Guide Me, Dear Lord

Good Saturday morning! A bit of rain coming down that may change to snow later. I haven't looked at the weather forecast. I'm just going to let God guide me. Let us say for this morning that your Christian life is a small sail boat. The Master pointed out the narrow winding channel that you are to steer through, but you've blown it. Your little boat is somehow beached on the other side of jagged rocks and a big storm is only a day or two away. Not only did the realization of where you are come late, but you cannot for the life of you figure out how you got there. The little boat is wrecked; you are stranded, and you just know the Master is shaking his holy head in wonder at the folly of at least one of his sheep. Why did the Good Shepherd let a dumb sheep steer a boat anyway? You ask as you try to shift some of the blame to one you know is perfect.

Our Lord Jesus is not in a panic. Though you and I may feel some stage of panic in our lives, Jesus has everything under control. Some of the fear we feel is in not knowing the specifics of His plan for us. How can this current disaster be a part of the Lord's plan? Doesn't He want the best for me? We know that He does, but our hearts of faith fail us when we look at the storm. The intellectual knowledge that God only desires good for us has not quite infused the heart with complete trust yet. The Spirit is willing and striving to make us like Jesus, but the flesh is fighting the good medicine of the Word. The Lord says, "Trust Me!" - the heart of flesh says, "Aieee! Disaster, storm, fear, failure, flee!" Which to listen to? The Lord speaks firmly and quietly; the flesh screams within. We know the answer is to trust the Lord, but that screaming noise is hard to ignore.

As we look at the wreck of the situation, let us come to the Lord with our plea, "Guide me, dear Lord!" The Master sees every twist and turn of the passage. The Master can see that as the storm arrives, the incoming tide will lift your little boat clear of the rocks. Though the storm will beat all about you, the narrow channel is the only way for your little boat to survive the hurricane. Soon, the storm will leave your little boat in the shelter of a mighty Rock for a time of renewal in still waters. Look forward to the soon, find strength in Jesus in the now.

Look up, for your redemption draweth nigh!
Bucky