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Spiritual Short

Packing light? Don’t forget your tambourine!

From the August 2026 issue of The Christian Science Journal


I love how the Bible is so consistently relevant to our lives today. Recently I gained fresh inspiration from the example of Miriam, Moses’ sister. A verse in Exodus (15:20) describes her response to the Israelites’ safe crossing of the Red Sea: Miriam took her timbrel (tambourine) and led the women in a victory dance.

What struck me was that even in their hasty departure from Egypt, Miriam and the other women had brought tambourines! If you were putting together a packing list for that momentous trip, would it have included a tambourine? Theirs did. They must have been expecting a victory—and the need to celebrate it.

This says so much about how to approach difficult situations. Although we may be tempted to be afraid or hesitant, reliance on God enables us to expect triumph. This confidence changes everything! It overcomes doubt and impatience, opening thought to fresh perspectives and receptivity to divine guidance.

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The only legitimate pressure
“Pray the ninety-first Psalm!”
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