My husband long hoped our farm would become a land of milk and honey. Thus far we do not own any cattle but my husband is now officially a beekeeper. Beekeeping is far more complicated than I had imagined. We have learned much about beekeeping on the internet and from Pat, a qualified friend.
There are however some lessons that just come from experience. We learned one such lesson when we purchased bees for our second hive.
It is best to order bees in January. Who knew? Definitely not us! After umpteen phone calls we finally found a beekeeper who had available bees with a young queen. We shelled out $100 for the bees and $15 for the box to transport them in, then loaded up the SUV to drive the 95 miles back home. After just a couple miles, we noticed bees flying all over our SUV. I wanted to stop and let them out but my husband did not want to risk losing the queen. Instead we turned up the air conditioner full blast to keep the bees towards the back of the vehicle while my husband continued driving. I was supposed to pay attention to where we were going but focused on what was behind me instead, fearing the sting. We continued
towards our destination with turmoil and difficulty. Hey, I wasn’t being the perfect helpmate, but at least I resisted the temptation to jump out of the vehicle!
I have never been stung by a honey bee, not even on that day; but other experiences in life have resulted in stinging pain. For many years I did my best not to think about what was behind me; but recently a plethora of memories covering a wide spectrum of emotions have come to the forefront of my thinking,
especially as I write personal letters and devotions. Memories, even painful ones, are not inherently bad. We can learn from them, teach from them, even grow from them if they are handled properly. Like the bees in the SUV, however, my memories buzzed about my brain recklessly. Sometimes I would stare back
at them. Other times I continued moving forward, but with apprehension and a sense of unease. Like with the bees, I did not want to lose out on the sweetness in life that they could produce; but I needed a safer way to carry them through life. I just had no idea how to.
The other day I was driving around town while listening to a message on this very subject. Brothers and sisters in Christ can be used by God to advise us regarding challenges in our walk, but they cannot solve our problems or heal us. They are not our answers. God alone is. God alone has the capacity to heal, just as He alone deserves the glory when it happens. At the end of the message, the speaker prayed for release from insecurities. I had also sought God through prayer and fasting for the same. Suddenly, while alone with my Lord in the car, I was overwhelmed with a sense of His presence. I cannot explain how God worked a miracle in my heart, but I know that He did. I am no longer overwhelmed by feelings of insecurity
or the fear of rejection. It’s that simple and complicated. In an instant God took a lifetime of memories, removed the stingers, and ordered them to work like busy bees for Him. I know from experience and from His Word that He can do the same for you.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all. (NASB)Psalm 34:18-19
On the day I called Thou didst answer me; Thou didst make me bold with strength in my soul. (NASB)Psalm 138:3
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. (NASB)Psalm 139:23-24