Are We There Yet?
We went to Wilson’s Prom for the first time last week and I fell in love. Squeaky Beach was delightfully pristine, beautiful, and squeaky. The sand was perfect for the boys, and the view was spectacular.
On the second day, we decided to do a hike to see the 360-degree views promised on the Mt. Oberon walk. It was actually an easy hike … if you don’t have kids.
Micah is an active kid, but walking uphill for an hour in the Victorian heat was not his idea of fun. Joshua didn’t want to stay in the pram, but he also didn’t want to stay on the path. Why do that when there were sticks, stones, and bushes to explore?
So there we were, four adults carrying two kids, two backpacks, and pushing one pram uphill. Suffice to say it was quite a workout.
When we got to the top, we devoured our lunches and gulped down our water. We took some pictures and rested before going back down. The journey down was a lot easier and faster.
Someone observed that if we had known how hard it was going to be, we probably wouldn’t have done it. But being ignorant of exactly how steep or how challenging the climb really was with the kids, we just took it one step at a time, hoping that we were “almost there.” And we were glad we did it (once the hard part was over).
Sometimes we want God to tell us exactly what His will is for our lives – who He wants us to marry, what job to take, where to live, or what to do in certain situations. The silence or the mystery frustrate us and make us doubt whether He cares or understands. But perhaps it is in the unknown that God desires us to grow. Perhaps it is in the journey where we stretch our faith muscles and struggle through our heart burdens that we dare to experience what we otherwise would never choose for ourselves.
So as we face the new year, let’s not be daunted by what may lie ahead. Instead, let’s take it one step at a time, learning to
“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).
May God send you companions who can help carry the load, times of refreshing and rest, and moments of clarity as you see just how far you’ve come. Happy New Year!
by: Jinha Kim
"But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14