July 2, 2023

It has been awhile since I spent a day at the beach, but God knew how much I missed it and provided the opportunity for us to enjoy good company and a beautiful view. I was overwhelmed to tears at how close I felt to our Creator as I soaked up the sun and breathed in the the salty air of the Gulf. As I was walking back up to the beach house, the sand had become scorching hot from the sun and I had to pick up my pace to get back to my shoes. When I got inside, God blessed me with the kindness of our friend who offered me a water to help me cool off. Imagine what it would have been like to not have easy access to refreshing water after a hot day. 

Isaac was born, and after he was weaned, Abraham threw a big party to celebrate. Hagar began to mock Sarah, probably because of her jealousy. It upset Sarah and asked Abraham to send her away. It grieved him, but God told him to comply. He gave Hagar water and bread and sent her away. She and Ishmael ran out of water before getting to their destination and thought they were going to die. Hagar left Ishmael alone because she couldn’t watch him struggle. Then she heard a voice of an angel who comforted her and open her eyes to see the well of water. They both lived and Ishmael became a great nation. 

When you are about to give up and feel you can’t go on, God has refreshments waiting. Look for his hand in your relief; he was there all along guiding you to your destination, even when the path became narrow. Don’t take your eyes off of him, even for a moment.

And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. Genesis 21:19