EN(dur)ANCE by Robin Gudal

 

I have a confession! Ugh, that’s a hard statement.

This past winter, when it was miserably cold, I needed to get something out of storage. I was concerned, because of the temperature, that the key — cheaply made — may possibly break. You know that forewarning feeling, well, I ignored it and instead just said a little “Help me, Jesus” prayer. No waiting until Greggy came home and asked him to help; nope, I just pushed through. Literally, too hard, yup! Broken key, in the lock! I should have known better. Shame on me!

Consequently, I ended up waiting a long time. I gave up and I was too embarrassed about my impatience to say anything.

Then, spring came.

Time to get the seat cushions out of storage. Carefully I opened door No. 4 with success. Now, door No. 3. Ugh! I was flooded with the awareness of my impatience — now shame, frustration, the secret. None of these feelings are good to have, or to live with for that matter.

I asked my renter to try, to see if he had the magic touch, as wonderful as he is and such a blessing; he couldn’t fulfill my wish.

I have a favorite, sharp tweezer; “That’ll likely widget it out.” When I went out on that beautiful May day, I had this feeling, “You should lay prostrate and pray for the key to get out so you can open it.”

My mind went immediately to that winter whisper I felt. Sometimes, obedience just seems harder than other times. I opted for the tweezer. Then, bent it, no problem, it bent back, several times, however, I was not making any headway.

OK. I will do the lay on the ground thing. With the dog watching me, thinking, I assume, “Oh good we are going to play among the leaves from the eavesdrops.” This just seemed simply silly! Really, a key prayer. Jesus has much more important things to deal with, Robin!

Jesus loves me so dearly!  Submission! I laid on the ground and prayed.

The next tries produced the broken key removed. Yes, I also had a half-broken tweezer.

Why do I tell you this silly little story? Because I believe it has a big story within in.

Jesus cares about all our concerns. He desires we hear him and obey. IF I can do the little obeys, then I may do well with the bigger obeys.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Luke 16:10 NIV

“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” John 15:10 ESV

Do you know Joe Sirola? Likely you don’t. However, you’ve likely heard his voice as he was the king of voice-overs. Marketers speculate that most Americans heard Sirola’s voice every single day, though they didn’t know who he was or anything about him.

Do you listen for the voice of God? (Important statement! God’s voice never contradicts his word.)

Conclusion: This is a key principal; obedience and discipline. The next time I get that nudge, I will listen the first time.

Robin (Beckman) Gudal, intentional in life, is a wife, momma, nana, friend, and a flawed and imperfect follower of Jesus.