Don't Look Back--or Around!

"No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

--Jesus (Luke 9:62, NKJV)

Amy Carmichael* points out that Jesus says looking back, not turning back. (There is a huge difference, isn't there?) When we look back, we can't plow a straight furrow. In other words, we "mess up." 

The devil knows that. Thus, he continually tempts us to look back at our past sins, at our worthlessness, at our failures, at the things we want but do not have, at the things we once had but no longer have, at the "good life" others seem to be living.... 

We must NOT let our thoughts linger on those kinds of things. Instead, we must read God's Word daily and keep our minds focused on the truths it contains (rather than on the devil's lies) as we continue to move forward, fully committed to doing His will.

*author of Thou Givest...They Gather

Sorrow Is One of God's Tool

[When preparing His disciples for His upcoming death on the cross, Jesus said to them:]

…you have sorrow now, but I will see you again,

and your hearts will rejoice,

and no one will take your joy from you.”

John 16:22, ESV

On the very day my heart was particularly sorrowful over several situations, my daily readings took me to the January 20^th devotional in Streams in the Desert. There I received new insights (much appreciated ones, I might add) regarding the benefits of sorrow. (Yes, benefits of sorrow.) 

I had to stop frequently as I read, in order to reflect on the meaning of sentences such as this one: Sorrow is God’s tool to plow the depths of the soul, that it may yield richer harvests.

In that reading, I also found this short verse by Maltbie Davenport Babcock (1858-1901), a clergyman and writer who also authored hymns (including one of my favorites, This Is My Father’s World).

The dark brown soil is turned

By the sharp-pointed plow;

And I’ve a lesson learned.

My life is but a field,

Stretched out beneath God’s sky,

Some harvest rich to yield.

Where grows the golden grain?

Where faith? Where sympathy?

In a furrow cut by pain.

My sorrowing heart gladly received those insights that helped me look beyond the sad realities and see the blessings sorrow can bring. For example, sorrow slows us down, causes us to think more deeply and seriously about life and relationships and plans, prompts us to cling even more tightly to our God, motivates us to seek to understand His will and His ways, reminds us of our human frailties and His omnipotence, reveals to us our total dependence upon Him, and much more.