Difficulty By the Dozen

August 19, 2009

~Denise Grant

 

“I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”  John 14:27 TLB

 

     A young woman visited her mother one day to report about the difficulties of her life. She was struggling with hardships and growing weary of her troubles. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one was born.

     As the daughter shared her worries, the mother proceeded to fill three pots with water and sat each one on the stove. In the first she placed a carrot, in the second, an egg, and in the last, ground coffee beans. The mother brought each pot to boil– while the daughter continued to pour out her heart.

     After twenty minutes, the mother turned off the burners. She scooped the carrot out and positioned it on a plate. She placed the egg in a bowl and ladled the coffee into a cup. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see?” The daughter hesitantly replied, "A Carrot, an egg, and coffee. Thanks, but I’m much too troubled to eat”.

     Her mother directed her to feel the carrot. The daughter noted that it was soft. The mother then asked her daughter to take break the egg. After pulling off the shell, she observed a hard boiled egg.

     Finally, the mother suggested the daughter sip the coffee. Smiling as she tasted its rich aroma, the daughter then asked her mother, “Is there a point to all this?”

     Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same element; boiling water. Yet, as was obvious, each object had reacted differently to the harsh condition. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it had softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its fluid interior, but after being subjected to the intensity, its inside became hardened and stiff. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. Their experience in the boiling water had not altered them, but had actually changed the water surrounding them.

     "Which are you?" she asked her daughter.  Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

 

     When misfortune knocks on your door, how do you respond?

 

     Are you the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and hardship, do you wilt, become soft and then lose your strength?

     Perhaps you are like the egg that starts with a soft heart, but changes with the heat? Do you have a soft spirit, but after a breakup, a death, a financial hardship or some other ordeal, have you become hardened, stiff and unchangeable? Does your outward shell look the same, but on the inside, are you bitter and tough with a sour spirit and a hardened heart?

     Or maybe you are like the coffee bean? Through difficulty, the bean changed the element it was in - the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the full fragrance and flavor of the bean. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to higher level?

 

     So, how do you handle hard times? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? 

     When things are going well for us – we’re elated and couldn’t be happier. But when hardships come, we quickly sink into depression. True joy rises above these waves of circumstances. You can have everlasting joy when you keep a right and consistent relationship with Jesus Christ. When your life is closely intertwined with His, He will help you walk through adversity without slipping into a dump of despair. The joy of living with Jesus Christ daily will keep you level-headed no matter how high or how long the water boils.

 

Father God,

 

     Difficulties come dished by the dozen most days, but Lord help us to keep our eyes focused always on You. You are our only source of comfort and direction. You as a constant provider and steady sustainer through all of the stress and difficulty this worlds’ hardships can bring. You are the only supply of deep and lasting peace. You are our everything within our everything.  In Your precious name Jesus. Amen. 

Denise Grant - Just "clay" in the Master Potter's hands.

 

"If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." ~Ronald Reagan

 

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  2 Chronicles 7:14