Articles and Poetry by Our Members
| Work Zone |
| Author: Suzanne Holland Entered on: 8/11/2008 6:08:59 AM |
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| It’s summertime, and that means road construction. It seems everywhere I drive there are big machines, steaming blacktop, and orange barrels. The worksite often looks chaotic, and my first instinct is to look for the guy in the hardhat who will tell me whether to slow down, stop, go around, or find another way. Instinctively, I know that I will not be able to navigate this roadblock without some guidance from someone who knows what's going on at the other end of the road. If I don't slow down, pay attention, and obey, I could end up in the ditch, under a steam roller, or at the very least, the target of the "evil eye" of one of those construction workers! As I make my way through such roadwork I see parallels to my walk with Christ. Right now my life is somewhat chaotic. Big changes are happening, and I struggle emotionally in dealing with them. Often, I seem to be at the mercy of circumstances, reacting emotionally to happenings and events that are playing out around me in the lives of others. I know I have no control over these events, and that the more I try to control them, the more emotionally unstable I become. I know I need to trust God and know that He is at work in all of these events, but I struggle with how to do that. What does trusting God look like? More importantly, how does it feel to really trust him? I must admit, I don't have a clue. As I sit in traffic, with my car’s temperature gauge rising, I wonder how much longer I will be sitting here. Never once do I think it will go on forever; that I will never get past this work zone. I've come upon these sites many times before, and have always gotten through. Yet in my own life I act as though my problems are forever. I dwell on them, obsess about them, and work myself into a lather over the people in my life, their problems, and how they affect me. Why the difference? Why such unwavering confidence in the Department of Transportation, and such lack of trust in the Almighty God? Here is the core of the problem: From my vantage point on the road, I can see the construction worker on my end. He has a radio to communicate with the guy on the other end. They are telling each other what is going on at their respective ends of the road. Because I can see that communication taking place, I have faith that, after a number of cars have been let through on the other side, my side will get a turn to go. But I cannot see God. I cannot see what He can see. I do not know what He knows. I must choose to walk by faith, not by sight. But faith in what? Faith in the providence of God. Faith in His faithfulness to His people. That is something I can see any time I choose, just by opening my Bible. The operative word here is choose. Every time my life hits a roadblock, when I am met with chaos, indecision, and the inability to control the situation, I have a choice to make. I can slow down, trust, and obey the One who is guiding me, knowing that He is not only fully aware of what is on the other side, but that He planned it perfectly for my good and His glory, or I can frantically search for a way out of the situation on my own. If I choose to trust, God gets the glory. If I choose not to trust, and keep trying to fix things on my own, I may succeed and get the glory for myself (which will only make things worse the next time). More likely, I will end up in a ditch, with a God who is grieved because of my sinful self-reliance. While He won't give me the "evil eye", He will, as a loving Father, bring consequences that will make me more likely to obey and trust the next time. So what will I choose today? I choose to obey. I choose to trust God and His wise and loving providence. I choose to believe that He knows what is at the other end of the road without radio contact. As He waves me through this time of difficulty, I will follow His directions and avoid the ditch, the steam roller, and most importantly, His disapproval. Next time I come through this neighborhood, the road may be smooth, in need of repair again, or still under construction. But, regardless of the circumstances, I will have faith in God's perfect provision for me, and his ability to guide me safely to the other side. |
