One of my favorite Bible College teachers was not a great scholar, but his teaching style was such that you remembered what he said. He loved adding catchy one-line sayings, no matter what the subject was covering. Although not original, one saying in particular has stuck with me and given me comfort numerous times. With his long southern drawl, he told us “when life gives you a lemon, make lemonade.” Through the years since then, I learned that life throws a lot of bitter situations our way and Christians are not immune.
After the exodus of Israel from Egypt, the people travelled three days into the wilderness without finding water. Humans can only live three days without water. I am sure there was great anticipation when they arrived at an oasis called Marah, but the water was bitter and poison. Discouraged, the people grumbled to Moses, “What are we going to drink?” Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree; and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet (Exodus 15:23-25).
Have you ever thought about how that tree got there? How long had it been there? It takes time for a seed to grow into a tree. Here is the miracle: God knew Israel would encounter a lemon of life threatening proportion at that location and at that exact moment. So, sometime prior to this, God arranged for a bird to bring a seed or maybe He used the wind or directed someone to plant the tree. Scripture does not tell us and that’s not even important. What is important for us to see is the fact that God prepared in advance the means of turning Israel’s bitter circumstances into sweetness.
Life gives us a lot of lemons. I think again of Joseph. After years as a slave and prisoner, God turned his bitter circumstances into something sweet. Not only did he receive his freedom, he was elevated to second in command of the nation of Egypt, and Joseph also received a wife. The names of his sons tell us much about his new life. He named his first son Manasseh which means, God has made me forget all my trouble… and he named his second son Ephraim which means, God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction. Later when he was reunited with his brothers who were fearful because of what they had done to Joseph, he explained to them, You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people (Gen 50:21). They threw him a bitter lemon, but God turned it into sweetness.
I counseled a family whose daughter became pregnant while single. I gave them this advice, “You’ve just received a bitter lemon, but now let God turn it into lemonade.” Today that grandchild is a sweet blessing, having brought much joy and laughter. Many grandparents face this same bitter situation but cannot see beyond the initial disappointment and pain. Allow God to turn the bitter into something sweet.
But what about those bitter situations we create or bring upon ourselves? King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrated the death of her husband, Uriah. Afterward, David repented, took Bathsheba as his wife, however, the son they conceived during their adulterous encounter died. What a bitter situation David had created! Could any sweetness ever come out of this? David’s lemon illustrates a verse we all quote, yet find harder to live. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28). Despite this sinful beginning, Bathsheba gave birth to a second son and named him Solomon (2 Sam 12:24). Not only did he become King, Jesus was born out of his linage.
Some falsely teach today that Christians with enough faith will not encounter bitter circumstances in their life. Well, if that is true, I guess I do not have enough faith. We live in a sinful world and life has bitterness. The difference for Christians is that we serve a sovereign God who can make all things work together for our good. Also, He has given us the power of the Holy Spirit and wisdom enabling us to make a bitter situation into something sweet.
Sustaining Word for the Week:
Whatever you are facing this week, even if it is a life threatening lemon, God has already provided the means of turning it into sweet lemonade.