I like to put time limits on things. It should take thirty minutes to run this errand. Surely I can get this email written in five minutes. Time frames are also handed to me. Your order should arrive on such-and-such date. Your car will be done Friday. And once in a while things go as planned, but most of the time I have to do some adjusting.
Jeff Goins talks about this in his book The In-Between. He says we don’t mind waiting, persay, but waiting longer than we think we should have to. We feel entitled to things happening in a reasonable amount of time and get upset when they don’t. So maybe the discomfort I feel is realizing I’m not in charge. I’m feeling that a lot lately. There are a lot of time frames I have no control over and yet, they affect me. This can make me angry or frightened. I don’t want to face my mortality or the vulnerability of those I love.
I don’t have to know everything to start taking steps because the Lord promises to establish them.
A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. (Pro. 16:9) Part of me longs for the pseudo-safe feeling I get from believing I’m in control. This verse (and our current global situation) pops that bubble. In unprecedented, uncharted territory, we don’t know from day to day if the course of action we’ve taken is the best one. That can drive a person crazy.
But this verse says I don’t walk alone. I’ve felt immobilized by fear of doing something that would cause harm to my community, but I don’t have to know everything to start taking steps because the Lord promises to establish them. I can walk humbly with God and trust Him to guide me. Even when it feels like floundering in the dark, my Companion still sees the way through.
