“Utter Despair” walked with a crooked stick. She could no longer see clearly as her feet stumbled along the path. “Where am I going?” she moaned. “I’ve lost my way.”

In the distance, a band of angels heard her voice and were preparing to send help but “Utter Despair” was unaware of them. She plodded along with no hope of recovery. “Utter Despair” had lost her covering years ago when she meddled in the affairs of the world. She had put on the veil of worldliness not recognizing that in doing so, she had given away her glory- even the mind of purity and simplicity.

“Oh, to be a child once more”, “Utter Despair” wailed. “There would be no wrinkles of harassment or sagging feelings of despair. Life would be full of expectancy and excitement. What is there to hope for now?”

The dove who was always perched on her shoulder would not speak. His instruction from “The Most High” was to hold his tongue until he was called upon. He waited for “Utter Despair” to request his assistance, but she disregarded his presence day after day. To “be still and know,” the way of the Spirit was long forgotten.

One day, a frog whose name was “Agitation” stepped into her path. “Foolish woman!” he bellowed. “You’re in my way. Out of it!” he commanded. “Utter Despair” could not believe her ears. How could that unclean creature be standing there in her way, and even taking authority over her? “Utter Despair” had forgotten that she had been given power and authority over all the works of the Devil and had left her faithful companion, “Praise,” behind. It was when she did that, that all her troubles began.

“Holy Spirit, help me!” she cried. The precious dove that had been patiently waiting all along, immediately rose up, fluttering and clapping his wings.

“It’s about time!” he announced. “You need a name change and I’m the one to give you it! Repeat after me: ‘I am Joy, I am Love” until you know that’s who you are,” he directed with an authority that had power. With each recitation, “Utter Despair” changed to “Despair”, to “Little “Hope”, then “Hope,” then “Faith,” then “Expectancy” and then, it happened: the crooked stick flew out of her hand and the angels came out of nowhere carrying with them the rod of Immortality.

“Here, “Love-Joy.” You must use this rod of “Redemption.” Through it you will put on immortality and no unclean spirit will stand in your way again. You must never, never lay it down,” “Michael,” the angel warned with a sternness “Love-Joy” took to heart.

The moment the rod was in her hand, the frog trembled. “It’s Doom’s Day!” he cried trying desperately to move out of the way.

“Love-Joy” pointed the rod of “Glory” at him and spoke without even raising her voice: “Be no more “Agitation!” Poof! “Agitation” disappeared as though he had never been and in his place were the vibrating notes of a new song. The angels who were the only creatures ever formed who could pick up musical sounds and glory rays as humans could a baby, took the notes and rays of glory and inserted them into “Love-Joy”’s heart.

“Oh,” she cried with delight. “I’m alive! I’m alive!” And indeed, she was miraculously transformed from Death unto Life.

Now it’s YOUR turn who have been agitated and in despair! Use that rod of “GLORY“ and get the victory!

Author’s note: When I prayed for a friend tonight, I was given a vision of her walking with a wooden cane that was very thin and crooked. She threw it away and shouted: “I need a new stick!”

When I shared the vision with her, we didn’t know what the new stick was. God is so amazing! As we prayed together about it, I heard the word “rankled” in my spirit which has a meaning of “to cause keen irritation or bitter resentment.” Its etymology is “of a sore, wound, etc. …. “to fester”….literally a “little dragon.” Oh yes, the devil can wear God’s people down through torment, injustices, backbreaking hardships, poverty, sicknesses and more, and we can become rankled IF we don’t use the antidote God has prescribed…. Do you know what that antidote is? God showed us tonight that the “new stick” to “stick it” to the devil is Romans 5: 3-…. GLORYING in ALL our tribulations is that stick…. even a vault pole” to carry us over every one of our obstacles.

“High ho!” It’s to heaven our stick shall be taking us now!