A donkey fell into a deep well and his owner heard him and came running. After trying to get his donkey out with no success, the farmer called his farmer friends to come help. They in turn had nothing strong enough to lift the donkey up out of the well. The donkey kept braying louder until the farmer decided, “I can’t get him out. Therefore, since he’s old, let’s just bury him; he won’t suffer and we won’t hear his cries any longer.” So, the farmers all agreed and each farmer took a shovel of dirt and threw it into the well. The donkey kept braying, but as the dirt landed on his back, he shook it off and stepped on top. Another shovel of dirt fell on the donkey’s back. He shook it off and stepped up. The farmers kept shoveling the dirt faster and faster. And the donkey shook it off and he stepped up. In fact, he shook it off and stepped on top of the dirt until he walked out of the well much to the surprise of the farmers. (Author unknown)
Have you ever fallen into a deep pit of circumstances beyond your control? And you cried for help? But the help others gave was shovels of dirt -- condemnation, criticism, or judgment. Someone might have taken the shovel of condemnation and thrown it on you saying, “If you hadn’t left Mother’s religion, you wouldn’t be in this mess.” You, knowing that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1), shook it off and stood on His Word.
Perhaps others threw the shovel of criticism on you saying, “See Christianity doesn’t work. Christians are not supposed to have problems.” You stood on what Jesus said in John 16:33, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Once again you shook it off and stepped on up.
Then the dirt of judgment fell on your back, “If you had enough faith, you wouldn’t be in this situation.” Isaiah 54:17 says, "No weapon formed against me shall prosper, and every tongue that rises up against me in judgment I shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servant of the Lord.” You stood firm in the faith regardless of the circumstance or the negativity from others. You remembered how Job in the Bible in his distress also had friends whose words of advice proved to bring him no comfort. When you encountered obstacles, trials, or difficulties, you learned to completely trust in the Lord and…
By: Gayle Brogdon
