MAINTAINING BALANCE
Every day, believers live with hope and peace that stems
from maintaining balance and perspective. Jesus Christ admonishes us, “Do
not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient
for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34, NKJV) When we make the deliberate
decision to live worry-free, we are (at the same time) making the choice to
live stress-free. This does not mean that it will be impossible for
negative circumstances or events to knock at our doors. Rather, it
informs us that we have definite choices as to how we will respond.
It reminds me of the story of a poor
farmer who lived near a forest in a remote village. This farmer had a
beautiful white horse, the most magnificent stallion. The farmer’s
thoroughbred stallion was in high demand and many merchants offered huge amounts
of money to buy it.
His villager friends became terribly excited at the farmer’s good prospects. “You are so blessed to own such a valuable horse!” they smiled.
The farmer calmly replied, “It is true that my horse may be a blessing. But we cannot say how things will turn out because nobody knows exactly what will happen on tomorrow.”
The villagers did not care for his passive response.
One day the farmer’s horse disappeared. The villagers banded together and searched everywhere, but could not find the missing stallion. The villagers criticized the farmer. “You should have sold that horse when you had the chance,” they insisted. “It is a terrible curse that your horse has now been stolen.”
The farmer calmly replied, “It is true that my horse is missing. But we cannot say how things will turn out because nobody knows exactly what will happen on tomorrow.”
Of course, the villagers frowned at his response. They could not believe that the farmer had lost such a priceless possession and seemed not to be upset about it.
After a few days, to the great surprise of the villagers, the missing stallion galloped home and brought a dozen white horses from the forest with him. The surprised villagers gathered around the farmer and said, “You are so blessed. You loved that horse so much, and that’s why he brought these horses home with him.”
The farmer calmly replied, “It is true that my stallion brought a dozen more horses to me. But we cannot say whether it is a blessing or not, because nobody knows exactly what will happen on tomorrow.”
By now, the villagers thought the farmer was certifiably crazy. He had received a dozen free horses, and still he could not see that this was a tremendous blessing.
His villager friends became terribly excited at the farmer’s good prospects. “You are so blessed to own such a valuable horse!” they smiled.
The farmer calmly replied, “It is true that my horse may be a blessing. But we cannot say how things will turn out because nobody knows exactly what will happen on tomorrow.”
The villagers did not care for his passive response.
One day the farmer’s horse disappeared. The villagers banded together and searched everywhere, but could not find the missing stallion. The villagers criticized the farmer. “You should have sold that horse when you had the chance,” they insisted. “It is a terrible curse that your horse has now been stolen.”
The farmer calmly replied, “It is true that my horse is missing. But we cannot say how things will turn out because nobody knows exactly what will happen on tomorrow.”
Of course, the villagers frowned at his response. They could not believe that the farmer had lost such a priceless possession and seemed not to be upset about it.
After a few days, to the great surprise of the villagers, the missing stallion galloped home and brought a dozen white horses from the forest with him. The surprised villagers gathered around the farmer and said, “You are so blessed. You loved that horse so much, and that’s why he brought these horses home with him.”
The farmer calmly replied, “It is true that my stallion brought a dozen more horses to me. But we cannot say whether it is a blessing or not, because nobody knows exactly what will happen on tomorrow.”
By now, the villagers thought the farmer was certifiably crazy. He had received a dozen free horses, and still he could not see that this was a tremendous blessing.
One day, the farmer’s young son was riding one of the newly arrived horses. Suddenly, he fell from the horse, breaking both of his legs. The villagers arrived quickly to console the farmer. They said, “We are really sorry for you. It is such a curse that your only son has now been handicapped.”
The farmer calmly replied, “It is true that my son may be handicapped, but we cannot say whether it is a curse or a blessing because nobody knows exactly what will happen on tomorrow.”
At that point, the villagers got really angry and shouted, “This farmer has no sense at all!”
After a few months, the king of a neighboring country attacked the farmer’s homeland, and his country seemed to be losing the battle. In an effort to win, the king mandated that all young men join the army and fight against the enemy. His royal summons excluded handicapped persons.
The villagers were all in terrible grief since their sons were required to join in the battle. They thought of the possibility that they might never see them again. They walked over to the farmer’s house and said, “You are a blessed man. At least you know that you son will remain alive.”
But the farmer calmly replied, “I am certainly happy my son will not fight in this war, but we cannot say whether it is a curse or a blessing because nobody knows exactly what will happen on tomorrow.”
The wise old farmer gave that same, calm,
balanced reply for the rest of his life.
What
can we glean from this story? That it is expedient for every believer to
maintain balance and perspective, regardless of prevailing circumstances.
One divine truth that produces hope and peace is simply this: GOD IS ALWAYS
PRESENT, significantly and substantively, in the lives of His sons and
daughters. (Psalm 46:1) Therefore, we need never surrender to doubt or
despair – for we know that JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH is there. (Ezekiel 48:35) Resolve
now to cast all your cares upon HIM. (I Peter 5:7)
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