April 9
The Cherokee Legend
“For we walk by faith, not by sight”
II Corinthians 5:7
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth’s rite of passage? His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shines through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is considered to be a man. He is sworn to secrecy beforehand that he cannot speak of his experience to the other boys because each one must come into manhood on his own with no help from anyone else.
When the night falls and the warmth of the sun is lost the sounds of the dark rise bringing terror to the heart of the boy. Wild beasts can be heard crying in the distance and fear gives birth to questions of, “What if there are humans out there who will come upon me to attack or even kill me? What if a lion or bear comes out of the woods to attack me? What of poisonous animals that could bring sickness or death? The wind howls and the weather turns bleak, but the boy must continue to sit on the stump no matter what, and he cannot remove the blindfold for any reason for it is the only way he can become a man.”
After a long and horrifying night the boy can feel the warmth of the sun’s rays coming through his blindfold. Greatly relieved that the night is over he removes the blindfold. Sitting there just a few feet away was his father. He had been there beside his son keeping watch the entire night. Though the boy could not see his father, he was there and had been there protecting him the entire time.
You and I beloved, have a Heavenly Father that keeps watch with us; a Father who is there even when we can’t see Him, hear Him or touch Him. Though the fierce winds blow, the storm clouds rage, He is keeping His watch beside His child. His presence is sure and He will keep watch with you, precious one, until the morning watch.
Walk by faith not by sight.
Pearls of Grace is a book of devotions for the entire year, including a read through the Bible in a year calendar, broken down for every day. Beautifully written with encouraging words of hope and empowering words of joy and strength for every woman. Pam draws from the truth and richness of God's Word and gives real life examples in her down to earth style. A must have in your library, click here for more information.
For more from Pam Jenkins and Jabbok Ministries, please visit www.jabbokministries.com!
Listen to Pam Jenkins's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com.
For more from Pam Jenkins and Jabbok Ministries, please visit www.jabbokministries.com!
Listen to Pam Jenkins's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com.
