Wild Swans and Eliza

 

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A lesson from a fairy tale.

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Based on original story by Hans Christian Anderson

http://www.bartleby.com/17/3/6.html

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In the story, a wicked stepmother queen cursed 11 princes, and turned them into swans. Their sister the princess was also hated by the queen and cast out of the palace.

To save her brothers from this curse, she had to suffer pain day and night,  while she turned thorny nettles into flax to make each one a jacket to throw over them.

During this time, she was not allowed to speak one word. If she did, it would cause a brother to die.

This took a considerable amount of time, so she was very sad, and in pain, as she pursued her lonely task of deliverance.

Her hands bled from the thorns. The pain was exhausting.

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There are a lot of believers now who are suffering as they work to help unsaved loved ones.

The loved ones cause much grief to the believer, and this adds to the pain.

They could be involved in witchcraft, drugs, crime, or just a general, rebellious, sinful lifestyle.

Many others are suffering because loved ones who are saved are in danger, and they have to pray daily for their safe return home.

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Those that are committed to intercession also have to be committed to constant personal sacrifices.

They may have to pray “until their hands bleed,” like Eliza did for her brothers.

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In the end, it was worth it, as she saw her brothers all delivered from the curse.

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WE all have to envision the deliverance and/or salvation also, at the end of our efforts, of those who we are praying for.

We cannot focus on the unsaved one’s behavior, as that will cause more pain.

We have to focus on the goal of salvation and deliverance, and this will help us endure to the end.

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We must not think of the long time involved in praying.

Eternity in the wrong place is even longer.

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The work of intercession can be very painful, and usually is.

The believer suffers as they know what will happen to their loved one if they stop praying.

The time investment pulls them away from normal social activities, and it can be a lonely experience.

The prayers might go on for years, or even a lifetime.

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The loved one could subject the believer to cursing, hateful words, rejection, humiliation, scorn, etc.

This is part of the cross to bear.

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But in the end, there will be joy, and great reward.

I encourage all those who suffer and self sacrifice for others to persist, and endure.

Do not give up. You might be all they have.

The calling to help and pray for others is a high calling, and the time will come when we will see the fruits of our labors and prayers.

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Then we will see our own wild swans redeemed and delivered, and given their place in the kingdom of YHVH God.

Unspeakable joy!!!

 

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