It grows and grows, doesn't it? The love for our grandkids, that is. It brings out the silly side in us. And also creates the loveliest of memories.
Back when my granddaughter was 18 months old, our family spent the weekend in a condo on the beach.
She had woken up from her afternoon nap and was letting us know.
I volunteered to get her. Bad move. Although the condo was lovely, I was unfamiliar with the layout of the rooms.
So, I did what any blind Nana does. I followed the sound of her voice as my guide.
When I reached her crib, I scooped her up. "Nana is here."
I kissed her cheek, rocked her a bit to calm her down. Then with her in my arms, I proceeded to make my way out of the room. I took a few steps to my right. I ran into the bed. I stepped to the left only to find a wall with a window. Holding her in one arm, with the other I reached out to "feel" my way out. Although I was going around in circles, I was determined to get out on my own. But my efforts were futile.
"Hey, sweet thing," I whispered into her little ear, "you get us out of this room."
I put her down on the floor. I took her by her tiny hand. Trusting her, I followed her and with ease, she led me out.
We do the same in life. Our own stubborn nature takes over. Blindly, we go around and around, groping for answers. Looking for the solution. We try to "feel" the way out of painful situations. And when no results appear, we still count on our futile efforts.
What if, instead, stretching out our hand toward Him, we allowed God to take it? Once secure, we can declare out loud the words in Psalm 119:105: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (NIV)
Here's what we need.
We need His lamp to know what the next step will be. And we count on His light to guide us in the dark room of adversity. We follow His wisdom to take us from heartache to healing.
And unlike my granddaughter who didn't ask me to trust her, God is asking us to trust in Him. But the trust can't be a wimpy kind of trust, or half-hearted, superficial.
Instead the Bible instructs: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV).
Are you heading in a crooked path of frustration? God knows. He's aware of our human blindness that keeps us from seeing what only He can. And He offers the answer to guide us on a direct path. And when pure trust overflows, peace comes back, security reigns and our heart becomes still.
Let's Pray: Father, how often I lived frustrated by going in circles. But now I know that trusting in You is the direct way to answers and the only way to freedom. In Jesus' name, amen.
Whose hand are you holding on to for guidance?
Janet Eckles
If this message resonated with you, please visit Janet's cyberspace home for more inspiration.
