for the thirsty...
It wasn't for a lack of trying. It was all due to her circumstances. Hagar had been sent into the desert with one container of water strapped to her back. The dry, hot, waterless desert, and she was ill-equipped. She had been so shocked by the whole situation that she didn't even stop to process what all she would need to ensure success. She and her son, wandering aimlessly, completely vulnerable at no fault of their own. But that's the hand she was being dealt, and she had no choice but to go with it.
Why didn't she take more water? Why wasn't she better prepared? Did she really think one container of water would get her far? I bet she asked herself those questions a thousand times over as she rationed out the precious liquid hoping it would last until, well, until this misery came to an end. When would that be, by the way? As far as her eyes could see, she only saw barren land. Wilderness. Desert. Dry, which is exactly how she felt.
Maybe it would have been okay if she had been alone. But she wasn't. Her son had been sent into this dire circumstance with her. Her only son, and now she alone was completely responsible for his well being. If it had only been her, maybe she could have traveled faster. She could have gone further, lasted longer. She could fend for herself. But with him in tow, it was a different story. She was the one who had to, somehow, provide for this child. As helpless as she felt, she looked at his small frame and knew he was even more so. He depended on her. He trusted her. She felt the weight of the world on her shoulders, and it pressed down with a crushing force with every sip of water he drank. She was doing the best she could with what she had. Unfortunately, what she had was not enough and they were thirsty.
Thirsty for water, sure. Parched in a way they had never been. In fact, in true mother fashion, she probably gave up her portion of water so her son could have more. Her heart broke for him because this wasn't fair. If she had it her way, they wouldn't be stuck here in the heat and dust. And so she was trying her hardest to take care of him. She loved him. She would die for him, but she knew she couldn't. He needed her, but she needed him, too. And as her options were running out, she came to grips with the fact that the end was near. They weren't going to make it. She had failed her son, or so it seemed, and so she found a bush, laid him in the shade, and she wept bitterly as her biggest nightmare became reality.
But God heard. From His throne high above, He heard the cries of His child. A child desperately in need of saving. A mother in need of hope and help. And in true God fashion, He stepped in and provided. A mother whose eyes has been so blinded by tears could finally see a well. Water that wasn't there earlier... she could have sworn. But maybe her desperation blinded her. Maybe it was her unbelief casting a thick veil over her eyes. Maybe she couldn't see it because she was so overwhelmed with the burden of taking care of her son, the disappointment of not being able to, and the fear of losing him that all she could see was the failure of her own plans. But God opened her eyes to see exactly what she needed when she needed. And more than that, God showed her that the weight wasn't hers to carry. He saw them, and He would take care of them. He was going to meet their needs. Maybe it just took Hagar's container running out of water so that she could come to know and experience the true Living Water.
Momma, you don't have to do it on your own. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. God didn't give you a life to care for to then abandon you to figure it out all alone. Sometimes we just have to do the best we can with what we've got and then we have to trust God to step in and provide what we need. Because as much as you love your child, He loves them more. And as much as you care about them, He cares even more. So you have to let go of your plans, of the disappointment that things aren't going the way you expected, and say, "Okay, God, I need your help. I know the well is there, but I can't see it. Open my eyes. Show me truth. Help me figure this out because I have come to the end of my own resources but yours never run dry."
And He will, momma, He will.
"The Lord who made you and helps you says: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, O dear Israel, my chosen one. For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children." - Isaiah 44:2-3
Why didn't she take more water? Why wasn't she better prepared? Did she really think one container of water would get her far? I bet she asked herself those questions a thousand times over as she rationed out the precious liquid hoping it would last until, well, until this misery came to an end. When would that be, by the way? As far as her eyes could see, she only saw barren land. Wilderness. Desert. Dry, which is exactly how she felt.
Maybe it would have been okay if she had been alone. But she wasn't. Her son had been sent into this dire circumstance with her. Her only son, and now she alone was completely responsible for his well being. If it had only been her, maybe she could have traveled faster. She could have gone further, lasted longer. She could fend for herself. But with him in tow, it was a different story. She was the one who had to, somehow, provide for this child. As helpless as she felt, she looked at his small frame and knew he was even more so. He depended on her. He trusted her. She felt the weight of the world on her shoulders, and it pressed down with a crushing force with every sip of water he drank. She was doing the best she could with what she had. Unfortunately, what she had was not enough and they were thirsty.
Thirsty for water, sure. Parched in a way they had never been. In fact, in true mother fashion, she probably gave up her portion of water so her son could have more. Her heart broke for him because this wasn't fair. If she had it her way, they wouldn't be stuck here in the heat and dust. And so she was trying her hardest to take care of him. She loved him. She would die for him, but she knew she couldn't. He needed her, but she needed him, too. And as her options were running out, she came to grips with the fact that the end was near. They weren't going to make it. She had failed her son, or so it seemed, and so she found a bush, laid him in the shade, and she wept bitterly as her biggest nightmare became reality.
But God heard. From His throne high above, He heard the cries of His child. A child desperately in need of saving. A mother in need of hope and help. And in true God fashion, He stepped in and provided. A mother whose eyes has been so blinded by tears could finally see a well. Water that wasn't there earlier... she could have sworn. But maybe her desperation blinded her. Maybe it was her unbelief casting a thick veil over her eyes. Maybe she couldn't see it because she was so overwhelmed with the burden of taking care of her son, the disappointment of not being able to, and the fear of losing him that all she could see was the failure of her own plans. But God opened her eyes to see exactly what she needed when she needed. And more than that, God showed her that the weight wasn't hers to carry. He saw them, and He would take care of them. He was going to meet their needs. Maybe it just took Hagar's container running out of water so that she could come to know and experience the true Living Water.
Momma, you don't have to do it on your own. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. God didn't give you a life to care for to then abandon you to figure it out all alone. Sometimes we just have to do the best we can with what we've got and then we have to trust God to step in and provide what we need. Because as much as you love your child, He loves them more. And as much as you care about them, He cares even more. So you have to let go of your plans, of the disappointment that things aren't going the way you expected, and say, "Okay, God, I need your help. I know the well is there, but I can't see it. Open my eyes. Show me truth. Help me figure this out because I have come to the end of my own resources but yours never run dry."
And He will, momma, He will.
"The Lord who made you and helps you says: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, O dear Israel, my chosen one. For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children." - Isaiah 44:2-3
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