This is from some book mike asked me to type out for him. :D
Years ago I heard an interesting parable about an old mule and a farmer. The story illustrates well what I mean by “sanctified stubbornness.” Once upon a time, there was a farmer who owned an old mule. One day the mule fell into an abandoned well. The farmer came home and heard the old mule bellowing at the top of his lungs from the bottom of the pit. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer realized there was no way he could get the animal out of the deep, dry well. Realizing the mule had seen its best days many years ago, and knowing the well was worthless as a source of usable water, he decided to kill to birds with one stone. He called his neighbors together and told them what had happened. He decided the wisest thing to do was to bury the old mule in the well, hence putting the mule out of its misery and eliminating the hazard of the abandoned well at the same time.
So, as the old mule continued to bray, the farmer began to haul dirt and shovel it down on the mule to bury it. Initially the mule went crazy, thrashing and braying even louder! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and more dirt hit his back, the mule quieted down and relaxed under the barrage of dirt from above. He was about to accept his fate when he got an idea. With every new blow from the dirt, the mule would simply shake it off, and step up on the dirt accumulating earth beneath him. The farmer and his friends could not see into the dark well, but they were sure they were burying the old mule as they shoveled the dirt into the well.
“Shake it off and step up… Shake it off and step up… Shake it off and step up!” the old mule repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows or distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought panic and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up.
You probably know where this story is headed! It wasn’t long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped victoriously over the wall of the well to his newfound freedom! The very dirt intended to bury him actually lifted him to freedom and life! His “burial” became his salvation as he stood on top of his own grave – dirty, bruised, but alive. He refused to accept his fate, and kept shaking off the dirt and stepping up. As a result, he had a new lease on life and one great story to tell around the barnyard for the rest of his life!
When we find ourselves “down in the well,” so as to speak, buried by our challenges, we can do what the mule did – we can shake it off and step up. God supplies the motivation and the means for shaking it off and stepping up. His Spirit lives within us to empower our steps and His Word gives us the promises we stand upon to get out of the well. Here are my top 12 Bible passages that help keep my hope alive no matter what I’m facing:
A DOZEN REASONS TO ALWAYS HAVE HOPE
God is always with you. Hebrews 13:5
God loves you as His child. Romans
God proved His love for you at the cross. Romans 8:32
God’s power is available to you. Philippians
God can exceed your highest expectations. Ephesians
God understands you and your problems. Matthew 6:8
God promises to supply all your needs. Philippians
God’s grace is sufficient for you. 2 Corinthians 12:9
God works all things for good. Romans 8:28
God uses trials to produce maturity. James 1:2-4
God uses trials to display your faith. Philippians
God’s will is good, acceptable, and perfect. Romans 12:2