Faith

Enjoy the Journey and Leave the Driving to God

by Dot Hannah
07/10/14
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Jeremiah 29:11 " For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord, "thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. NIV

      There is never anything quite as comical as life itself. I think of a trip my husband and I took with our three young grandchildren, the oldest four, and the two youngest, two. What an adventure! When you are riding, it seems like forever for a child. My husband had told the children we were going to a park to play on the playground and picnic to build their excitement. He did not tell them that the majority of their day would be spent riding or that when we arrived, it would be too unbearably hot to stay long. You must take life's opportunities when they come, even if it is on the fifth of July.

     Not very long into the drive, our four year old, Seth, informed us that he wanted to go back to Gimpa's house. We knew we were in trouble. His eagerness for the park had already vanished, if it meant we continue driving. I thought of the similarity between the kids and us who are children of God, when we become impatient for something special God has promised us. I thought of the impatience of the children of Israel when God was leading them through the wilderness to the Promised Land. We are all like children. "If it means inconvenience, Lord, let us turn back."

      Seth was to say many more funny things through out the day. He was so anxious to reach our home on the drive back that he commented, "Gimpa is going the wrong way. He has gotten lost." Don't we tell God the same thing at times? "Lord, You must have forgotten about me. Surely You did not intend for my life to go in this direction. Aren't You taking me the wrong way? Have You gotten lost?"

      Even though Seth may have believed his Gimpa was lost, he did not fret. He trusted him and did his best to enjoy the journey anyway. What would life be like if we really believed what God said? Would life not be one long, exciting adventure from beginning to end? Why do we tie ourselves up in knots worrying? Did God not say, "Believest thou this," when referring to trusting in Him?

      One of the two year olds, Christian, who is never far from his mother, began to ask, "Where mama, where mama?" I often ask, "Where's God?" Just as baby Christian's mother would never leave or forsake him, my heavenly Father has said, "I will never leave or forsake you." If only we could trust and be as carefree as children, life would be so stressless. We allow the pressures of this life to rob us of our joy.

     Needless to say, I will always have special memories of our outing with the children. The Lord asks, "What kind of memories will you have of Me, at life's end? Will you have sweet ones of a faithful Father or bitter regrets because you never took time to spend with Me and learn of My goodness?" The only way to have sweet memories is to take time, and make them each and every day. Chances are, on your death bed, your memories will not be about work or things, but of the special people you have relationships with or don't have relationships with, the most important of which, is God.

      When we start this journey with God, He does not tell us about the long, weary road ahead and about the unbearable heat we may encounter. He knows we are like children, and it would be too discouraging. He tells us only what we need to know and expects us to trust and leave the driving to Him.