A Day-by-day devotional

January 15, 2023

Puddles

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Genesis 17-19

Scripture of the Day: Titus 3:1-7

When I was a little girl, I and my siblings loved to play and shower in the rain. We would jump into puddles and watch as the splitter-splatter of rain increases the puddle’s width. We didn’t care much whether the puddle was murky or filled with freshly-poured rainwater.

Nowadays, however, especially when I am wearing my favorite boots, my avoidance of puddles would be undeniable. Even if I had to turn back and walk a much longer path just to evade stepping on a puddle, I would. For who would want soaked shoes, socks and feet?

Puddles are a small pool of dirty water. Often, they are a mixture of rain water and mud on the ground. Fresh rainwater can be refreshing. In fact, for those with little to no access to tap water supply, collected rain water serves the purpose of bathing, cleaning the house and even washing clothes. However, when mixed with muddy ground in the form of a puddle, it is not difficult to detest stepping on it.

In life, we get to encounter a lot of puddles. However much we try to circle around them, to prevent stepping on them as much as we could, one day, we still end up with our feet on them. These are the murky puddles of life we do not want to be in, but we end up finding ourselves in just the same. Life in this world would never be perfect. We are, after all, living in a world marred by imperfections brought about by sin. In life, we will encounter a lot of puddles. If we are careless, it would be a challenge not to fall or step into one.

Getting our shoes, and eventually, our socks and feet wet and dirty is probably not our idea of fun. If you have a long way to go before you get home to wash and dry your feet, walking with the shoes soiled by the puddle would be one most uncomfortable walk.

Still, even if we step into the murky puddles in life, we are not without redemption. No matter how messy life becomes, God offers cleansing and salvation. The puddles in life that we have stepped into in the past, including all the rest that we would still step into in the future, may soil us. But Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has offered His life so that you and I can be washed clean from the puddles of life.

Reflection: What puddle have you gotten yourself into lately? How did you manage to get yourself out of the situation? Did you ask God for help, as a first resort? Or was it the last?

Prayer: Dear Father, with the many puddles in life I encounter, thank you for always pulling me out and getting me through. Most of all dear Lord, thank you for sending your Son Jesus to cleanse me from all the puddle’s soiling. Amen.