Ebenezer

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"'Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.'"

-1 Samuel 7:12

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My heart was filled with unexplainable joy as I came upon this verse. “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

This verse is so very meaningful because even in the worst of circumstances, God still helps us. Two verse I always bring before God are, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them.” And, “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry.” My inner circle friends know I mean business when I call them and ask, "Why is this happening to me? What did I do God?”

It’s not always about what we do. No matter how hard the trial might be, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” Ebenezer, the very rock that we stand upon, is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our strong tower, the Rock of all rocks who thus far has helped us and continues to do so.

This monument was placed in a very interesting place. You see, it was here in this place where the Israelites were defeated by the Philistines 20 years earlier. Samuel has been asked by the Israelites to go pray on their behalf. After, prayer, Samuel went to put up this Ebenezer. Obviously, he was led of God to erect such a monument, and strategically placed there of all places. You see, God often leads us to places that might not make sense to us, but makes all sense to Him, and in time makes sense to us, too.

Imagine, this Ebenezer was placed as a remembrance at a place of complete defeat. Let’s look at it this way. Think of a time in your life where you have been most hurt and God sets up a park bench for you to go and sit there. Why would God allow a place for you to sit at the very place of hurt and destruction that took place in your life? Who amongst us would lift a hand with excitement, shouting, “Ohhh pick me, pick me God?” Sounds crazy right? Except God does everything with great purpose.

The places we have suffered greatly are the very places where the greatest of victories lie. It’s at that very place where we must erect our own Ebenezer. We might feel or think God wasn’t with us, or that He didn’t help us. Feelings lie all the time, and what we think sometimes it’s not really true. No denying here that there are times in our lives where it’s excruciatingly painful. Sometimes, I’ll be somewhere and someone will do something or say something (not bad) but it will invoke a memory or a feeling in me. I can feel the tears getting ready to come out. I have to stop myself and remind myself I’m in public, and I can’t cry now. Then, I remind myself how good, gracious, kind, and loving God has been to me in the muddle of my hardship. “Thus far He has helped me.”

Please understand that we can’t move forward until we learn to erect our own Ebenezer smack in the dead center of the greatest of battles. God led Samuel to erect and build a stone of remembrance at a place of pain, death, and anguish to remind them, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” The word, “Thus” is very interesting because it means “As a result of this or that.” The result of any kind of pain we have endured either results in us being bitter or sweeter. The difference between the outcome always lies in our attitude.

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Attitude is everything.

In other words, will we recognize that in all situations

that we need to maintain a heart of

gratitude and thankfulness.

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We must learn to build up our very own Ebenezer smack in the middle of our greatest battle, thanking God for “Thus far helping us.” I had to ponder why twenty years later? Why so long? As I studied the battles that took place there. I realized it was in this very place where another battle took place twenty years later that was total victory to the Israelites, and with the same people, the Philistines. God gave them victory and won their battle the second time around. You understand? When we choose to obey God in everything He gives us total victory in the very thing we lost before. This, for us, should be a, “Wow Moment.”

Now, this Ebenezer is a monument built to remind them what occurred there before and after. They could be unthankful for what happened there before or thankful for what God did for them there now. Two battles, two different outcomes. Obedience and thankfulness are the keys to victorious outcomes.

Today, circumstances have changed but the meaning remains the same. We must be thankful in all circumstances of our lives. Let’s build our own Ebenezer in the dead center of whatever took place in our lives. God can’t move us forward until He brings us back to acknowledge the things that we have been ungrateful about. Please understand, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for the many times You have helped me. In every circumstance, may I constantly be reminded to be grateful that You have helped me this far. I ask that You continue to be with me and to be my Helper. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles