Beaten Down But Never DEFEATED!!

That was quite a storm which came through Mecklenburg County on Oct 29 during the day and later that night! Some roads are now covered with pine needles so thick that you simply cannot see the road itself. I have not seen damage other than a few limbs down, and I pray that there was no serious damage or people injured.

However, this hard rain and strong wind really beat down my zinnias!! TO THE GROUND!

They have been so beautiful this year and have given so much pleasure to people that it hurts me to see them this way. BUT God! It is now mid-morning, and the sun just came out. I looked at the zinnias, and they have already responded to the sun’s powerful rays.

This scene reminds me of my reading this morning in Lamentations 3, particularly verses 21-26. From verse 1 to verse 20, Jeremiah is expressing his grief over the national tragedy that had unfolded before his eyes: the falling of Jerusalem, God’s city, to the Babylonians. His sorrow and tears were for the sinfulness of the Israelites who had chosen to reject God. Yet he knew there was always hope…

Lamentations 3:21-26 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;

26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (NIV)

There is always hope, and there is God's power! What is going to raise the blooms of the zinnias from their defeated state? “It is the power of the sun’s rays which gives them energy. Plants use the energy in sunlight to grow. Plants use the energy from the sun instead of eating, like we do.” Sun's Energy

Just as the flowers will grow from the energy of the SUN, rising in the east, so we will rise from any type of defeat because of the SON from the east who is our source for God's almighty power and growth.

This strength from the east will allow us to wait on the Lord. The strength and power of God will be as glorious, determined, and fruitful as these blades of grass which have grown through the space between the concrete sections of our sidewalk. They should never have grown there, but seeds were tossed close by and fell into some mighty good soil! That is the power of God!

Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for, and hope in Him) will gain new strength and renew their power; they will lift their wings (and rise up close to God) like eagles (rising toward the sun); they shall run and not become weary, they will walk and not grow tired. (AMP)

They have grown stronger and higher throughout the day! They were beaten down but NOT DEFEATED!! So it is with us - beaten down but NOT DEFEATED!! Praise God!

Thanks for stopping by,

Rachel