Playing With a Stick
On Tuesday morning this week an inch of snow appeared in our yard, and it was such a surprise! As my husband, Doug, and I were having breakfast, we noticed a father walking his two boys (maybe age 8 and 6) to the bus stop. The oldest was holding his father’s hand, and lagging about twenty steps back was a younger son with a stick in his hand, hitting the snow and even stopping to play in it. The father continued to walk and every once in a while, would look back checking on the younger son. I think the father knew where his younger son was and that the son would catch up as they approached the bus stop. They reached the bus stop and the father stopped and watched the younger son continue to play and eventually encouraged him to be with them.
Watching this father with his sons gave me a picture of how God knows exactly where we are with Him. He enjoys when we choose to have him hold our hand and walk with Him like the older son. But even when we act like the younger son, he is watching us and keeping an eye on us for our safety and protection. The older son stayed close, but the father knew that the younger son would eventually get caught up with him.
Where are you today? Are you the son or daughter staying close to Jesus and holding his hand and enjoying His presence secure in your relationship with Him? Or are you the son knowing God is there but wanting to do things your own way. Personally, though I do act like the older son at time, I also find myself in the younger son’s position many times. I have my eye on Jesus, and yet I like to do things my way first. I know I will catch up with Him soon.
I believe that if you have accepted Jesus Christ into your heart, He is always with you:
Psalms 33:22 says, “Let your unfailing love surrounds us for our hope is in you alone.”
We are the apple of His eye even when we do things our own way. He is right there to rescue us:
Proverbs 30:5 says, “He is a shelter to those who take refuge in Him.”
He listens:
I Peter 5:7 says, “ Give all your worries and cares to Him because He cares for you.”
He never abandons us:
Hebrews 13:5 say, “Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never forsake you or abandon you’.”
And Nehemiah 9:17b tell us, “He is a forgiving God; gracious and compassionate; slow to anger and rich in faithful love and he will not abandon you.”
We have the assurance that like the younger son with the stick in his hand and unaware of God’s presence that He is eager to help us at any time:
We know this from Psalms 121 which says, “ I will lift my eyes to the hills; where does my help come from; my help comes from the Lord the maker of heaven and earth.”
Recently, studying Genesis in our women’s Bible study has opened my heart to remember to stay close to Him, listen and obey Him. Memorizing and meditating scriptures with Doug has kept my mind focused on Jesus. I’ve also kept my attention on Jesus by listening to worship songs; I play K-LOVE whenever I am at home and in the car. Give it a try!
God loves you unconditionally and He is always with you whether you are “playing with the stick” or not, for there is nothing that can separate you from His relentless love for you.