That was easy...

By Gayla Parler, BCM/D WMU executive director, BCM/D missionary for missions education/customization, Missions innovator specialist, SBC, WMU

The day started like this: my son’s car was stolen, I was late for work, and I left my laptop at home. All before lunch! The 25 things on my to do list were not even close to finished and they all had a deadline of 5:00 today. It is those kinds of days that would be better skipped, but unfortunately we all have them!

Sometimes it’s not the day, but the schedule: multiple events, deadlines and assignments coming within a few days. 

Worry and stress in our lives has never been intended to take us down, but rather a time for God’s presence to shine. The Bible is full of verses on the topic. One of my favorites is II Kings 3:18, “This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord.”

These words were spoken by an angel giving instructions to Elisha. The King of Israel, Judah and Edom had been marching with their armies for seven days. The water supply was completely gone. Stress and frustration were at a peak. If they didn’t die first, how could they face the Moabites dehydrated? The King of Israel began to question God and His plan. Sound familiar? I know in the midst of my bad days and stressful schedules I get frustrated and even sometimes question God’s planning. After all, He led me to serve… well, you know the conversation. But somewhere in the midst of it all, instead of blaming God we begin looking for His help. That is just what happened with the three kings. In desperation they began looking for a prophet. This is where Elisha comes into the story.  

Elisha questions their request until he hears, “It was the Lord who called us three kings together….” Elisha knew if God was in this then He was willing to do his part. That is all God requires of us, if the Lord calls… then I will do my part and trust God to do His. In the case of Elisha God came through big!

Elisha was instructed to fill the valley with ditches. God would fill the ditches with water. This one plan would solve ALL the problems. Not only would they have water, God would use the ditches to lure the Moabites into the hands of these three kings for an unquestionable victory.

Elisha followed God’s instructions and the ditches were built. No doubt there had to be a little confusion in regards to the plan. The ditches would be filled with water but that would conquer the Moabites how? God’s plan may not always make sense, but it is always the one that works.  

The next morning the ditches were full of water flowing from the direction of Edom.  What kept the Moabites from getting the water? When the Moabites saw the water it appeared to be blood. The Moabites assumed the three kings had fought against themselves and killed one another. Thinking they could walk into the Israelite camp and take the plunder they began their journey to the camp. What a surprise it must have been to arrive at camp and find the Israelite army waiting. The loss was so severe that the king of Moab was willing to sacrifice his own son. And God’s one unusual plan solved ALL the problems!

Imagine the stress this group started with, they had no water and knew there was a mighty army coming their way. I would have been writing my will. But remember the words in 3:18, “This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord”? No matter how bad the day, no matter how stressful the schedule, no matter how difficult the job, in the eyes of the Lord it is all easy when He is involved.  

Summer is about to begin. Kids will be out of school. VBS will be  starting; mission trips happening; camps in abundance. And the stress and schedules can bring more pressures than any of us want to deal with. That is when I go to my “Easy” button.

I have an “Easy” button hanging on the bulletin board in my office. Above it hang the words from II Kings 3:18. It is there to remind me “This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord.” In the midst of a bad day I’ve seen God work in miraculous ways. When I think I can’t finish the list, God finishes it early. It may be hard for me but for God…. 

That was easy!