As I was recently driving on one of our city’s main thoroughfares, I was perplexed as to why there would be such large ruts along the grassy shoulder which abutted a neighborhood. I also observed large muddy tire tracks and realized someone had swerved onto the easement.
Was it drunkenness, distraction or merely not paying attention? Then I saw the small, lifeless body and surmised the cause for this event. There was one of God’s creations lying in the street; a squirrel.
I was saddened to see the lifeless creature, but I also understood someone had earnestly veered to avoid this result. How often have we swerved to miss hitting an animal or other obstacle in our path? How often have we had to take a detour to avoid peril to our vehicles or lives?
Sometimes those obstacles result in another being injured, but often these obstacles are for our own protection. In the case of this tiny squirrel, the effort didn’t bring the result the driver was hoping, but they attempted to keep it safe.
How often has God endeavored to keep us safe, but we bully ahead to “move” the obstacle, go around it or to perhaps just drive over it, because we think we know better than God what is best for us?
As I have shared in previous blogs, King David is one of my favorite men of the bible. Did he have obstacles to become king? He certainly did. Even though he started out as a young shepherd boy, he took a path which not only displeased God, but brought him sorrow along the way, because David thought “his way” was best. Ultimately God’s plan was fulfilled when he became King.
As we read of Paul’s ministry and his journey to preach the gospel, it was not without obstacles and hardships along the way. As I listened to today’s sermon, the pastor spoke of obstacles we may endure when we choose God’s way over Satan’s way. God doesn’t promise a Christian’s life to be free of obstacles, but He does promise us He will remove them or allow us to navigate them.
Lisa Appelo states, “ we can trust that God is using the obstacle to orchestrate his perfect timing…to refine our character and purify our motives…to display his glory.” I’m reminded of this each time I read one of my favorite verses: Jer. 29:11 “for I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord…”
Yes, God does know His plans for us, but we have to be strong enough to allow Him to proceed with His plans, no matter how many obstacles are on our paths. Sometimes these obstacles are people or situations which can’t be removed, so we must understand how to cope with them.
We all have them, so do we drive around the obstacle, drive over it or merely stop and say “okay God, now what do you want me to do?” Psalms 37:7 NIV-“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him…”
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