April 19, 2022
What Can We Learn from a Bee?
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light (Psalm 18:28 NIV).
Friend to Friend
A beekeeper once told author F.B. Meyer how some young bees are nurtured to ensure their healthy development. The queen lays each egg in a six-sided cell filled with enough pollen and honey to nourish the egg until it reaches a particular stage of maturity. The top is then sealed with a capsule of wax.
When the food is gone, it is time for the tiny creature to be released. The wax is so hard to penetrate that the bee can make only a very narrow opening. It is so thin that in the agony of exit, the bee rubs off the membrane that encases its wings. When it finally does emerge, it can fly.
The man telling the story said that a moth once got into the hive and devoured the wax capsules. As a result, the young bees crawled out without any effort or trouble. But they could not fly.
When a crisis hits or a pit seems to swallow me whole, I want out - fast! So, I look for the nearest exit that will allow the easiest escape. But sometimes, the easy way out or the simplest solution is not God’s plan.
God loves me enough to teach me that the purpose of the pit is to purify and then restore. God is in the restoration business. He is not interested in my comfort nearly as much as He is committed to my character. And sometimes, it takes an excruciating struggle to emerge with a lesson that can only be learned in the darkness.
The Psalmist wrote, “You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light” (Psalm 18:28 NIV). God strengthens us to withstand the darkness. He turns our darkness into light, knowing that some things cannot be discovered in the light. Yet, through the struggle of the trial - the journey out of the pit of darkness - the very best part of us takes flight.
Two of my favorite words in the Bible are “But God.” Those two words create an eternal backdrop that changes everything.
Everything looks different when God comes.
Everything is made right by His presence.
Every problem is resolved when God is factored into the equation.
To survive and succeed in life, we must refuse to fix our gaze on the “little things” that are meant to divert God’s purpose. Instead, if we want to become strong warriors, our glance must be on the circumstances of life, and our gaze must be on Him. When we instill that spiritual discipline as a reality, life becomes the joy God meant it to be.
Stress will give way to peace.
Doubt will give way to faith.
Fear will give way to trust.
Darkness will give way to light.
Defeat will give way to victory.
Does that mean we will float through each day without facing trials, defeats, enemies, or impossibilities? No – it simply means that the backdrop against which we view those dark moments will be replaced with the truth that God is enough.
When the stress of life threatens, and it seems you can’t go on, rest in the truth that the same God who called you will provide everything you need to accomplish His purpose in your life.
Let’s Pray
Lord, please help me to see my trials as opportunities to trust You. I want to live out the truth that You will provide everything I need to face every struggle I will ever face. Thank You, Lord for your love and strength. Thank You for believing in me, Father. I love You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What battles are you waging in your life today? Can you choose to believe God will help you win that battle?
More from the Girlfriends
Mary’s book, Hope in the Midst of Depression, is a tool you can use to overcome the dark times of life. Based on Psalm 40:1-3, this book will help you discover the treasures and truths God has for you in each trial you face. Check it out!
Connect with Mary through email: mary@marysoutherland.com or on Facebook.
© 2022 by Mary Southerland. All rights reserved.