Bread for the JourneySample

Drop After Drop

I imagine you've heard the saying that goes, "The drop wears away the stone." What seems insignificant, what has no way of affecting the hardness of a rock, can end up having that effect of breaking the stone through the constancy of one drop after another.

Like this proverb, we find another one that says: "Drop by drop the cup is filled." Again, we look at the drop and think that one drop can never fill a glass or a cup, but each drop poured, one after another, will accumulate so that at some point the cup will be full.

In both cases, it is continuity that gives a drop such power. Alone, it is tiny, very little, but many of them, one by one, produce an astonishing result.

The same thing happens with some things in our lives, such as laziness and negligence. Solomon described it very well when he said: “How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.” (Proverbs 6:9-11, NIV)

Little by little, a culture of idleness is created in us that undermines the desire to do what we should. Phrases such as: "I'll leave it for later," "tomorrow is another day," or "no need to rush too much," result in a sterile and fruitless life.

The "little by little" takes over our time and settles in to diminish our strength. Our spirit is affected, the desire is lacking, and when we realize it, spiritual poverty has arrived. We don't understand how we reached that state of inertia where it's hard for us to pray, read the Word, or dedicate time to the service of the Lord.

It's the drop that has been hitting the stone and finally produced a result that no one would have expected. The strange and surprising thing is that we didn't notice that we didn't stop the drop when we could have. We let ourselves be carried away, and what had to happen happened: there is no strength left to continue.

But God's Word shows us a merciful God who gives strength to the weary. “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (Isaiah 40:29, NIV) A God who lifts up the fallen, who restores and revives. His Spirit convicts us and lets us see where we failed, why we feel worn out and unwilling to do what we should.

Today is the day to stop the drop of laziness in our lives. It is a day to look to heaven, to recognize that we need to lift our drooping hands, that we did wrong in letting discouragement take over us. It is a day to cry out to God to help us strip away all the laziness and negligence that may have wanted to cover our lives, and to instill in us the desire to be diligent and fruitful for His glory.

How can we, who walk this life hand-in-hand with God, allow discouragement to overcome us? By no means, because His strength, His breath, and His fortitude are more than enough to combat our discouragement and revive our whole being.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6, NIV)