Then the men of the city said to Elisha, "Behold now, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad and the land is unfruitful." He said, "Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him. He went out to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, "Thus says the Lord, 'I have purified these waters; there shall not be from there death or unfruitfulness any longer.'" So the waters have been purified to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.
2 Kings 2: 19-22
Interesting. Who would think that salt, which kills most plants, would make water fruitful?
The Lord gave this to me as a picture, since this weekend marks our 44th year together. It hasn't been an easy 44 years for either one of us, although in my opinion He got the raw end of the deal, much like that of a husband whose new bride goes off on a world trek without him for a few decades and sends him the occasional postcard.
In taking me to this story of Elisha, however, the Lord is acknowledging that I have come through some difficult things myself, things that He allowed and sometimes even orchestrated. But He's also reminding me that, in His hands, what seems as though it was sent to destroy me -- all of us -- has in fact been sent to prepare us for renewed life.
God's ways are often very counter-intuitive, but He ALWAYS intends whatever He takes us through to produce life and fruitfulness.
Happy anniversary, Beloved.