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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

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Today's Quote Is:


“Still, accepting God’s existence is one thing; honoring his command is another matter entirely, especially if we’re required to go back when we’d rather go forward.”

~Liz Curtis Higgs
from Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible~
***


I don't make a very good patient. Following our car accident several weeks ago, I was told to rest for a few days because of the problems I had from whiplash.


Rest? How could I REST! There were still dishes and mounds of laundry to do. My garden was having a hey-day producing squash and green beans that needed to be picked and put away. I still had children's ministries to plan and prepare for. We had bought a half bushel of peaches just before the accident that were sitting there waiting to rot if I didn't can them.



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So I went to work. It was slow going - I was having difficulty focusing on what I was doing and had to reread the directions several times in spite of the fact that I had canned for years. The process took me twice as long as it used to and when I finished, I had a whopper of a head and back ache, not to mention dizziness.

I had accepted the doctor's diagnosis, but didn't honor his commands because I didn't want to waste all those wonderful peaches. After all, that would have been extremely WASTEFUL not to mention that we had spent $16 on the box. So who can afford to dump $16 down the drain these days?

No, I didn't listen to my doctor and I paid for it in physical discomfort. I HAD to rest then.

Now, I have to admit I don't always listen to God very well either. He knows the plans he has for me (Jeremiah 29:11). He always plans things out for my good (Romans 8:28). He loves me and wants the best for me, though sometimes the growing/learning process to get through things is painful. I can accept that. I know it in my head.

But my human nature wants to avoid pain and suffering. It directs me to skirt the issues I need to deal with, to run away from the problems or to bury my head in the sand and pretend they don't exist.

Rather than taking His hand and walking through the circumstantial or emotional fires, I try to press on, avoiding them or tackling them on my own. Of course, I end up falling back and having to regroup with Him before I can make true forward progress.

The whole learning/trusting process is like a spiral. Yes, I still have difficulty honoring His commands, but each time He works through the process with me, my trust is strengthened, the bond of intimacy between us increases and I grow an inch or two toward maturity in my Father.

So will I ever fully honor His commands in my life? Probably not in this lifetime. But through the process, I hope to spiral ever closer to Him.

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Our IOW hostess today is Miriam Pauline at her site Miriam Pauline's Monologue. Join us there to read her take on the quote and to leave your URL so we can read how you feel about today's quote on your blog.

11 comments:

Esthermay Bentley-Goossen said...

Love this post. I was there with 'ya in the frustration. The illustration of a spiral is perfect. What you are describing IS the "Hermeneutical Spiral" Big scary doctrinal word which only means becoming more like HIM.

Enjoyed visiting your blog today. Beautiful writing style. Love that verse in Habakkuk!

Kindest Thoughts,
Esthermay

Karen said...

Whammie, you hit home on that one Bonnie. I don't often make a good patient either. We treat God like we do our physician, heeding the things we are willing to go along with and ignoring everything else. Eventually we end up paying for it. Take care and keep healing!

Unknown said...

"But through the process, I hope to spiral ever closer to Him."

Oh Me, too! Me, Too! Great post, as always Bonnie. Lots of personal insight with a dose of God and His Word that brings it all home.

Thanks so much for sharing about your struggle, and I pray you are feeling much better.

Blessings.

Miriam Pauline said...

Spiraling closer to Him. What a great visual! Bless you for sharing. Hope you are feeling better now!

Laurie Ann said...

Great post, Bonnie. Yes, we have to honor the commands of the Father (as well as the doctor, poor you!). But do we? It's hard sometimes, but like you said, we grow in maturity in God.

Patricia said...

Bonnie, I just love reading your blogs! You think like I do...when I read your stuff, I see my own life reflected.

"But through the process, I hope to spiral ever closer to Him."

This is my goal, through my failings as well as my successes.

Thanks for a great post!

lori said...

Bonnie....
I tell you....you get the WISDOM award...you speak to me each week!
What a fabulous analogy...you accepted what the dr. said, but you were not willing to "go backwards..."
You hit me today!
That was GREAT! Thank you for sharing!
peace,
lori

Anonymous said...

"... each time He works through the process with me, my trust is strengthened, the bond of intimacy between us increases and I grow an inch or two toward maturity in my Father."

That quote for me describes the Christian walk. We work through things with the Lord and in working through them and giving more to him in trust we grow closer to him and more mature in our Christian life. Thanks for that great quote and post :)

Tami said...

Amen, Bonnie. The more we practice obedience, especially in the tough stuff, the easier it gets.

Chocolate and Coffee said...

Spiraling closer to Him! How awesome is that!!

Blessings to you Bonnie.

Joyfull said...

I can relate! Loved reading how you turned around a very valuable lesson into ways to be obedient to our Savior!