trbccoffeebreak

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:5-6  (NET)

We inherited a long-haired orange tabby cat from the previous owner of our house, who abandoned her when he moved out. Although we didn’t want the responsibility of a pet, there she was, and we couldn’t let her starve. That was five years ago, and Buttercup is still hanging around. Actually, she thinks she owns us.

She is happiest outside where she can scratch trees and roam where she pleases. She also prefers to eat her food outside on the back deck, so like inexperienced fools, we were putting her food dish out for her. Then we had neighborhood dogs coming onto the deck, followed later by a skunk and a big, aggressive raccoon. Our next-door neighbor also says there was a bear “as big as a Volkswagen” wandering through her yard recently, which means he was likely in our yard, too. I hope she was exaggerating his size. Either way, putting cat food outside in a dish is obviously a bad idea, a magnet for all kinds of critters.

Now we are trying to get Buttercup to come into the laundry room to eat, but she refuses until she is practically starving. She doesn’t understand why we have suddenly changed her routine. She is clearly irritated and resisting as hard as she can. But if we give into her and put her food outside where she likes it, animals of all descriptions will be on our back deck.

Buttercup is relying on her own understanding. She doesn’t know what we know, because she isn’t capable of reasoning as we do. We know there are dangers she doesn’t comprehend.

Don’t we act the same way when God changes our circumstances, or when He requires us to take on a new, unwelcomed responsibility? We don’t understand His ways, which are higher than our ways. Our limited human brains can’t comprehend what He knows. We have a choice. We can act like Buttercup and fight the change, or we can trust Him and submit to His will like the daughters we are.

Isn’t our best, wisest option to follow His leading?

“Father, when the unpleasant changes come in our lives, remind us of who You are and who we are. Help us to trust you more perfectly and acknowledge You in all our ways.”

For His Glory

Cherie Harbridge Williams
TRBC Women’s Life