By Cyndi
Ever had your day start one way and end another? Have you ever started a project and it took some twists and turns before it was over? And what about relationships? They have a way of fluctuating too — sometimes like a roller-coaster ride.
I, personally, like stability, routines. Call me boring, but consistency is a friend of mine. But unfortunately my days don’t always fit into my little box of perfect. Life happens. Been there?
The other day as I was coming from one side of town to the other, the weather transformed from nice and sunny to grey and cloudy — all within 35 minutes. I was disappointed because when I left to head towards the beach, thoughts of warm sunshine and sand were filling my mind. But once I arrived, the grumpy dismal sky was less than inviting.
Things changed. Rapidly.
And the rhema word that popped into my heart was: “Be flexible.” Being slightly disheartened with the disappearance of “sunny Florida, “ I went to the dictionary to check this word out. Flexible is defined as — “capable of being bent, usually without breaking; easily bent; susceptible of modification or adaptation; adaptable: willing to yield, pliable.” (Dictionary.com)
Immediately I felt the nudge of the Lord telling me to “Chill out. Don’t be so rigid. ” (I don’t know if He speaks to you that way but He does to me.) You see, I get into mindsets or “modes” where I want (believe, desire, hope for) something on my own track, but it may not be in the plans of the Holy Spirit.
Those of us “born of the Spirit” are to be flexible. (John 3:8) We are supposed to able to be led wherever our Master leads us. To be able to be “bent” without breaking. However, this can be extremely difficult. I think most of us, like me, enjoy some dependable invariability in our lives. Logical progressions are tranquil — no rocking the boat.
But then issues happen with our health, money, children, jobs, etc. Death, divorce, relocation — all of these things cause grief. Literally. And we have to be flexible to move, to grieve, to get out of the boat and not fit into that perfect box. It can get messy, wet, and painful. Yet there is a “Son” that shines through it all — His name is Jesus.
Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us. (Deut. 31:6, Heb. 13:5) We are never alone.
When we are so bent over we think we’re going to break, He will be there. When we have to modify our living arrangements or job descriptions, He will be there. When we have to adapt to all kinds of people and changes in our lives (which happens perpetually), He will be there with us to help us readjust.
No doubt life can change from sunny to cloudy in a matter of minutes. The question is: Will we try to maintain our stringent path, or will we soften like clay to be molded by His hands? Will we try to keep things within our control, or be flexible? My friend, I’m not saying this is easy, but if we can relax into the loving arms of our Father, He will be the one consistent thing we can always count on.