I'm So Lost

On our most recent adventure, as we do so many times, we set “Sally” (the name I gave my VZ Navigator on my Verizon phone) to direct us to our desired destination. 

Being a man, my husband says, “I think I can go this way and it will be faster.” 

Me being me asks, “Why don’t you just go the way the thing is telling you to go?” 

He replies, “I got this.  Plus, that’s your phone, I don’t trust it.”

“OK,” I said in my “whatever attitude” tone. 

As we continued down the road my husband turned on, “Sally” keeps saying, “Make a U-Turn” but I’m sure you know we didn’t make any U-Turns.  After we had went so far, “Sally” finally says, “Make a left at the next road.”  Because we were out of town and didn’t know exactly where we were, my husband finally decides to listen to “Sally” only to end up back on the same road she was on trying to guide us to in the beginning.

I’m sure you might be saying that navigational systems are not always right or that they don’t always give the best directions, and I totally agree with you.  But the difference is, in this case, we were not from this place, never been to this place, and we were completely unfamiliar with the area.  Anyhoo, we had had such a great time that day, so there was no need to let this little issue ruin the day, so we looked at each other and laughed.  After the laughter subsided, I looked at him and said, “I got my new blog!”

Isn’t this just how we do God sometimes?   We ask Him for guidance a lot of times, and when he reveals to us the way or what we have to go through to get there, we try to override what He says and do it our own way.  I can see with my vivid imagination, every time we go down a wrong path, or make a wrong turn, or make a wrong decision, or make a wrong choice or date the wrong guy/girl, or say the wrong thing (you get my point, right), He is standing and waving His hands, blowing a whistle, saying, “HEEEEY, YOU’RE GOING THE WRONG WAY!”  Sometimes we can get so far off course that we still have to end up going back to Him to get us back on the right path.  But the good news is….just like Sally helped us get back on course, God is faithful to do the same. 

So today, if you are in need of direction in your life and not sure which way to go, maybe you have made some bad/wrong choices and need help getting back on track….It’s simple….ASK GOD!  And when you ask Him, trust what He says. 

Here’s what I learned from this little mishap.  Never ask God for help or guidance if we are not going to follow what He says.  I mean, what’s the purpose.  Either you trust Him or you don’t.  There’s no such thing as half trust (another blog for another day). 

Taken from the New Living Translation: Proverbs 3:5-6,  (5) Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  (6) Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Stay Hopeful,

Clarissa

I Just Want OUT

After awakening from a nights rest, an acquaintance of mine’s daughter, as she has done so many times, arose from her bed and walked to the closed bedroom door.  As she turned the knob and pulled, the door failed to respond to her guidance.  After a few attempts, she began to bang on the door and cry for help.  Responding to the desperate and frantic cries, her mom came to the rescue.  Although it took a minute to liberate her daughter from her bondage, after the use of a credit card, and a butter knife, they were finally able to pry the door open.  

As comical as this may be to some, some of you may be able to relate to this scenario in more ways than one.  Have you ever been or felt like you were stuck in a situation/sin/trial/cirmcustance and could not get out.  No matter how hard you try, you just can’t free yourself out of your situation.  Well I have, and the feeling of being stuck, in a box, trapped, imprisoned, incarcerated, helpless, confined, constricted, restricted, restrained, limited, alone(one of these words should resonate with you and/or your situation)is a very miserable and uncomfortable place.  Everything you’ve tried, have not worked.  Although you may be in a room full of people, you still feel alone in your situation.  You even drop hints of misery to your listeners but yet, they still don’t understand.  The reality of being trapped is choking the life out of you and all you want is a way out.  You’re banging on the object that’s holding you hostage and yelling, “HEEELLLLLLP!  Let me out!”

While in the situation, the time can tend to seem drawn out and long.  You might even find yourself frustrated and impatient, while waiting, but don’t panic!  Help is on the way!  Your Loving Father is getting all the necessary tools in order to help pry that door open so you can be free.  While God is diligent at work, He might need some assistance from you.  He might tell you to move some things around in your life.  He might tell you to walk away from some things and some people.  He might tell you to stop doing some things you’re doing.  He might tell you to pray more, fast more, seek Him more.  Whatever He tells you to do, just do it and follow His lead.  He knows exactly what to do because He specializes in setting the captives free. 

Scripture Reading Isaiah 42: 5-7

(5)This is what God the Lord says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: (6) “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, (7) to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness

Warning:  Don’t stand in the way of the door, b/c once it opens, you don’t want to hit.  Only assist where you are needed.      

Stay Hopeful,

Clarissa