Category Archives: Submitting to God

Stopped Short

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It’s the middle of February, and here in Michigan we are in the firm grip of winter. Tonight’s forecast is for 9 degrees, and the road in front of my house is coated with clear, crunchy ice. Though our 16” of snow has compacted itself in recent days, outside the windows it’s still a winter wonderland.

Fudge ripple beachThe beach is especially striking in winter, looking every bit like a movie set with its frozen hills and icy creek. Wild winds have blended sand and snow till the landscape resembles chocolate ripple cake batter.

Amidst all this frosty splendor I was recently amazed by a winter-time sight along a Wisconsin expressway.

Frozen mid-streamThe highway was framed by rocky cliffs that had had water gently flowing in mini-waterfall fashion. Because of low temps, the water froze mid-drop, creating striking sculptures of ice. I could hardly stay on the road for wanting to stare at these remarkable formations.

They reminded me of the way God sometimes stops us in our tracks. Maybe we’re heading in a wrong direction or making an unwise decision that will lead to no place good. In trying to spare us heartbreak or failure, he thwarts our plans in-the-now. We get frustrated and feel exactly like those icy waterfalls look: completely stuck.

Though we thought we’d been on our way to something good, changing circumstances rearrange our plans, and we get stopped short of our goals. Then, when we can’t see beyond our jammed-up present to a free-flowing future, we feel trapped. And when that happens, it’s easy to blame God:

We say, “You could have made a way for me, but you chose to stop me instead, and that makes me mad.”

The reality is that somewhere down the road, when we’re in the middle of unique circumstances we couldn’t possibly have foreseen, we’ll look back at our anger over being stopped “prematurely” and be grateful we were.

Winter timeThough we may not arrive to God’s good plan quickly, he does promise he has plans that will “prosper us and give us a hopeful future.” So, since he said it, we believe it…. even when everything around us is still frozen solid.

“Be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and per- fect.” (Romans 12:2)

Unexpected

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Last week I blogged about Emerald’s little lost boot (Booted). She loved those boots in particular because they were just like her mama’s, but she hadn’t quite grown into them. The day the boots slipped off her feet it was snowing hard, and Emerald was being carried to the car. We didn’t notice they were gone till we were 20 miles away.

Snowy bootAt the end of that day, we’d found one of the boots buried in snow, but I was sure we wouldn’t find the other till the spring thaw.

Nelson, Birgitta, and I all searched diligently, but finally gave up, letting the little black boot go. I even stopped asking God to show us where it was, although I knew he could see it.

We kept the found boot “just in case,” but it only served to remind us of the one we’d lost. Then, lo and behold, today we found the second boot! Though I’d been in and out of my car a dozen times since it had disappeared, today for some reason I saw it. It had been in plain view all along, lying at the edge of Emerald’s car seat.

IMG_5162On one of those days I had set groceries in that car seat, and on another I’d used it to hold a stack of mail. We’d also buckled Emerald in and out of it twice. But more than that, we’d all inspected the car and especially the area around the car seat multiple times, but none of us had seen the boot.

Isn’t that sometimes the way we “find” new things in relation to our spiritual lives? We read books, listen to sermons, and attend Bible studies asking God, “Where is the answer to my question?”

But he seems silent, unwilling to reveal what we need to see. Until one day, when we least expect it, he sends a clear, concise answer.

Why the delay?

Maybe it’s because much of the time we’re moving so fast we miss what God is trying to tell us. Maybe we just aren’t ready for what he has to say until he finally opens our eyes to it. It’s also possible we think we already know how he’s going to answer us, so we can’t see his ideas for seeing our own.

But then all of a sudden, it’s right in front of us… just like Emerald’s boot.

IMG_5163Those boots are now ready for immediate use, since both have been safe and dry the entire time. The same goes for when God reveals what’s been hidden. Once he decides we’re ready, he lets us see it… and right after that we can put it to immediate use.

“I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord.” (Isaiah 45:3)

Booted

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Emerald's shoesDressing toddlers is tricky. Often they have their own outfit-preferences and make them loudly known. But even when they comply with Mommy’s choices, there’s no guarantee they’ll stay clothed, especially when it comes to shoes.

The other day, Nelson, Birgitta, Emerald, and I were running errands together shortly after a foot-deep snowfall. As we got out of the car at our first stop, we noticed Emerald’s snow boots were missing, and she was in stocking feet. We searched the car but came up empty, leaving us no choice but to carry her… boot-less.

Once we were back at home, we thought surely we’d find her cute little black boots there, but no. This was especially frustrating, since they were new, and the snow was deep.

Lonely cold bootThat’s when Nelson headed out to shovel, and wouldn’t you know, right off the bat he spotted a boot peeking out of the snow from where it must have slipped off Emerald’s foot. Looking for its mate, he poked around, stirred the drifts, and carefully watched each shovel-full of snow as it flew through the air. But #2 never appeared.

Later we scoured the house again, looked once more in the car, and even prayed, but it wasn’t to be. Now we have one lonely boot awaiting its mate, useless without it.

Sometimes that’s exactly the way we are in our relationship to God: We’re off somewhere all by ourselves, unaware that we’re missing something very important. Oh, we can function on our own, just like Emerald could walk in the snow with one boot. But until she’s wearing both, their true purpose can’t be realized.

God wants us to come as close to him as two boots in a pair. When we do, we’ll learn about the exciting plans he has for us. But until we partner with him, our true purposes remain unrealized.

Lonely bootAmazingly, many of us choose that option, to go it alone, because we like the idea of controlling our own destinies. God has a destiny in mind for each of us too, but he’s not going to force it on anyone who doesn’t want it.

Some of us might say, “Because God is God, it’s possible his plans are superior to mine. So I’ll take a look at it, and then I’ll weigh one against the other.” But God doesn’t play that game. It’s either commit or forfeit. We either place our faith in him, or by default, we place it in ourselves.

It’s our choice.

As for me, all I have to do is picture Emerald walking in the snow with one boot on to be reminded that life works better in pairs – especially when one half of it is the Lord himself.

“As for me, it is good to be near God.” (Psalm 73:28)