Encouragement

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He is a four year old boy with an attitude. He is “king of the mountain” in his world and you could not convince him differently. This young Guatemalan boy named Rocky could make any full grown adult lose their composure.

We were going outside to investigate the playground at the orphanage where he lives. Upon several of the team exiting the back door I watched Rocky quickly reach up and lock it behind them. I was then surprised as I observed his actions from inside the orphange, at regardless of my request, he adamantly would not unlock the door, but stood there as if to say, “Whose got who now?!” I reached for the handle and he pulled my hand away. I literally had to bodily remove him from the door before unlocking it for the team to come back in.

I thought to myself what makes little boys and girls act like this? I guess if I was parentless and felt unloved, I too would be a little cantankerous. Maybe Rocky just needed some attention and this was the only way he knew how to get it. Unfortunately many people we know today are the same way, whether they are parentless or not.

Striving to become someone we want to be causes many of us at times to do foolish things like Rocky did. I am not saying that disobedience or cruel jesters are ok. I am saying they are a result of a heart that has been hurt. Hurting people - hurt people. Fact is, as a young child I had plenty of hurtful thoughts but I never put them into action. To God it makes no difference. Thinking it and doing it is the same thing in His eyes. As an adult, I secretly wish I had the courage Rocky had to just show people how I felt about them at times. I wish I could just close the door on some people in my life. But I also know God keeps them there to teach me a lesson. I am sure that even Jesus at times considered closing the door on some people. He fled to a secret place to spend time with God. He knew where His source of strength and peace came from.

“In the early morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went a way to secluded place, and was praying there. Simon and his companions searched for Him, they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”
Mark 1: 35-37 (NASB)

Now I am not saying that everyone is looking for me. I haven’t even near the charisma that Jesus had with people. But at times when the phone won’t stop ringing and I am answering endless emails, I too want to go to a secluded place to not be found.

I thank God for those He has placed in my pathway to hold me accountable and to cause me to trust Him more. It is in life’s encounters with people like Rocky that I learn that I am called to minister to not only those who make me feel loved and wanted, but to those who want nothing to do with me or my faith.

My prayer today is that I may always be reminded of where I came from and what God is doing in my life as a result of obedience to Him. When I disobey I always pay! To walk closely to God is not a flippant decision, but a sacrifice I cannot afford to disregard. I know He holds me more accountable then He may hold others, but I also know His loving ways and His tender mercies that never cease and that He is there waiting for me early every morning.

Copyright © 2005 Passion House Ministries, Jane E Morin
http://www.passionhouseministries.com

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