This weekend I had the amazing opportunity to do a bunch of crazy fun things in Pucon, Chile--hiking, waterfall viewing, hot springs, white water rafting, and volcano climbing. My favorite activity was rafting. I couldn't help comparing this experience with my spiritual journey.
In the beginning, the guide taught us the commands and safty tips we would need to know for our journey ahead. Obviously I believed him and paid attention to the lessons so I would know how to make it out alive. But once the trip down the "raging river of death" (little movie quote there, points if you name it) began it became more clear to me how much I could trust him. He knew exactly how many paddles an which direction we needed to successfully make it around rocks, through currents, down rapids, etc.
Just as we were starting to feel confident in the raft, our guide gave us a command that caused the raft to tip over. It was clear to all of us that he had done this on purpose. Why? Because he wanted us to be comfortable with the water in case we accidentally fell in. But I didn't realize this right away. And for a little while, I was suspicious of every command he gave...wondering if he was playing a trick on us again for his own amusement.
There were several more occasions in which we ended up in the water because of the guide. One time he just straight up told us to all stand in the raft and then he pushed us out one by one. By the end of the trip I trusted him without doubt. It was clear that he knew what he was doing and was more than capable of protecting me. If he wanted me in the water, I wanted to be there. If he wants me to paddle TOWARDS the big rock, I wouldn't dream of doing anything else.
Isn't this exactly how it's supposed to be with God? He knows everything. He's more than proved his ability to protect, guide, lead, love, provide, etc. So why do I so often struggle with trying to go my own way? When I take time to think it over, I realize that there's no way I would want anything other than what He wants for me. But in the midst of life, it seems as if following his instructions is optional. Just as the trip down the river without the help of my guide would have been treacherous...so life is treacherous when we try to do it without Jesus, our guide--the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
In the beginning, the guide taught us the commands and safty tips we would need to know for our journey ahead. Obviously I believed him and paid attention to the lessons so I would know how to make it out alive. But once the trip down the "raging river of death" (little movie quote there, points if you name it) began it became more clear to me how much I could trust him. He knew exactly how many paddles an which direction we needed to successfully make it around rocks, through currents, down rapids, etc.
Just as we were starting to feel confident in the raft, our guide gave us a command that caused the raft to tip over. It was clear to all of us that he had done this on purpose. Why? Because he wanted us to be comfortable with the water in case we accidentally fell in. But I didn't realize this right away. And for a little while, I was suspicious of every command he gave...wondering if he was playing a trick on us again for his own amusement.
There were several more occasions in which we ended up in the water because of the guide. One time he just straight up told us to all stand in the raft and then he pushed us out one by one. By the end of the trip I trusted him without doubt. It was clear that he knew what he was doing and was more than capable of protecting me. If he wanted me in the water, I wanted to be there. If he wants me to paddle TOWARDS the big rock, I wouldn't dream of doing anything else.
Isn't this exactly how it's supposed to be with God? He knows everything. He's more than proved his ability to protect, guide, lead, love, provide, etc. So why do I so often struggle with trying to go my own way? When I take time to think it over, I realize that there's no way I would want anything other than what He wants for me. But in the midst of life, it seems as if following his instructions is optional. Just as the trip down the river without the help of my guide would have been treacherous...so life is treacherous when we try to do it without Jesus, our guide--the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Preach it daughter! Awesome.
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