Trust and Lean

 

Why?  But why??  Meet any toddler and the word ‘why’ seems to be the only word they know.  They will constantly challenge every decision a parent makes with the word ‘why.’  For a parent, it can be exhausting and ultimately, the words that they vowed would never leave their lips suddenly come out, “Because I said so!”  Ahhh, the joys of parenting!

Today’s verse is a strong reflection that times I can seem like a toddler to God.  How many times have I questioned actions that are occurring here on earth to our Lord, starting out those inquiries with “why”?  “Why am I going through such a difficult time,” or “Why do I need to take this particular journey?”

All of these moments reflect a character flaw that I work on each and every day, trusting God with everything in my life.  Seems easy enough, but when the paths cross of what “I” want to do and the path God is sending me on, the road of trusting God and leaning on His understanding can take a wild turn.  It is then that this verse, which has become a staple in my life, needs to help turn me around.

Trusting in God is easy enough, isn’t it?  We know he is omnipresent and omni-----, so giving Him the direction in my life should be a ‘slam dunk.’  When things are going the way I planned them, I know He is in control, and we are aligned.  It is when things are not going as I had imagined that my trust in God can waiver and I tend to lean into my OWN understanding and not the One who knows all.  I am learning not to fight those moments as much as I used to, but this is when I turn into a toddler and ask numerous ‘why’ questions.

My friends, we will never be able to understand in earthly terms all that happens in our lives.  That is for God to know.  It is our responsibility to trust the paths our lives are taking, knowing that our understanding is limited, but that God’s understanding is omniscient.  We need to not only trust these moments but lean into them, submitting to God all of our questions and walk on the path that He has provided to us.  It may seem strange to us to walk in a different direction than what WE had intended.  Remember, though, that God’s paths will always be straighter and will always be the right one for our lives.  It may not be the easiest path, we may encounter bumpy roads, but the end will always show God’s goodness.

Dearest Lord, help us to have true trust in You, knowing that when we lean into your ways and submit to your ways, the path for our lives, set by you, will show us How Great Thou Art.  Amen!