Devotional – Look Beyond Your Circumstances

He
who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.
Ecclesiastes 11:4

The
forecast of rain caused me to change my plans. The Met Office had advised that
a cold front would move across the island between Thursday and Saturday and
would result in cooler temperatures and showers. True to the word of the Met
Office, there was rain on Thursday and Friday, both day and night. Normally on
a Friday night, I would load my laundry into the washing machine and allow the
clothes to soak overnight. On Saturday morning I would get up early and do my
washing. Not this Friday night, however. The steady rain drumming on the rooftop gave the impression that it would certainly be more of the same the next day.
It was shaping up to be a wet Saturday…or so I thought!

Saturday
morning dawned overcast and very windy, but there was no rain in sight. I had
an early morning assignment at church and so I left home by 7 am. As I sat in
the church office and looked out I saw a bright, blue sky, with the sun streaming
down in all its glory. It was a perfect laundry day.

Back
home, I loaded the washing machine, ruing my mistake of not soaking the clothes
overnight. By then it had started getting a little cloudy and I prayed that
there would be no rain. I washed a few light pieces by hand, then did some
other housework. By then the clouds had disappeared and the sun was out again.

I
decided to take the plunge and begin washing, hoping and praying that it would
not suddenly start to rain. I hate it when my laundry gets wet. Lo and behold,
the day turned out perfectly. It was sunny and windy, the right ingredients for
a perfect wash day. In short order my clothes were dry. My laundry was done!
Thank God!

As
I reflected on the situation, the Lord ministered to me. He showed me that
often times we allow our present circumstances to deter us from doing the
things we want to do. We allow fear and lack of faith to hold us back. He
showed me that just as it was cloudy for a while, then became sunny again,
He can re-arrange the circumstances of our lives and make room for us to move
forward.  He can turn our rain into
sunshine. He can turn our lack into provision. He can turn our despair into
joy.

In
order to come into the blessings He has for us, we need to look beyond our
present circumstances.  The writer of
Ecclesiastes states that constantly looking at the winds and the clouds will
prevent us from sowing and reaping. If God has placed a desire in our hearts,
we should pursue it regardless of the circumstances and trust Him to give us
the results we desire. Oftentimes we are afraid to step out because of fear.
That is the plan of the enemy as many times the things we fear never
materialize. The enemy paralyzes us with fear, which leads to inaction on our
part and thus we lose out on the blessings.

Be
encouraged. Step out in faith and do what God has placed in your heart. Do not
watch your circumstances. It is well.

Reflection

What
are the ways in which I have allowed my circumstances to prevent me from moving
forward?

How
can I overcome this?

Prayer

Father,
open my eyes to see the opportunities in front of me. Help me to step out in
faith instead of cowering in fear. Give me eyes that see beyond my
circumstances. In Jesus’ name. Amen.