In the Small Trials

There are times when I wonder if God cares about the little things I go through. I know He's in the bigger trials because I feel His presence and see Him at work. But it's when the trials are smaller and seem less important that I begin to wonder if I should bother Him with my seemingly easier trials.

This morning I read about the axe head being recovered in 2 Kings 6:1-7. In the beginning of the chapter the "sons of the prophets" wanted Elisha to go with them to help find timber to build themselves a place to live in and/or to assemble. During the days of Elisha prophets lived in companies and were located all over the area.

As they were felling the beams for their building, someone's axe head fell into the Jordan River and sank to the bottom. The prophet who this happened to cried out, "Alas, my master! For it was borrowed." (vs 5). He was upset because an axe head was a costly tool and one that was too expensive for the members of the prophetic company to buy. Thus the borrower would probably have to work off the value of the axe head in order to pay the owner back.

In verse 6, Elisha calmly takes a stick and throws it into the river at the same spot the axe head fell in. And lo and behold the axe head floated to the top to be retrieved. My study notes say, "The Lord demonstrated here His concern for the welfare of His Faithful ones."

This wasn't a major trial but one of great concern for the borrower who possibly faced many years of extra service just to pay the owner back for what he had lost. And yet, God demonstrated that He loved this prophet enough that He as concerned for his welfare.

God does care for us as we go through any trial great or small. We just need to remain faithful to Him and push forward never giving up. Here is a little devotional I read this morning about never giving up even when the task or trial ahead seems to large to bear.

"Order my steps in thy word." Psalm 119:133

A little clock which had just been finished by the maker was put on a shelf in his wareroom between two older clocks who were busy ticking away the noisy seconds.

" 'Well,' said one of the clocks to the newcomer. 'So you've just started on this task. I'm sorry for you. YOu're ticking bravely now, but you'll be tired enough before you get through thirty-three million ticks.'

" 'Thirty-three million ticks!' said the frightened clock. 'Why, I never could do that!' And it stood still instantly with despair.

" 'Why, you silly thing,' said the other clock at this moment. 'Why do you listen to such words? It's nothing of the kind. You've only got to make one tick this moment. There, now, isn't that easy? And now another, and that is just as easy, and so right along.'

" 'Oh, if that's all,' cried the new clock, 'that's easily done, so here I go.' And it started bravely on again, making a tick a moment and not counting the months and millions. But at the year's end, it had made 33,000,000 vibrations without knowing it.

"Oh, if Christians would only live by the moment, not the year! 'Day by day' is the limit of the Lord's prayer. 'Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof,' said the lord. And 'as thy days, so shall they strength be' is the promise which four thousand years have not be exhausted."

I ask thee for a present mind,
By patient watching wise,
A heart at leisure from itself
To sooth and sympathize.
- Unknown

Streams in the Desert, Volume 2

Remember that God cares for us no matter what we're going through great or small. All He asks of us is to take it one tick at a time.

Krista Jones
4.23.08