 Why does life seem so up and down? So emotional? So uncertain? Why are my paths so curvy?
Flash back with me to the end of July. “Trust in the Lord.” I am clinging to these words right now as I wait. You see, I am waiting to hear if my son’s Covid test is positive. My mind is spinning as I think about the ramifications of a positive test. Conner is supposed to report to Newberry College Football practice in 11 days. Could a positive test delay that? He is an incoming freshman. You know he wants to be there the first day. A positive test also means that Chris and I need to get tested. Oh...I don’t even want to go there. We would need to close the office if one of us has a positive test. Office not open, no money coming in. What about our employees? How will we pay our bills? Being a small business owner has been very tough lately. So, I sit here reading the first part of Proverbs 3:5-6; “Trust in the Lord.” But nothing makes sense. What if...NO...don’t go there! I need to trust in the Lord. If I don’t, I will be consumed with stress and worry. Maybe I better read the rest of the verses. “Lean not on your own understanding.” My understanding is limited and can be very narrow. The Lord sees the whole picture and His perfect plan. A positive test may be needed for His perfect plan to be played out. I may not understand why things happen, but God does and He will use them for His good and glory. “In all your ways submit to him.” I’m doing that...right? ALL MY WAYS? I am not so sure. Am I going to God with all the little things in my life before I make a decision? Am I looking to Him as I plan out my meals or online shop? What about choosing what TV shows to watch or the books I read. Submitting to Him in all these things that I think are little, can stop a bad thing from building up and getting big. Some of these are just little everyday things. What about the harder, emotional stuff? Am I submitting my emotions to Him? “And He will make your paths straight.” Now it is God’s time to shine. He is going to make my paths straight...but only after I “Trust in Him”, “Lean not on my own understanding”, and “Submit all my ways to Him”. Yes, the test was negative. No, we did not have to close the office down. Yes, Conner reported to college on time and is doing great. So that is the end. Right? Not really. Fast forward to today...I am clinging to this verse again. Waiting for God to make my paths straight. I NEED Him to do His part. But then I realize that I am not doing my part? I am not trusting Him with the struggles I am facing today. I am leaning on my own understanding; trying to fix things on my own. I am not submitting everything to Him. I have frustrations, anger, and bitterness building inside me. He wants me to give these difficult things to Him, instead of burying them. I am resting in my own strength to get through each day. I am allowing life to pull me away from the one person that can make my paths straight. What about you? Are you trusting in God with all your heart? Do you trust the plan He has or are you leaning on your own understanding? Do you acknowledge Him with all things, or just the simple things? Do you have areas of frustration, bitterness, or anger you need to give to God? Do you desire to have your paths made straight? Notice I didn’t say, “Do you desire to make your paths straight” because we can't do this on our own. We need God to make our paths straight. That is His job, but we have to do our part too. And that isn’t always easy. If you feel this way, join me in this prayer: Lord, right now I am struggling with many things. I want to trust You, but I find myself trying to figure things out on my own. I acknowledge that You know best. I know that You want me to bring everything to You and place it at Your feet, trusting in Your outcome...not my own. Help me Lord to trust in You. Help me to lean on your understanding, not my own. Help me to acknowledge You in all areas of my life...even the ones I am not sure I want to acknowledge. And help me wait on You to make my paths straight. I love you Lord, Amen. Please comment or like if you would like me to pray for you do your part so God can make your paths straight.
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