Clinging
What do you notice about this picture? I took it because of the flowers…but upon closer examination I find one Mr. Ant clinging to the leafless skinny branch. Clinging. Crawling, at an ant’s pace. Sure, it may have been fast to him, but to me–it was very.very.slow. And perhaps he doesn’t notice he’s hanging upside down…but I almost break out in a sweat thinking about this climb–seeming fruitless since it goes nowhere and produces nothing.
I’m watching him on my screen, almost expecting him to move, but he doesn’t budge. He’s a photograph. A memory of mine from a week ago.
Last week my husband and I spent time in Bolivia planning for our next mission trip. Our trip, we pray will produce fruit. Not just for us, but for the hundreds of children we hope to introduce to Jesus Christ in the coming year. We want their journey, although arduous most days it might seem, to produce fruit. In unexpected places. That’s the way God works. Often in the place we least suspect.
Mr. Ant clings to the stick, much like we cling to our normality. We want what every one else wants. We want the front porch rocking chair, mailbox watching, neighbor waving, grand-kid visiting kind of life most everyone else wants when they get to our age. Wait, don’t assume we’re old. We are not. But on this last visit, God made me very aware of many things…
My darling man slept peacefully on our trip. I heard him. I –on the other hand, did not. It was more like a continual conversation with God–I prayed for my husband and myself, our marriage, our ability to learn a new language, I prayed for my children, grandchildren, parents, friends, missionaries, and our journey. And. I wrestled.
I wrestled with unknown things. Our friends that we stayed with, hit the nail on the head regarding my personality the evening before we left. I like to see things planned out and in black and white. I like to have the book ready to hand out before they get here. I want the map drawn. But….that’s not the way God does things. He… expects us to TRUST Him.
On this journey, God opened my eyes to some things about me that I had never-ever admitted to anyone else, much less myself.
I’m not sure I want to tell you. But, maybe you are a wrestler too, clinging to what you “know”.
I’m independent. Very independent. And, slather on some insecurity and that, along with some other things not quite as blatant, and it pretty much sums me up. Why? Well friend, we don’t have all week to discuss this, a better devotion comes along tomorrow, suffice it to say the LORD spoke to me about my “stuff”.
As believers in Jesus Christ we are supposed to “grow” closer to Him and more like Him. Growing happens better when we aren’t clinging to something that offers no destination, or food source. Mr. Ant was going nowhere–and there was nothing for him to eat along the journey. There have been days I felt like Mr. Ant. Hanging upside down, dizzy from the climb, and going nowhere. BUT, God has a way of putting things in order and in proper perspective. Every step I took that seemed fruitless, was actually part of the learning journey. And, despite my best efforts, fruit was appearing. It was HIS efforts that produced the fruit, not mine. My job was to trust. And there were times I offered more questions than trust.
I don’t know where you are today–I don’t know what’s going on in your life. Maybe you feel like you are clinging to a dead – lifeless stick, hanging upside down in a right-side up world, but know this: You are not alone. Christ Jesus is right beside you waiting for you to put your trust in Him, let go of the stick. Get upside-right. Lean into Him. And learn to trust.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV.
That’s one of my favorites. And when we do OUR part….we can breath easier on the climb–knowing and trusting He will do His part.
© Angie Knight 2015. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Photography by Angie Knight © 2015 All rights reserved. Used by permission.
amen my sweet friend, amen
Wonderful post, I want to be like the ant just keep hanging on to Jesus, going about doing the work for Him that He has called me to do. love mama doodle
beautiful. I’m a lot like you, a little orderly but sometimes God awakens me like your worm did to see His full picture. Great Word! ((Hugs))
Oh Angie, what a powerful message to keep climbing (even upside down) by trusting Him for the outcome.
Wonderful post- very insightful! Thanks, friend!