© 2018 Lynn Abbott
In the corner of my basement stands a set of beautiful French doors.
Of course, sheers prevent anyone from peering into the space behind the doors, and yet, that lovely entrance beckons with its promise of possibility.
Or so you might think.
However, I know what lies beyond those sparkling glass window panes.
And it isn’t pretty.
Yup. You know what I’m talkin’ about.
Behind those beautiful doors lies a dark corner for all the accumulated junk that I just haven’t been able to let go. It’s the kind of stuff you save for that rainy day.
My husband and I have a particularly large stash of rainy day items. Over the years, I have managed to clear some of it.
I first tackled that basement storage room after my mother’s death in 2008. I truly thought I’d sorted a lot of it.
My husband and I have a particularly large stash of rainy day items.
Yet, there was so much that I could not face sorting…much that I felt I might one day need: memories wrapped in slips of paper or scribbled on random post-it notes; and then, the four extra toasters.
You heard right.
For ten years, I’ve frugally stored Mom’s toasters. After all, it’s good to have a back-up; small appliances inevitably break.
And my parents, children of the Great Depression, taught me well.
But recently, I entered the “Great Sorting.” You see, my son will be living in the basement until he begins graduate school. For this reason, those rainy day items must be cleared.
It’s a good plan. But honestly? As I began my ruthless purging today, I nearly kept all of those toasters.
Okay. Feel free to roll your eyes now.
Prudence is a virtue, of course. Yet, despite our best plans or most promising prospects, most of us will face the unexpected at some point.
Proverb 16:9 nails it: “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”
At times, I am a slow learner. Thus, I initially relied on my “superb” organizational skills when my husband and I opened our current business…
I examined our finances and prepared both my mother and son for a 300-mile, geographical move.
I put monies aside for the business; saved to cover any moving and initial living expenses in our new community.
In addition, my husband and I enlisted the help of the best realtors. And while my husband prepared for our restaurant’s grand opening, I wrapped up business in the town we would soon call our former home.
Despite our best plans or most promising prospects, most of us will face the unexpected at some point.
I anticipated every possibility. I carefully covered the obvious eventualities.
Or so I thought.
Late January did not prove to be an ideal time for opening a new restaurant.
A snowstorm dampened turn-out. And expenses outran income.
To make matters worse, the 2007 housing and bank crisis loomed. And I faced an expensive, personal, health crisis.
Within weeks, my long-prepared financial itinerary crumbled. My budget imploded.
Life derailed our best-laid plans.
We fought for our very existence. I prayed “Give us this day our daily bread” with renewed urgency.
Perhaps, that’s why David’s early life resonates with me. Samuel, of course, had anointed David the next king of Israel. In addition, David possessed an enviable position in Saul’s court.
Undoubtedly, we love to read of the Shepherd’s triumph over the giant Goliath.
But in so doing, we forget what long-term trouble that victory stirred.
On the army’s return from battle, the people sang, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands,” (1 Samuel 18:7).
David’s popularity did not go down well with Saul. Soon, David fled for his life.
From palace living to cave dwelling… David certainly faced major life change.
Things looked bleak.
Saul’s jealousy knew no limits: he sought to kill David. Given Saul’s extraordinary vehemence and power, I imagine David found few willing to help him. Gathering food in flight likely proved extremely difficult.
From palace living to cave dwelling… David certainly faced major life change.
Day-to-Day, month-to-month and year-after-year, David learned what it meant to be in need.
Read within the context of David’s life, the opening lines of Psalm 23 demonstrate stunning faith: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not be in want…”
Had David forgotten that food and shelter were scarce? Did he fail to recognize that if the wilderness didn’t kill him, Saul and his army would?
No. David knew.
And yet, he wrote, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows,” (Psalm 23:5).
A desperate state? Yes. Anxiety producing circumstances? Without a doubt.
But David experienced the Good Shepherd’s grace in practical, daily provisions.
Yes, even when our plans fall apart, when circumstances look bleak or when the worst appears to take up residence in our lives, Abba leads us.
You and I may prepare as did Joseph in Egypt. We may even follow the example of the wise woman of Proverbs 31, and work for the good of all who depend upon us. That’s all good.
But as I sorted this morning, I also asked, “Where have I placed my trust? Certainly not in this junk, I hope.”
Even when plans crumble or when Murphy’s law shadows us, Abba leads.
David experienced the Good Shepherd’s grace in practical, daily provisions.
And the words of Jesus in Matthew 6: 25-34 filled my thoughts, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear… Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
Finances tenuous?
Lost your job?
Betrayed by someone you loved?
Persecuted unjustly by one in authority?
Or maybe, you endure pain, suffering or illness; grieve the loss of loved one; or simply dwell in a lonely emotional place.
In David’s Psalms, you and I find comfort: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters,” (Psalm 23:1-2).
Our Savior, in fact, points to a simple yet powerful response to the dreadful and unexpected. No complicated negotiating required. No bartering. No begging necessary.
We need only ask, (Matthew 7:7).
Consider the birds… our Savior says. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Yes, in God’s eyes, we are worth everything. In fact, He prized us so much that He gave His only Son for us, (John 3:16).
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters,” ~Psalm 23:1-2
Considering this, our finances, grief, loneliness, health, reputation and physical needs certainly seem small potatoes by comparison. Undoubtedly, God is more than able to “meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 4: 19).
And what’s more, not only is He able to supply our needs, but He is also willing (Matthew 7:9-11).
David not only survived the wilderness, but he also returned to a place of abundant blessing. David–the Shepherd boy and the once, homeless cave-dweller–became Israel’s king.
That’s right. Our Sovereign- Shepherd faithfully tends His flock; Jehovah-Jireh renews our strength (Isaiah 40:31).
We can depend on Him.
You betcha. This morning, I finally took those toasters to the charity shop.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus,” ~Philippians 4:19
“The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness,'” ~Jeremiah 31: 3
Through Ink & Image 