It was one of those days for Jack, our dog, that kept his eyes shining and tail wagging — until I told him it was time to go. We were at one of his favorite places to run and play. He often met other dogs there, some old friends and some new. On this particular day he met a white terrier named Henry. I walked around the field with Henry’s owner while he and Jack ran in large circles taking turns chasing each other. Seeing them having so much fun was sheer delight. As we completed a second time around the field, and neared the place where our car was parked, I said goodbye to Henry and his owner and told Jack it was time to go. His normally curled up tail drooped down into a straight line. He looked into my eyes with his own longing ones. I knew he wanted to stay and play, but I also knew it was best for him to follow my plan. You see, I knew something Jack didn’t know.
Three of his human friends, painters on the estate where we live, would be looking for Jack at a certain time we had agreed upon. They loved Jack and Jack loved them, too. They would get on the ground and wrestle with Jack, and they always had a treat for him in their pockets. Back at the park, Jack was giving me that, “pleeeease let me stay,” look, but I said no. I hooked him to his leash and led a dejected Jack back to the car. He sat staring mournfully out the window. When we arrived back home, instead of taking him inside, I walked him around the lake where we live, taking him to the other side. There were the painters unloading their work van. They saw Jack at the same he saw them. Oh, what joy! I laughed at the sudden tangle of painters and Jack playing happily on the ground. Jack’s disappointment at leaving the park was all forgotten.
Don’t you and I do the same thing at times in regard to where our Heavenly Father leads us? We may be thoroughly enjoying where we are and what we are doing at some given moment. Then, with no warning, the situation changes. Our world suddenly seems to be turned upside down. We want to stay where we are, but our Father is definitely opening doors that lead in an entirely different direction. We may feel dejected. We may feel angry. We may feel forgotten or like our own desires don’t matter, but I encourage each one of us to remember the truth of Jeremiah 29:11, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ said the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster. to give you a future and a hope.'”
Your loving Father in Heaven cares deeply for your future, whether it’s one hour from now or a year away. His plans are without mistake. They are always for your good, even when you don’t understand the ‘whys’ of His leading. Remember, His plans for you bring inner peace, joy immeasurable, develop strength and courage, and plant wisdom within you as you experience His leading. You and I can’t see around the corner of our tomorrows or even into the next hour, but God sees all. He knows your every minute yet to come. There will be joyful mountaintop experiences and there will be lonely, tearful times in the valley, but in each moment, your Father is there. He has already planned your next step and He is with you all the way.
“He knows where I am going, and when He tests me, I will come out as pure gold, for I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed His ways and not turned aside (Job 23:10-11NLT).”
It was a day like many. Our dog, Jack, was in the backseat. My mother and I were in the front. We knew where we were headed — the beach — just a five minute drive away. I pictured Jack and I walking along the grassy knoll near the shoreline. My mother would wait in the car watching kite surfers in the distance. We turned down one familiar road and then another to reach our planned destination. Then, with no warning, we were jolted with a mighty thud! I had hit a pothole. The road was black, the hole was black. I just didn’t see it coming. Firm plans were now anything but as the front tire began to leak.
Can you identify? Life is full of potholes that deviate us from our plans. What was once a certain path to follow, in a moment fills with doubt, even despair. We wake up to a planned day, when in the middle of it, we get that call from the hospital that changes everything. Perhaps we are knocked off course when a relationship deemed to last forever breaks apart. Maybe that promised job promotion, unfairly in our opinion, goes to someone else. The college we dreamed of attending denies our application. Life is filled with our plans; equally it is filled with potholes that knock us off our course.
No one is exempt from hitting a pothole, but we have a promise from God to replace the worry, sorrow, uncertainty, and aloneness, with hope and inner peace. Jesus spoke the words Himself in Matthew 28:20, “Be sure of this,” He said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Jesus is never surprised by a pothole. He does not wring His hands in despair. He knows the way we are going and He knows His own strength and peace is ours for the taking. His words, “I am with you always,” are full of comfort, courage, strength, peace, hope, wisdom, and joy. How do we know that? Because Jesus is the epitome of everything good. He is perfect and holy. He makes no mistakes. He is within us through the Holy Spirit. It is because of the indwelling Holy Spirit that we have everything we need to get us through anything at all.
Potholes will come. There is no doubt about it, but Jesus’ guidance and filling with His power will come, too. Be sure in your own heart of who He is and of all He has to offer to those who have received Him into their lives. No pothole can thwart God’s purposes for you or quash His peace within you. He is stronger than any pothole.
A memory flashed into my mind this week. My sister had been about four years old when, with a great smile on her face, she announced she was making something special for our Mom and Dad. She then went into the kitchen and returned with two bowls of cereal — cornflakes with water, salt and pepper! Of course, I was aghast! As the big sister I wanted to tell her right away what a stupid thing to do. My parents gave the look that said be quiet. I stood amazed as they each took several spoonfuls of this concoction, and then thanked her for it! I did note they also said they were now so full they couldn’t possibly eat another bite :) My sister took the bowls away with the greatest of happiness in her heart. She had given in love, and her gift had been received in the same manner.
Do you ever feel inadequate? Perhaps you want to do something for God but you convince yourself you have nothing of worth to offer. You tell yourself that others around you are more talented, can do things better than you, have more to offer, etc. Let me remind you of the verse found in II Corinthians 9:7, “Each one of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Your Heavenly Father isn’t looking for the best overall; He is looking for your best, and He loves it when you give your best with a happy heart, just like my sister gave her cornflakes extravaganza.
Was cornflakes with water, salt and pepper the best gift of all? Yes, for her four year old self, it was the best she could give and she gave it with a joyful heart. It was received in the same joy. If we, as earthly imperfect beings, can receive imperfect gifts, when we know the gifts are given in great love, how much more is our perfect Heavenly Father pleased with what we give Him? It’s not a matter of the gift; it’s a matter of the giving heart. Give of your best today. Joy will be shared in great measure between you and your Heavenly Father.
I was reading in the book of Proverbs this week when, as I began chapter three, a sweet memory warmed me all over. The passage I read was Proverbs 3:1-2, “My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying.” Here is the memory that swept over me: In my teen years, not long after I became a Christian, I asked my Dad if we could study together. He happily agreed. We would open our Bibles at the kitchen table and discuss all sorts of passages. We actually did that for the whole of his life from that moment. Whenever I would come home, we enjoyed time with Bibles open and discussing.
I remember the above passage so well. My Dad encouraged me to remember that all of God’s promises are true and never fail. He urged me to memorize Scripture. He said the living Words of God would come back to me right when I needed them. He said whatever the number of days I had to live on earth, with God’s Word imbedded in my heart, I would be filled with abiding peace no matter any difficult situation, and would be stronger in my quest to be obedient to His direction that is always without mistake. He said in following God’s Word I would always have blessings surround me.
Five decades have passed since my Dad and I first looked at Proverbs 3:1-2. In all that time I have known the wisdom of my earthly father, and the Words of my Heavenly Father to be absolutely true. Like so many of you reading, I have known grief, I have had abundance of things and I have had very little, I have known betrayal, I have known danger to my life, I have known pleasure and I have known disappointment, I have had so many good times, and I have had times I would rather forget, but in all these things, I testify absolutely, positively, no doubt about it, the Holy Spirit whispering God’s Word into my heart has been my strength, my joy, and my peace. It drives me on when I feel weak. It lifts me up when I feel down. My Heavenly Father’s Word never fails me.
Yes, what sweet memory came to me this week. May you also know the joy and comfort of God’s Living Words strengthening you in your own walk thru life. The sheer delight in doing so is out of this world.
I was walking in the neighborhood with our dog, Jack, this week when we passed a group of school kids on their way home from school. As we strolled by I heard one say to the other, “Will you tell him I said this?” I smiled to myself as I thought that school age children are the same throughout the generations. We can probably all remember our own school days of passing along messages through another person, and then being the go-between for someone else, delivering messages from one to another.
For every child of God, we too, have a go-between, someone who represents us to another — it’s the Holy Spirit who appears before God on our behalf. Romans 8:26 informs us, “The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words.” What a comfort to be reminded that the Holy Spirit knows the right things to pray on our behalf, when we can’t think of what to say or ask, in regard to our situation.
Maybe we’re in a bind. We’re hurting, confused, angry. We want God’s help and guidance but we don’t know what to pray. Never worry. Every child of God has the Holy Spirit living within. The world talks about finding your “spirit guide.” There is only one Holy Spirit and He lives within all who have received Jesus as their Savior. He resides within, ready to empower us, guide us, comfort us and teach us, and He always stands before our Heavenly Father on our behalf. He knows what we need. He will always ask for just the right thing for us.
When you are troubled, but can’t think what to say, just sit quietly in the lovely presence of your Heavenly Father. If all you say is, “help,” then say it and wait before Him, but wait expectantly. Don’t wait in doubt wondering if He will really help. His Word is true, not some of the time, but all of the time. He said when you call He will answer (Jeremiah 33:3). So wait. Sit in His presence. Let the Holy Spirit do the talking for you. God’s own peace will come to you. His comfort will soothe you. He loves you and always wants to help. Therefore, call and wait.You have the best Go-Between ever.
Our dog, Jack, is a sweet, affectionate boy, but if you’re wearing a hoodie, stay back. His hackles stand up and he adopts a guarded stance, ready for attack if needed. That being said, our sweet but protective dog grows fearful when hearing a noise he can’t identify. The other evening we were walking around the neighborhood when Jack stopped in his tracks. I could see a pencil of light shining from the edges of a closed garage door. Behind the door came the sound of someone using a drill. I knew it was all harmless; Jack did not. He started to turn around but I reached down and patted his head and stroked beneath his chin. ”It’s okay, Jack. We can go on.” He looked at me. As I began to move forward, he did, too. Passing the enemy garage all was suddenly well. He continued with his relaxed sniffing pursuits.
This is the same in our spiritual world, isn’t it. We are going in a direction we feel God is leading us to take, but wait, there is something we don’t understand. It’s dark ahead. We can’t see clearly. Our arch enemy, Satan, seizes the moment to whisper his fear laden taunts. “Must you go this way? Why walk on when another way may be better for you? Why walk in the dark when another path is better lit?” Satan’s scheming words are always, without exception, to make us doubt God.
When fear sets in, that is the moment we must look up. Just as Jack looked to me, listened to me, and trusted me as we walked on together, it’s no different with us and our Heavenly Father. Look into His Word, meditate in His presence. Trust Him and walk on. I love the promise found in Deuteronomy 31:8, “The Lord is the One who goes ahead of you. He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Wherever He leads us, He gives us everything we need to walk in the way He chooses. We have His comfort, His peace, His strength, His courage, but — and this is the important part — the peace and courage comes with the first step. Standing and quaking in fear only grows more fear. Trusting and taking a step with Him leading the way, grows peace and joy.
May you blessed today with His joy and peace as you walk in the way He leads. The joy and peace is guaranteed because obedience always brings blessings; not some of the time but all of the time.
I was walking one morning this week with our dog, Jack, through a local park. A father was there with his two sons. The oldest looked to be about seven or eight, while the younger one appeared to be about four. The father was kicking the ball, first to one and then the other, while each of the boys kicked it back in turn. They were all having a great time. Jack and I walked around the park, coming back once again to the scene of the father with his sons. They were obviously packing up. The four year old was trying to pick up their bag of gear but couldn’t quite manage it. He grunted and huffed, but no matter his attempt, he could not lift the heavy bag. That’s when Dad came over, smiled at his son, and lifted the bag with great ease. That’s when a vivid picture came to mind.
I suddenly imagined myself struggling with a heavy burden. I could not lift the bag of worry no matter how hard I tried. Then, in my mind’s eye, my Heavenly Father reached down and picked up my worries as if they were merely a handful of feathers. I Peter 5:7 tells us to, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
You and I can be burdened with many worries in life. We have a problem, and with all the thinking and scheming in the world, we can think of no solution. We fret. We lose sleep. We become irritable. Of course, none of this is necessary. We have received the very best guidance on matters of burdens. We can give them to our Heavenly Father. He is willing to ease us of our stress, longs to do so, but never forces Himself. He waits for our invitation. He wants us to come with readiness of heart to quickly give Him our problems. Then with the greatest of ease we sense our Father lifting our heavy burdens from our loaded shoulders.
Our God is able. He is mighty. He can solve any problem. Nothing is too hard for Him. He has perfect wisdom to guide us along the best paths and to give us His strength to walk in the way He leads. We only need go to Him. Ask His help. Watch Him lift the heaviest burden, replacing it with His own peace of heart. Remember, the worries of the entire world are like mere handfuls of feathers in our Father’s capable hands.
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