Raise My Ebenezer

I Samuel 7:12 "Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name "Ebenezer", saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us."

Nearly 20 years ago during one of the darkest periods of my life I went for a walk in the woods with a very dear friend.  We had been discussing the faithfulness of God and how even when we are faithless - He is always faithful.  We came across a couple of really nice flat stones and we took them back to her camp and we wrote "Ebenezer" on each one.

This rock has traveled from house to house with me ever since.  It was only just this past week when we were studying the life of Samuel that I was reminded of this rock.  It seemed so appropriate to go and find it and write about it.

There is an old hymn called "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" that has been one of my favorites over the years.  In the second stanza it says:

"Here I raise my Ebenezer

Here there by Thy great help I've come

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure

Safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me when a stranger

Wandering from the fold of God

He, to rescue me from danger 

Interposed His precious blood"

Samuel placed this rock as a stone of remembrance of all the ways that God had helped the people of Israel during all their wanderings.  And how good it is for me to also remember that.  During times of my wanderings God showed Himself faithful.  There were parents, family and friends that prayed for me and continued to reach out to me even when my actions were disappointing to them.  Why?  Because they felt the prompting in their hearts by my faithful Father to hold me close.  And over time the dark clouds parted and I could once again see the light of His love and come back to what I knew all along was the source of my joy and peace. He, rescued me from danger.

And even now when we find ourselves in this dark time in our country we should raise our Ebenezer and remember all the ways that God has proven Himself faithful to us.  If it were not for His grace we would be completely undone.  And He continues to be there - waiting for us to humble ourselves and pray and ask Him for His help and guidance as we navigate the troubled waters.  No man or woman can solve the heavy problems that face us now.  Only our God, the giver and sustainer of life holds all the answers.  We need not fear, we need not despair, we need only to trust - knowing this "Thus far the Lord has helped us."