There was a seed in my seedless orange that inspired the senseless discouragement.

Acidic thoughts rambled in my mind at the unfairness of it all.

How dare the packaging promise seedless, when it was obvious they were mistaken.  Now what?  Hardly likely I’ll buy from this manufacturer again.

Seriously, am I any different when I encounter discouragement–when faith in Jesus promises that I’ll be without struggle.

At least that’s what the television evangelists promise.  Prosperity.  Trust in Jesus and life will be amazing.  Free from pain.  Free from struggle.  Free from hurt.  Free from discouragement.  You get the picture.

No pits in the fruitfulness of life.  

Well, that’s hardly the truth.  Unfortunately, that is how seeds of doubt creep into our souls and choke out the truth of it all.

A look back over the last few years shows evidence of pits–

One daughter’s accident, who miraculously survived without a scratch, as her vehicle hung suspended mid-air by the grip of a guard rail–which kept her from flying over and into a deep ravine–undeniably, this piece of metal saved her from absolute death.

Or the close call with the brush of death of another daughter by her suicide attempt, in a dark parking lot, one dark, distraught night.

Then, there was the discovery that my past was riddled with sexual abuse,  which I’m only now fully comprehending.

Also, the setbacks and lawsuits which caused us to lose all our financial stability over the last ten years, and are only now crawling out of the financial hole.

And, hubby and his illness.

Life can be exhausting.

Still, Jesus never promised life free of pits, or without pitfalls.  

Joseph and Jeremiah can attest to this as they were literally dumped into the pit.

But, what I’ve discovered is this–

He promises prosperity in the pitfalls of life if we just reach out and take hold of Him.  

I ate my orange and have enjoyed the ever-sweetness of another, and another, and another.