Spooking in place

 A flurry of feathers flew into the air and loud screeching gave the impression of a fox in a hen house reeking  havoc.  The little Guineas scurried  about as though their tail feathers were on fire.  Fearful they might die of fright, I backed away and sat down on the edge of the tub to ponder my next move.  

Two weeks ago I picked up some baby guineas at the flea market, with hopes of putting them outside on  tick patrol as soon as they reach adulthood.  For now I am keeping them in a large plastic bin in my bathroom where they can stay warm and safe.  Even though they are basically wild foul, I believed that if I picked them up daily they would get used to me and accept my coming and going to care for them and the cleaning of their living space.  I was wrong.  They get wilder by the day.  No matter how gently I approach their box, caring for them is a major problem.  They don't seem to understand that all I want to do is give them fresh water and food and do a little "house cleaning."  They eye me suspiciously when I enter the room and begin a nervous chirping that gets louder as I get closer.  If I breach the invisible line which they have set up as the panic perimeter they completely lose control, screaming and running flapping their tiny wings and trampling one another.  I feel like such a villain every time I need to enter their space.  

I wonder how our reaction to God effects Him.  I know that in times gone by, God has drawn near to me and I panicked.  I ran in fear, unable or unwilling to trust Him in “my space."  Perhaps I was afraid of what He had in mind.  The problem was that I didn't know Him well enough to understand His character.  I did not comprehend that He is always seeking my good and looking out for my best interest.  My eternal life, and, yours, is at the top of His priority list.  So interested was He in me that He sent His Son to be born in the likeness of sinful flesh and to live a perfect life in a depraved world so that He could then offer up that life as payment for my debt of sin.  (Rom. 8:1-4)

It must pain God's heart when His children misunderstand His intentions and run in fear of Him.  It was only as I began to spend time with Him that I began to trust Him.  The more I read His Word the more I catch a glimpse of His mercy and love.  I begin to see that His agenda is often very different from mine.  Too often I am living my life for the present and, while God cares about my present needs, His greatest concern is eternity.  His plans are all set in the framework of eternal reality and therefore they are often beyond my finite comprehension.   But, as I look back on the ways He has led in my life, I can see His wisdom and love.  

I am learning to trust Him and that brings peace and joy which passes understanding.  

My friend, if you are still unsure of God's intentions and are running or even just "spooking in place,”(a little trick my horse used to do), you are missing out on the quality of life that God wants to give you.  Your peace is disturbed and your happiness comes and goes with changing circumstances. Someone once said, "Know God, Know Peace.  No God, No Peace."  God wants to give us peace and joy that passes all understanding.  This can be ours as we learn to trust and obey.  To know and abide in Christ is to love and trust Him.  If we love Him we will obey Him.  (John 14:15)  If we obey Him, we can be assured of joy and peace.  (Ps. 37:37)

Bonnie Morsette ~ 8/2/2011