Pick It Up Pt. 2

I wrote on this passage a couple months ago with a different meaning and perspective. Hopefully, this does not come as a secondary thought, but an addition to the meaning of a leap of faith.

This past school year, I went through the book of Exodus with my campus ministry, CCF, in which something that stood out to me was the recognition of miracles in the wilderness. Whether it be the everyday manna that God places in our lives or Moses stopping and not noticing that a bush was burning, but that the bush was not being consumed. These are the things that are often overlooked, but as C.S. Lewis writes, “A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you”, or miracles from above either.

I spent this past week and a half at staff training in anticipation to spend some time serving kids at Kanakuk K-West. It was something I felt anxious about, having this weight at the bottom of my heart that I should be somewhere else, but did God help my unbelief.

Staff training consisted of immediate community, a spiritual high, and an environment full of love and encouragement. It was a great experience, being surrounded by Christians who are there because they have seen the impact of the camp in kids’ lives, they have experienced the other side of the gospel in camp, or there because it’s something new and exciting. Nonetheless, we were all there by choice, for the King.

This in itself is something remarkable, but still something I found myself looking over. Back to manna. Everyday there is always something that we can be thankful for, something God places in our lives. A good friend taught me this semester that if you look hard enough at something, you’ll find something. Even in a gross color, you’d find something beautiful. In a very similar way, God can redeem anything, make anything glorious.

This brings me to a passage I was introduced to couple years ago on a mission trip to Malawi, Africa.

Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there.” And he answered, “Go.” Then one of them said, “Be pleased to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.” Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float. And he said, “Take it up.” So he reached out his hand and took it.- 2 Kings 6:1-7

There is much more to faith than to stand by and watch the goodness of God surround you. You must take the leap of faith and pick it up, and make it your own. This world is full of bystanders, the ones who don’t look up, but if you do, you will see glory; especially in the places where you don’t expect it.

What has been sticking out to me as this passage repeats itself in the back of my mind, is “take it up”. Reach out and take it. There was a miracle performed by God, something so radical and amazing like making a dense, heavy axe head float. It doesn’t even have to be as blatant and obvious as that to see God is doing miracles and blessing us every day in our lives. You woke up this morning and are reading this, is that not a blessing in itself? What is preventing us from reaching out and picking up all the manna that God has provided for us??

It took me so long to realize some of the manna God is giving me. Whether it be waking up in the morning, or having a great cabin family to draw closer to, or being shown grace after snapping at a friend, or being accepted, or having a good breakfast, or having friends to miss, or even feeling pain, sadness, sorrow. Some people can’t even feel that anymore. Pain is a reminder that Christ is coming, that there is a need for unconditional, reckless love. Another piece of manna is being a blessing as well. I was told, “we are blessed to be a blessing.” The list goes on and on.

So look up! Look up from whatever is chaining and enslaving you to look down at all cost, with no glimpse of what is above. We are enslaved to this world and everything it gives us. When things are comfortable or all feels lost, take a step back to look up.

Manna is right in front of us, even if it takes a long time to find it, if you look long enough, you’ll find something. I promise. God is with us in our wandering in the wilderness. All we need to do is to reach out and pick it up. It takes eyes to see God’s goodness, but it takes faith to pick it up. Our job is to be faithful, and God’s job is to be sovereign.

What is stopping you from looking up?

What are some of the everyday manna you are looking over?

What is preventing you from reaching out and picking it up?