My dad has been dead almost a year now. I am not someone who you would say has a green thumb – I’ve been known to even kill cactus. When my dad died, a friend sent me the most beautiful basket with three types of plants in it. A Prayer plant is one of them, but I couldn’t tell you what the other two are. Over this past year the plant had flourished, and even grew to double the size it originally was! I was very, very happy with this plant. Christmas came, and I moved the plant from where I keep it all year to make room for decorations. Without really thinking it through, I moved the plant to the top of our Entertainment Center.
It just so happens that on top of the Entertainment Center is where the sun sets its focus, and all day unmercifully beats down upon it. Oh, I forgot to mention that the Dining Room is where I had always kept the plant – it never got direct sunlight. The first week of January came, and I took down the Christmas decorations. I went to grab the plant to put it back in its spot, and I was shocked to see that my once beautiful plant was now dry and withered, almost dead! I promise – there is a point to me telling you this story…
“In the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.” Isaiah49:2
That was the scripture verse today in my devotional. It reminded me of this plant. There are some of us who, when we are placed “in the shadow of God’s hand”… not in the spotlight… we flourish! Maybe you’re in a season of your life where the sunlight has departed, maybe it’s a shadowed sickroom or some shadowed house of grief. If you are in the shadow of God’s hand – He’s leading you, and there are lessons that can only be learned where He leads. We can’t assume that He has pushed us aside. Let’s look at that scripture again, “… he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.” Now think of a warrior. A ’quiver’ is the warriors long narrow case full of arrows he has on his back. God says He’s keeping you in His quiver; He’s keeping you nearby till the moment comes when He can send you quickly and confidently on some mission that will bring Him glory.
So we need to remember how we are always in easy reach of His hand, and think about this… We are also being jealously protected! I hope that encourages you!
If all of life were sunshine,
Our face would long to gain
And feel once more upon it
the cooling splash of rain. ~ Henry Jackson Van Dyke