“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4 (KJV)
Someone recently sent me an amusing story about a farmer and his donkey. It seems that one day a farmer’s donkey fell down into an old dry well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off.
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up, one step at a time. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up. Shake it off and take a step up.
Sometimes God has to knock us down to make us look up. The Christian walk is comparable to a long distance race. Those who compete in a natural race have to be able to endure until the end. The same is true for the Christian in their journey with Christ. Every Christian has to learn how to endure as they grow in God’s grace and knowledge. Without endurance, the Christian can possess spiritual insight and knowledge, but cannot last long enough to see the fruits of it flourish in life.
The Holy Spirit gives us the tools to work out of any situation, for whosoever is born of God has the Spirit of God and will overcome the world.
Sometimes life’s situations can seem overwhelming, but we can count on God to give us what we need when we need it to work through life and overcome the world one step at a time.
By John Grant
Used by Permission
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
Further Reading
• Pressing Your Reset Button
• When Life isn’t Fair
• Salvation Explained