After a hot, sweaty and humid day; time to jump in the car and head home. I love going to my car at the end of the day. It’s my space to be alone and unwind with just me, the road and God. I quickly plop my groceries in the back seat, step in, take a deep breath, and start the car. Ready for my forty-five-minute drive home and a moment of relaxation. I’m ready to take off, then something catches the corner of my eye, a spider crawling up right beside me! “Ugh,” I sigh in frustration. I hate dealing with bugs. No matter what they are, I hate seeing them and dealing with them.
I love peace and quiet, and get so irritated at anything that invades my alone time.I move the car throttle back to park to deal with this uninvited guest. I first try to simply open the door and sweep it out. (Surprisingly, I don’t feel right about killing bugs. They are a part of God’s creation and I do try to respect them when I can. Then, there are moments that they must meet their creator.) I open the door, sweep my hand over the spider, and somehow, it passes my hand. It than glides to the dashboard, and I try to sweep again. Missed. I look up and it has gone to the windshield. Once again, I try to sweep it out, but now it has turned into a smashing expedition. This went on for at least two to three minutes, when finally, after multiple attempts, I was able to guide it out of the door.
“Whew. Done with that. You are a stubborn little creature. You don’t go down easy,” I said. Then, I heard God say, “You don’t go down easy either Chloe.” I simply laughed and said, “Touché.”
God reminded me of how frustrating it can be for Him when he is trying to direct me to a different location or place and I am persistent in my own pursuits. The entire time I was trying to guide the stubborn spider back into the outdoors, but he was trying to save himself and I couldn’t place him back where he belongs. Oh, how this spider is a reminder of God’s battle with us.
Many times, we wonder off into areas where we were never intended to go. How do we get there? Sometimes we mistakenly wander off because we don’t have a guide and are aimlessly walking with no direction. Sometimes we have a purpose in mind, and without consulting our ultimate guide, we go forth in self-will, but not God’s will. Sometimes we simply are heading a direction to provide a need, and instead of waiting on God to provide the need, we end up pushing for ourselves and end up in a place that’s simply- out of place.
Just like this critter, God comes to us and tries to place us back into His intended location and deliver us from the unknown and destructive. What do we do? We run just like the spider. We push our own way. We question God. We don’t hear His voice. We focus on our purpose and miss His voice telling us, “My child, this isn’t where you are supposed to be. Let me deliver you to your proper place.”
When I looked up the word deliver, from the Webster Dictionary, it states, “…to set free…to bring or hand over to its proper place or intended target or destination…”See, when we veer off to unknown, questionable waters, God is always right there and He makes several attempts to bring us back to our proper place. The place where He called us to be for His will and our good. The place of blessing, growth and prosperity. The place that He always intended us to be; our assignment.
I am unsure where you have ended up. I am unsure why you are there nor how you got there. However, wherever you are, God will deliver you to your proper place. But, when He does, don’t fight Him. Don’t regret the moments of frustration and the time you were in the wilderness. Don’t feel you’ve wasted time because you veered of track. God is sovereign, and He is directing you to your proper place and will use your moments in the valley to strengthen you, develop you and teach you the importance of depending on Him for all your needs. He can redeem the years the locusts have eaten. God is full of grace, mercy and unconditional love for His children; even His stubborn ones.
Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
”Joel 2: 25-27 “The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you. Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the Lord your God, who does these miracles for you. Never again will my people be disgraced. Then you will know that I am among my people Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and there is no other. Never again will my people be disgraced.”
What are some areas in your life, past or present, that you felt you were being stubborn towards God and His plans?
Would love to hear from you!
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Reading this was confirmation. I was so mad at God last week. I couldn’t hear his direction. It was because I was trying to lead instead of being led by the spirit of God. Thanks so much for this!!!!! I needed this!!!!!
Amen! Totally understand. I think sometimes we try leading honestly because we thing we have to instead of realizing that He is the leader and all we have to do is follow.
I look back at times in my life when I didn’t listen to God. I followed my own plan thinking it was the right plan. Learning to lean on God and go to Him first has been vital in my life. 🙂
Amen. Me too. I truly have learned from multiple situations to totally surrender my life to His will and plans. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours and He knows so much better for us!! I trust Him!