Not Again

~~~ Genesis 21:5, 8-20A ~~~ Psalm 34 ~~~ Matthew 8:28-34 ~~~ 

Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water.

Even in our society today too many women find themselves

in the same situation as Hagar.

Hagar was cast from her home along with her young child.

She only had some bread and a flask of water.

Hagar had previously left her master's home

finding herself wandering in the desert.

God spoke to her there and now

she hears him once again.

Hagar finds herself in a situation she has experienced before

only this time hes young son is also in danger.

Her heart is aching not for herself,

but for her son, Ishmael.

God heard the cries of the poor frightened child.

God hears your cries too.

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Around the world women and children

 are being forced to leave their homes.

They literally run for their lives, hoping God will protect them.

God revealed to Hagar, upon opening her eyes,

that she need not despair.

He points her toward the nearby water well.

This too happens to us...

We are unaware of a nearby source of help.

Hagar found herself unexpectedly in the wilderness twice.

This happens to us too.

There is no guarantee that we will not

 be cast into the wilderness.

After all Hagar gave birth to Abraham's son

while his own wife could not.

Shouldn't she have been protected from such exile?

Shouldn't you be protected from the wilderness?

You are a good person and yet it happens.

God told Hagar to open her eyes.

The dawn of each new day holds for you 

the invitation to see things differently.

Your challenge is either ignore it or accept it.

If you ignore it you will sentence yourself

 to more days in the wilderness.

If you accept the invitation

you too may find the life giving water well...

The water of hope of fresh beginnings.

The life sustaining water from God.

The well you seek is closer than you think.

The Lord does hear the cry of the poor.

Jesus did cast out demons,

but he also led people to drink from the living well.

Join me today in remembering

 all the displaced women and children

who find themselves alone 

in the wilderness.

May the Lord reveal to them the nearby well.

Blessings...

trust in the Lord.

~~~~Peace~~~