My Way or the High Way?

I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given Himself up for me (Gal. 2:20).

Last month, I made my second trip to the UK as part of the project work I am managing. On one of the flights, I was seated next to a young lady from Poland. The flight was such that we had to be shuttled from the terminal to the plane via bus. She and I had come over on the first busload of passengers, and we were waiting for the remaining passengers to board.

The overhead compartment on this particular plane was not deep enough for rolling suitcases to be placed in them wheels first, but had to be stowed lengthwise in order for the door to close. One passenger had set her roller bag lengthwise in the compartment, and then another man came along. In order to make space for his bag, he turned the woman’s suitcase with the wheels in first, stowed his bag and then took his seat. Other passengers boarded and placed additional small bags in the same overhead compartment. The last of these passengers tried to close the compartment door, since the space was now filled, but because of the turned rolling bag, it would not close.

My Polish companion and I began to giggle as we watched the man try to force the door shut, and nearly became hysterical with laughter as a second man stood up, and the two of them together tried to shut the compartment door by brute force. One of the flight attendants eventually saw what was happening, adjusted several bags (including turning the roller lengthwise) and eventually the door could be shut.

While the scene was indeed comical, it reminded me of how we sometimes act when it comes to discerning and accepting God’s will in our lives. Rather than observe a particular situation we are dealing with, asking God what He is trying to teach us and what He would have us do, and more importantly, giving assent to His will, we sometimes continue stubbornly down the path we prefer, and try to do it our way by “brute force,” just as the two men on the plane did. And then we wonder why we fail to get anywhere other than frustrated.

For a long time, I would try to analyze and dissect what I thought God was trying to do with me, rather than simply ask Him what He wanted and wait for His answer. Somewhere along the line, the futility of that tactic finally sank in one day when I was praying Psalm 139. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, know my concerns. See if my way is crooked, and lead me in the ancient paths. It seems so elementary now, but He does answer when we ask Him!

Of course, we have to be ready and willing to hear His answer, and we know that requires letting go and making of our whole selves an offering to God. St. Paul encouraged the believers of the church in Rome - and us - to discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect (Rom. 12:2). Even though we don't always see the whole picture or understand at the time what the Lord might be doing, there is nothing to fear because ultimately, we know that our God is trustworthy. For however many are the promises of God, their 'Yes' is in Him (2 Cor. 1:20). If He leads us down a particular path, we can be sure that He will provide grace to endure whatever might come along.

Prayer Request: For the grace to let go and to let God lead us.

Prayer: O Lord, our God, we thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to lead us to all truth, and to remind us of all You taught us while You were on this earth. Help us to make time in our busy lives for silent communion with You, so that we might hear Your voice and answer with a heartfelt “yes” to all You would have us do. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.