I’m from the country — Essex Country, Virginia. The town of Tappahannock is our county seat. I love home, it’s really beautiful and peaceful. I try to visit as often as I can. My mother lives in a cute three bedroom home with an expansive yard. Her driveway, however, is not paved, nor graveled. That would be a nice birthday gift for her wouldn’t it? Anyway, twice I have visited her, and unfortunately gotten stuck in the mud. This has happened after several days of rain, and the non-graveled driveway gets soft and mushy.
At the time of writing this, I am planning to take a trip home in just a few hours. Mom called me this morning to tell me that it would be raining there all weekend and to pack accordingly. I said, wait, I’m not parking beside you, I don’t want to get stuck. I’m going to stay on the part of the drive were it is not mushy. Mom said, “As long as you don’t go any further than my car you will be fine.” “No,” I contested, “I have gotten stuck twice, and I don’t want to do it.” Mom retorted, “I’m telling you, I always move my car over, so there is room for you. I am giving you the good spot, so you wont get stuck. Last time you tried to go past my car, and then you got stuck.” I explained, “But mom, it looks like the whole area is flooded and I’m fearful I will get stuck.” Again she said, “if you don’t go past my car, you will not get stuck.”
This made me think of our journey with the Lord. As I was conversing with my mom, it felt like I was conversing with Jesus. Jesus says I gave you my spot, I sacrificed so you can be in an even place and not get stuck. you tried to go further than me last time, and that’s why you got stuck. Don’t worry about what the situation looks like around you, move into the place that I have prepared for you, and you will not get stuck.
I had so many feelings in those moments. Fear would either drive me to stay on solid ground and not even risking pulling into the spot. or fear would move me to try to find my own way, should the circumstances look unfavorable again. Or I could NOT fear, and trust what the Lord is saying to me. The will is strong, and I wanted to believe my will over the words of my mother and often times, over the word of God. But here is a reminder, follow the instructions given and things will work out.