Northern Lights, Snow and Trust

It was midnight with northern lights dancing overhead and a temperature of 40 below. I was at a refinery in Alaska getting ready to climb to the top of a large tank to measure how much gasoline was inside. The employee tasked with helping went ahead of me on the winding staircase. With each step he used his boot to kick at least 6 inches of snow off each stair. It was a nice gesture and he really thought he was helping me.

However, all the snow he was moving off the step was going straight into my face and down the front of my jacket. I was getting wetter and colder by the minute. Fortunately, I was able to do the job quickly and get back inside the warm building to warm up and dry out.

As I reflect on that adventure, I can laugh at the snow. I still have fond memories of standing on top of that tank watching those beautiful lights dancing across the sky. All in all, a great adventure. As I pondered my assistant that day, I wonder how often I cause the same problems while trying to “help” God when it comes to areas of my life. I’m not talking about my responsibilities. It's more of those areas where God is taking longer doing His part than I think He should. Or even more important…when He does it differently than I thought was appropriate. In those instances, I love to rush in and help move things along.

I can say each time I tried that, I messed it up. Had I waited on God, His ways, His timing, my path would have been easier and more fulfilling. I would have preferred the result doing it His way rather than the messy finish mine produced. How about you? Do like to “help” God out from time to time? If so, did it end similarly?

Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God knows better than we do. “’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways’, says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.’” I am so thankful that God doesn’t make mistakes. I make enough already, and thankfully, He is there to help me out of them. I learn from them, grow, and most importantly, learn to trust Him more.

As I mature in my walk with Him, I’m slowly learning to trust Him, even (and especially) when I don’t understand the why behind what is happening. I can trust Him to do what is best for me. He will not let me down. Do I still mess up and try to help Him out? Yep! But those instances are becoming less frequent as I have walked through some hard lessons.

If you are in a place like that, rest in His promises. Trust Him to do what only He can do. Don’t do His part for Him. If there is something you are supposed to do, do it! But don’t take on God’s responsibility. Take it from someone who has done that too often…it doesn’t work out so well. His plans really are better and higher than mine. Let this coming year be a year of trusting Him in a more consistent way. You’ll be so glad you did.