Today’s Daily Bread ~ “I can do it!”

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (NASB).

My son, Nicholas, is about 3 ½.  I make note of the “half” for two reasons: first, it’s so important to him.  Second, because a friend of mine told me that turning points seem to arrive with the halfway mark.  And I have found this to be true with both my children.  On his third birthday, Nick had no desire to even entertain the notion of potty training.  Instead, he’d disappear for a few minutes only to come back crying for me to change his diaper.

Now, at three years and change, he doesn’t want my help for love or money.  And that’s fine with me.  I delight in watching his growing sense of independence.  The only problem is that my small son does not yet possess the dexterity to complete a lot of the tasks he wants to do.  For example, getting dressed.  We go through the same routine each morning.  Nick wants to put on his clothes, but when he gets to the buttons or snaps, he gets frustrated and hollers for me.  On a good day.  Sometimes he just gets himself in such a state that he’ll lie on the floor and scream, not letting me help him, not able to do it on his own.

Spiritually speaking, we have so much in common with my son.

I can look back throughout the course of my life and tell you with all certainty that every single time I’ve found myself in a less-than-desirable situation, it’s because I went against the whisper of the Holy Spirit.  Big and small things alike.

Don’t rollerblade down Highland Ranch Parkway.  It’s a two mile downhill slope, and you don’t know how to stop.  Two bloody elbows, two skinned up knees, and two palms cut to ribbons later I conceded, hobbling back home.

Don’t date him.  I know he is popular, and I know he seems nice, but appearances can be deceiving.  Three years and a broken heart later, I conceded, hobbling down to Texas to lick my wounds and heal.

Don’t take that job.  Hang in there a little longer; I will provide for your every need.  Six weeks later I had to swallow my pride and face my boss, telling him that another radio station had hired me, and I thought it presented more opportunity.

Don’t say this, don’t go there, don’t do that.  On and on and on.

With Nick, I know that he needs to do it himself no matter how much of a hurry I’m in.  I know that my role as a parent is to encourage and step in when he needs me.  I know that when it comes to the bigger things in life I will do him a good service to offer wise counsel, then step back and let him fail.  Be assured, our Heavenly Father will most certainly do the same.

Had I listened to a series of (rather persistent) whispers at the age of twenty-one I could’ve saved myself some healing and heartbreak.  My path is riddled with stumbling blocks where, had I followed His lead, I could’ve avoided the fall.

I often imagine what we must look like to God.  I have this picture in my mind: me, sitting on my Heavenly Father’s lap in the car, His hands over mine, and me, pretending to drive.  I see myself slapping His hand away, much like Nick swats mine, and yelling, “NO!  I want to do it!”  My vision also usually ends with us driving off a cliff, God helping me out of the tangled car, and gently leading me back up the embankment.

We try so hard to steer our lives the direction we want to go.  The problem with that is this: we can’t see the road ahead of us.  Just like children are too small to see over the wheel, so are we unable to see what’s around the bend.  But God is.  He sees around the corners and steers us with whispers and nudges.  He knows our destination, and while He may not always take us the route we’d like to go, He always gets us there safely.

Psalm 103:13 – The LORD is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.

Psalm 37:34a – Don’t be impatient for the LORD to act!  Travel steadily along His path.

Psalm 138:8 – The LORD will work out His plans for my life – for Your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever.  Don’t abandon me, for You made me.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You so much for Your guidance.  Help us to follow You, even when Your ways make no sense to us.  Help us to remember that You always work for the good of those who love You.  Help us to remember that you promise us over and over in Scripture that You will meet our every need, and that You and You alone satisfy us.  Convict us to take time before making significant (and sometimes seemingly insignificant) decisions.  Convict us to listen for Your voice.  Forgive us for the times we deliberately disobey.  God, we ask that You would bless us with wisdom and discernment.  Bless us with knowledge, grace, love, mercy and kindness.  Remind us that the world will pass away, and that we should seek things with eternal value.  We love You, Father, and ask that You would give us hearts to love like You love, eyes that see as You see, and hands to serve.  We ask these things in the blessed name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.