February 24, 2004: Well for the Bushes

    Anxiety -- it grips us and rips us apart at times. Webster's Dictionary defines anxiety as "an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs (such as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it." Anxiety is often created by apprehension of an event that has not occurred and most often never does occur. But in the midst of anxious feelings, it is very difficult to be realistic. That is why it is so important to have a friend that can help you see past the emotions and into reality. Let's look at Hagar and her anxiety over being sent away from Abraham with her teenage child Ishmael.
   

"When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she thought, 'I cannot watch the boy die.' And as she sat there nearby, she began to sob." Genesis 21:15 (NIV)

    When Hagar ran out of water, anxiety took hold of her entire being. She ran out of what only she could provide in her small skin of water, but she lost sight of the fact that God never runs out of provisions for us. Hagar did what a lot of people do; she simply gave up, turned away, and became so focused on her hopelessness that she could not see the answer to her problem. She seemingly had no place to turn to for help, yet God had other plans.

"God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, 'What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.' Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink." Genesis 21:17 (NIV)

    I find it interesting that God heard Ishmael's prayers. It makes me wonder if Hagar was so caught up in her misery, and was so overcome, that she could not even pray to God for help. God is faithful. God had promised Hagar in the past that Ishmael would grow up to be the father of a great nation. God seems so far away, though, when we are so bogged down in anxiety and worry. God never leaves us. We turn from Him. He is there, waiting like a patient father.

    Notice the solution to Hagar's problem is within sight of her? Notice that God's answer was right there in front of her, in the form of a well? When Hagar stopped and listened to God, Hagar was given the answer. When Hagar was depending on Hagar, there was no hope. With God there is hope, and through Christ there is hope for all of us.

    It's like the old cliché, "You can't see the trees for the forest." Hagar could not see the well for the bushes. So often God's answers are right in front of us. We just need to stop long enough to pray and listen. We need to seek counsel from our wise Christian friends, who can see the wells apart from the bushes and help us do the same. Finally Jesus sums it up best in the following verse.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:33

Lord, help us to be more realistic. Forgive us for depending on ourselves and not You. Help us to seek You first. Keep us mindful that Your solutions are often within sight, for You love us and want the best for us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

David Massey

Questions or comments? Email david@e-devotionals.org.

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