What are some past events or people that have tried to bury you? How did those events make you stronger or more like Christ? Ask God how He wants to use your current or past struggles to make you stronger and get you out of the well.
