Ecclesiastes 4: 5 & 6 The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh. Better a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.
On last week, I was upset on two separate occasions. I am sure there were many more, but these two stand out in my mind. However, as I write, something else just happened. My son is having an anxiety attack. Throwing up, shaking, and crying. All over his math homework and not knowing how to do it. I asked, “What if I tell you, it’s ok to get an “F”? Does that help? Me and dad are ok with you failing this assignment.” His answer.” No.” At least I know it is not the elevated expectations of parents causing his anxiety. I tell you; I could feel my own anxiety starting to pick up. This is not what I had on my agenda today! Ugh!
The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. I could not fold my hands as I heard, watched, and experienced the pain of my child. It was difficult to watch it unfold as quickly as it did. I am thankful to God that he is willing to talk about it. To sit by and do nothing, our Father does not stand by and watch us suffer. With a loving hand he gently guides us through the storm. He is always right there in the midst. However, in the quietness is where we need to be to hear His voice. To sit by and do nothing would only increase my own anxiousness. To deny the reality of the situation that is right before us in life is an agreement to stay in the bondage of the enemy. Each of us has our own tailor-made infirmity. A place of weakness that the enemy or inner me, has studied and made a home. From getting mad when someone confronts our sin to telling ourselves a convenient story of dislike, so we give ourselves permission to quit a Godly assignment that our Daddy has commanded us to do. The enemy is not going to give us ice cream if he knows our weakness is chocolate candy.
Better a handful of quietness. Yes Father, can clearly be heard. Quietness, stillness, peace, rest, silence. Matthew 5: 3 – 12:
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
You see saints instead of folding our hands, woe is me what can I do questions with a defeated spirit, because what we see, taste, smell and feel is not good. No, we talk with our Dad, speak with our Father, pray, read, and still live out His word. Because He tells us and has shown us in His holy word, the blessings. He has told us what is in store for us. He has proven it repeatedly. Whether we look at Moses., Esther, Ruth, Job, the many people that were saved, delivered, and set free is right here in the 66 books. May I offer to that we are also one of those many people. That we too have been delivered out of situations that did not see, taste, smell and feel good. We too are inheritors of those many told blessings and promises. So, in that quiteness let us stew on His blessings. Let us meditate on Him and wait. Let us be quite and hear His answer.
May I share that His answer was already there. His answer was to let my agenda go for the day. To slow down and rest, to cry with this child that does not like what He is experiencing. Share with Him a Godly affirmation. Tell him that His spiritual Father does not want this for Him. That his natural mom and dad will help him through this. That it is a trick and tool of the enemy to keep him in bondage. However, together, we worked through the math. He saw that it was easy and not so bad. Encouraged him that we are here to help. Saints do not let the enemy isolate us in our mind and keep us separated from our source. Our heavenly Father continues to provide resources to help us with those situations we do not understand. He is our strength when we are weak. He tells us to cast our cares on Him. When we are quite and still, we can do this and not make an unpleasant situation worse with hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind. Running to this person and that looking to make the situation better. No person can do that for us. Unless our source, our God sends them to do so. Stand under His arc of covenant and wait. Outside of it, there is no cover. We do not know what do to in our natural state of mind. We try to figure it out. Let us save our time and energy and hand it all over to Him. He is always there and wants to fight our battles.
Know that the prosecution that we are experiencing with all the perceived bad situations that we experience are not the last answer. He tells us in Matthew 5:12 to Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. So, whatever, our persecution today, know that there is a great reward. The reward is in better a handful in quietness. Because the rewards are with our Father and in quietness, we can hear Him. So, be encouraged in quietness.
UniquelyDesigned1 