In A Pinch

I have been in situations where I did not know how I would get out. I have been so broke that I wasn’t sure how I could make things work. When I went through a divorce nearly 25 years ago, I though my life was over. I was broken inside and wounded in ways that I thought I’d never recover. I remember crying out to God asking “Why?” and “Why me?” on many occasions. As I reflect on that painful time, I feel like I’m in such a different place spiritually since that dark time. I’m finally learning that I can talk to the Lord all the time, NOT just when I’m in a pinch. I will certainly talk to Him then, but I also think it’s important to talk to Him all the time. I feel like I’ve avoided a lot of “pinches” by seeking Him first, talking with Him and listening to Him.

The King of Israel had put together a coalition with the King of Judah and the King of Edom to teach the King of Moab and the Moabites a lesson. They had not prepared well and were just about to the land of Moab when they ran out of food and water. They were in a huge pinch. Check this out…

10 ‘What!’ exclaimed the king of Israel. ‘Has the Lord called us three kings together only to deliver us into the hands of Moab?’

11 But Jehoshaphat asked, ‘Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may enquire of the Lord?’

An officer of the king of Israel answered, ‘Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.’

12 Jehoshaphat said, ‘The word of the Lord is with him.’ So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. (2 Kings 3:10-12 NIV)

I love the fact that Elisha’s reputation, as the king of Judah knew him as the personal servant to Elijah. The King of Judah also knew that “the Word of the Lord was with him”. These three kings were in a big pinch and God spoke to them through Elisha, the prophet.

I really want to avoid getting into pinches. I have been prompted by the Lord to do seemingly silly things like check my oil or change my tires and I’m convinced that His little promptings have helped me avoid more “pinches”.

I’m pretty confident that my life is more simple than most but at times it gets a little complicated and crazy. I simply want to go to the Lord every day and seek His counsel for my day. I want Him to help me head off “getting into a pinch”. I want Him to lead me out of a “pinch” and I know that He can help me avoid them too.

Pressing On!

Dwayne