Trusting God in the Midst of Adversity

This old farmer had a mule that fell into the farmer's well. The water wasn't very deep, so the mule was able to stand on the bottom. After assessing the situation the farmer sympathized with the mule but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth saving. The farmer called his neighbors together and told them what had happened and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the mule in the well and put him out of his misery. Initially the mule was hysterical, but as the farmer and his neighbors continued to shovel dirt on his back a thought struck him. It dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back he would shake it off and step up. This he did, blow after blow of dirt hitting his back. He'd cast off the dirt and climb higher...he'd push through the pain and rise above...he'd endure the hardship and ascend. The mule repeated this process, refusing to give in, no matter how painful the blows or distressing the situation seemed, and just kept on fighting. I recall a particularly trying period in my own life when I faced a serious illness, and I had to choose to trust God, taking things one day at a time, focusing on the present moment, and finding strength in His Word, just as the Psalmist did when he wrote, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble" (). For instance, during my recovery, I found solace in journaling and reflecting on Scripture, which helped me to reframe my struggles and discover the beauty of God's sovereignty, even in the darkest of times. I also remember a conversation with a friend who had gone through a similar experience, and her words of encouragement and faith reminded me that I was not alone, and that God was working everything out for my good, as reminds us, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." It wasn't long before the battered animal, exhausted, stepped over the wall of the well. What had seemed would bury him actually saved him because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

The moral of the story: That's life. If we face our problems and respond to them positively and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness or self-pity...the adversities that come along to bury us often have within them the very real potential to benefit us.