Seasons of Abundance and Absence

Every life is a complex meandering like the ebb and flow of water on a river delta through seasons of abundance and absence of rain. Many tributaries add to the character and abundance of our river of life. We continue to collect the grace filled contributions of other streams and creeks, until our river rages with power and beauty not of ourselves, but of all who poured into us. Each unique river empties, it's waters gathered and flowing great distances, to the sea.

What is more glorious and evident of tremendous power and beauty is when we let the Living Water join our river. When God opens the floodgates of heaven, man can only stand back in awe of the thunderous workings He alone can accomplish through each wayward river. And yet there is both ebb and flow; times of abundance and times of absence. Times of waiting and times of working. Times of awe and times of angst. Times to build and times to destroy...okay, so now I'm sounding like Ecclesiastes.

What I have discovered in this time of absence (at least in the employment area) is that the power of our Lord is clearly of greater visibility as my river has become but a trickle. The floodgates of heaven open and wow, immediately and overwhelmingly His power, His abundance rushes through my life in such a way that others watch in amazement, not at my trickle, but at what looks like a dam burst! It is here, where my river was once a creek, I stand. I can feel His power overwhelm my whining, my cries for help, and my 'drying up'. I can't help myself, but He will help me! I can't help but see His glory rising up all around me, my river rising up to worship the God who has given this river His life, His wisdom, His power.

It is in this apparent season of absence that He has poured into me His abundance. My river flows with all the tributaries He sends my way gradually adding to my flow, but then He cracks open the floodgates and I am overwhelmed!! Paul was right, we can be overwhelmed with God's glory and grace in seasons of abundance and absence. May we, each river, be added to daily by the tributaries of the friends He sends our way, and most importantly, by the daily filling of His word and His leading. In this season of absence I am overwhelmed with His abundance!