I
left the comforts of home today–loaded down with two children bundled safely in the mini-van–for a spring break adventure. I’d originally planned to visit the butterfly garden outside the city limits, but changed my mind when my companions began asking, “How long will it take before we’re there?”. Additional time spent in the confines of a 1999 Mercury with impatient grade-schoolers is not something I choose without careful consideration, but the real reason I didn’t venture any further was my lack of confidence.
I didn’t trust Mapquest–or myself. The “what-if’s” quelled my desire to go beyond what I already knew. What if the directions weren’t accurate? What if I took a wrong turn and ended up in the middle of Wyoming without cell phone service? What if the kids had to use the restroom and we had no other choice but to stop at a run-down, no-name gas station? Ick!
So, I played it safe. Our little adventure was relegated to known territory. Familiar roads. Comfortable venues.
My spiritual life is prone to the same sort of roadblock. I sometimes lack confidence in the roadmap and, ultimately, the One who has engineered life itself. The “what-if’s” begin to cloud my thinking and slow–or eliminate–my progress. What if God’s word isn’t trustworthy? What if I misunderstand His plan and end up an Israelite in the middle of the desert? What if I fail to go the right direction and stall out at the edge of the Promised Land–able to see it, but forbidden to enter?
Those are the times God reminds me of all the places we’ve already travelled together, where we’ve been, and how far we’ve come. Tomorrow’s adventure could be the most exciting yet. Maybe I’ll even visit the butterfly garden.
You’re word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105