“But it happened after a while that the brook dried up”...
1 Kings 17:7
Many years ago I was sitting along side a small brook watching the water gently flow over the rocks, down stream. The brook had a steady flow of water with no end in sight. Then it happened, some weeks later that same flowing brook had no water at all. What once was a thriving brook was now parched, dry and barren.In a similar way, that same experience happened to the Prophet Elijah. God told him to go east to the Brook of Cherith and wait for instructions. God would provide for his physical nourishment morning and evening, while Elijah could drink water from the brook. Then one day it happened: the brook dried up! It became dry, parched and barren. No more water to drink. What now?Have you ever been there in life? Things are clicking along well, you’re cruising through life, everything trending in the right direction—then your brook dries up—a job loss, furlough, health test, divorce, death of a spouse or death of a child. What do you do? How do you respond? What is important to remember during these dry and barren times of life?When “the brook dries up” it is important to remember...1) God has not forgotten you!When your Brook dries up, rest assured that God has not forgotten about you. He knows exactly what you’re facing and He knows what you’re enduring. As His child, nothing touches your life unless it is sifted through His hands first.Read what God said through the Prophet Isaiah:“I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed your name on the palms of My hands.”— Isaiah 49:15-16 God loves His children and He has not forgotten you. You are forever on His mind and His eye is continually on you. Rest in that truth.2) Wait for God to show you the next step!“Waiting and America” don’t go hand in hand. We live in a culture where everything is instant. We don’t like to wait for anything. We have instant coffee, milk, breakfast, grits, oatmeal, etc...the list is endless of things that bring instant gratification. Listen closely: God doesn’t work like a microwave; rather, He works like a crockpot. He works in His timing and on His calendar, not ours. And it generally requires waiting. Easy to say, hard to do.Yes, when the Brook dries up we must wait. Don’t run ahead of God. Don’t do it your own way. Patience is vital. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and wait for His direction as you take the necessary action steps, plans and preparations.Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us of this.“Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”I’m not sure where you are in life or if your brook has dried up. However, I do know that God hasn’t forgotten you and He desires that you wait patiently on Him as He moves pieces into place—for your good and for His glory.Be Worth Being,KevinSUBSCRIBE TO "OVER THE HUMP" DEVOTIONALKevin Burrell has worked in professional baseball as both a player and MLB scout for the past 39 years, and currently serves as an area scouting supervisor. Kevin was drafted in the 1st round of the 1981 free agent amateur draft (25th selection overall), and played ten years of professional baseball with four different organizations. He and his wife, Valerie, live in Sharpsburg, Ga.
Imagine that you could sit down and pick the brains of some of the top leaders in the country! That's the premise behind the Linch with a Leader podcast. Learn how these leaders - all among the best in their respective field - have risen to the top, while continuing to grow spiritually and chase after the Lord.
