Burnt Out

"This is Ellen with Channel 5 News. Tonight we expect freezing temperatures with about 2-3 inches of snow starting around 9 p.m. When you wake up tomorrow, there's a 90 percent chance that the roads will be covered with anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 an inch of ice. Stay at home, and put the fire on, but whatever you do, don't leave your driveway!"

As a native Georgian, I think I can speak for the entire South when I say that we do not know how to drive on ice. When the meteorologist predicted wintry conditions, everyone fled to the local grocery store and stocked up on bread, milk, and canned goods. It's like they think the world is about to shut down.

Meanwhile, I observed a neighbor trying to drive up an enormously steep hill. Even though his truck had 4-wheel drive, the tires could not grip the road due to the thick layer of ice. Nevertheless, he kept trying. I thought to myself, “He’s going to burn out his brakes and cause some serious damage to that truck.” Why? Because he ignored common sense.

God calls us to many different purposes. He opens many doors to jumpstart a lifetime of following Him, and while it may sometimes seem difficult, we pursue His leading. The difficult part is trusting Him when He tells us not to do something. We feel like a child whose mother has just ordered, “Don’t open that gift until Christmas.” However, danger comes when we defy God’s commands. God “will guide you continually” and will never let you down (Isaiah 58:11, NKJV). When we decide to take matters into our own hands, our lives develop accordingly. We burn ourselves out, only to discover that nothing came of our efforts in the first place; we are right where we started. This year, give God an open ear and heed His warnings. Take His Word as truth, and watch your spiritual life blossom into a tree of trust and wisdom.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NKJV).

“But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil” (Proverbs 1:33, NKJV).