Proverbs 3:5-6 – “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.”
Last Spring, we had a rainy streak that lasted a few days, and we were all feeling rather blah and craving the warmth of the sun, tired of the gloomy and stormy days. As I was sitting in my office, I saw a little one leaving preschool with their mom wearing bright red rain boots and a shiny, slick raincoat to match. He was having so much fun splashing in every puddle near his path; everything about his demeanor screamed JOY; he found joy in the rain and gloom. His mom was rushing (like most of us would be) and focused on a direct path to the car to get out of the rain.
As I watched from the window, it brought a smile to my face. Then, I wondered, what are the puddles in our lives? What do we miss out on when we are solely focused on a direct path from a-b? What is God up to even in all of that? I believe He is always up to A LOT! Those puddles that some see as a bother, messy, and to be avoided, God is in those! God is ever-present (Psalm 46), He does not wait for the rain to stop, the puddles to dry up, and the sun to shine, or even rush through it, He is ever-present. When we trust and know Who we are following and that He has a plan for our lives and our community, the puddles can be joy-filled and reveal the beauty even in the dark and stormy times.
Prayer: Good and gracious God, we are so grateful for your presence in our lives. Give us the eyes to see You and Your work in this world even when it is dark and messy and feel the warmth of Your presence. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
God's Up To Something 