“In a dry season? Grab a towel!”

Like many of you, I am still standing in faith to see God do great and mighty things in the lives of several folks I love, and specifically in the business areas of companies I am honored to be connected and to walk alongside. Despite it all, there still appears to be nothing but the sound of “pruning shears” and/or “deafening sound of silence” regardless of “keeping our hands to the plow” in this season. Tempted to be discouraged.

While heading out to run this morning, I asked God to show me something, to give me a fresh perspective since I know that NOTHING is impossible to HIM and that HIS Word is the final authority regardless of what I see, feel, hear or smell (my senses/circumstances). I listened to John chapters 11 – 13, and they spoke to me… hope it encourages you too.T

John chapters 11 thru 13 are in the last days of Jesus’ life before being crucified. In Chapter 11, Jesus raised one of his closest friends (Lazarus) from the dead – and the reward for this great miracle was that religious leaders were offended by it and plotted to kill Jesus since it threatened their power base; in Chapter 12, the religious leaders plotted to not only kill Jesus but Lazarus (out of fear that the people would follow a real Jesus and thus lose their own power… sound familiar?). Later in Chapter 12, Jesus made his entrance into the Jerusalem in the Passover week and had folks yelling out “HOSANNA!” (these same folks would also scream out “CRUCIFY HIM” only a few days later).

Pause button. Jesus was having a bad season. Not only did he know he was about to be abused, cursed, spit on, mocked and ultimately sacrificed on a cross, he also knew that his homeboys would all abandon Him. But despite that, Jesus kept pushing onward.

Then I listened to Chapter John 13… look at verses 3 – 5 in the Passion Translation: “Now Jesus was fully aware that the Father had placed all things under his control, for he had come from God and was about to go back to be with him. So he got up from the meal and took off his outer robe, and took a towel and wrapped it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ dirty feet and dry them with his towel”

Despite all of the circumstances that faced Jesus, He never forgot Who He was or His authority; and instead of being discouraged, He chose to serve and wash the feet of the same disciples who would abandon Him only hours later.

I then heard this inside my heart: “Keep standing in faith, but grab a towel… wash someone’s feet.” Despite the continued sound of silence and pruning shears in the background, God imparted inside me a renewed sense that HE can never fail and that HE is still doing HIS Thang regardless of my ability to see it in the natural. HE also reminded me in that moment that all I am required to do is to seek Him, to trust Him, and to let Him be God.

So, I have grabbed my towel and am looking for some stanky feet today (and yes, I will even throw in a free “toe-popping” too). Giddy up