There was once an umbrella.
It had been made for a purpose.
It was well made and a pleasing color blue. It had been made and labeled to promote a brand.
It had been given away as a promotion.
It was used for a short time and then it joined other umbrellas in a closet.
It was forgotten about and used infrequently.
Often overlooked and passed over while other umbrellas were chosen.
Yet, it was not completely forgotten.
It moved with its owner from one house to another and was not abandoned.
Then one day a call came.
An umbrella was requested.
Compact, Sturdy, and Reliable were the qualities that were needed.
The umbrella was chosen!
It was as if it had a new lease on life.
It was happy to be needed.
It was happy to be useful.
It provided protection and shelter from the rain & sun.
The umbrella had a purpose.
The umbrella was happy!
You are like the umbrella.
You have been made for a purpose. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
You are well made and have been made to promote a brand. Psalm 139:13 For you created my inmost being you knit me together in my mother’s womb. Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 2 Corinthians 5:20a We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,
Sometimes we are useful for a time and then retire ourselves. This maybe because we feel overworked, or underappreciated but we remove ourselves and hide away. Closeting ourselves from our lives and the world. [But in Christ] Luke 8:17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.
You may feel forgotten. But God says in… Isaiah 49:16a See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands!
You are never abandoned, no matter how many places you go. Over and over the Lord says, “I, the Lord, made you, and I will not forget you.” Isaiah 44:21 (paraphrased)
When you recognize and hear God’s voice you will know you got his call. John 10: 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
You are chosen! Ephesians 1:4-5 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will
It is like having a new lease on life! 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!
You want to be needed and useful. James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds Jesus appeared to Saul in Acts 26:16a and said, “Now get up and stand upon your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant. You have a purpose!
Have a purpose and be happy. Philippians 4:13 says, I can do all things through Christ strengthens me. (NKJV)
The Umbrella can also remind you that God is with you in times of trouble.
Isaiah 4:6 It will be shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm & rain.
Mark 4:39 says, He (Jesus) got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be Still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
When the winds and storms of life buffet you about. Pray that Jesus will rebuke the storm inside of you just as he did the wind and waves. So that you may know peace that surpasses all understanding and you can know that God is with you. Psalm 46:10a He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.
All Biblical reference from the Holy Bible, New International Version, (NIV) Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblicia, Inc. unless otherwise noted.