The Donkey In The Well

By Ronnie Wyatt 

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into an old abandoned well. The animal cried for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway. To him, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off! The obvious moral to the story is that life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.

God‘s wonderful word tells us how to view the dirt of life, “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:15-16)”

We are told that no matter what, “do not lose heart!” That phrase literally means to grow weary and faint. As this world tries to throw dirt on you, don’t give up. These verses give us two reasons to stand strong.
1. When people see how God gets you through your tough time, it will cause, “thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”
2. Your outward struggles will cause you to grow closer to God if you let them. That verse says, “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

So, the best way to handle your struggles is to pray, “God, help me to grow closer to you through this and help others to grow closer to you by the way they see you get me through this tough time!”

Remember, each of our troubles is a stepping stone to drawing closer to God. Even the deepest wells can lead to a better relationship with Him! Shake it off and take a step up!  

Verse of the week:  
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  Hebrews 12:2-3