Honestly, I wasn’t quite sure what to say – I had an appointment in thirty minutes. As I came down my little street, the construction guys who had been hard at work for the past week laying a new sewer pipe had completely blocked it. One day they cut the water lines. Another day – I came home to no internet, tv or phones. They too had been cut. It has been a project that has lasted a bit too long – for all of us. Parking at the main road a couple of days and walking the quarter mile home through the dirt and some days the mud was a little inconvenient but now – this – there was no way for me to leave. Nothing I could do.
Big. Exhale.
What an obstacle. Nothing to the right. Nothing to the left. No.Way.Out.
When one of the guys saw me sitting there, having no clue what to do next, he got up in the equipment blocking the street and another guy on the big backhoe moved enough so I could inch my way through.
I was on time for my appointment.
Later I was thinking about obstacles we face on our journeys. The one I encountered this morning was out of my control. Gratefully someone saw my dilemma and solved my problem for me before I had to get out of the car and talk through it.
Life isn’t always that easy.
Yet, the one thing I have learned – it is the obstacles I can’t see that often cause me the greatest anxiety.
It seems when they enter our lives – tangible – we feel there is a way for us to overcome them, handling them on our own and go on just like I did when the equipment blocked my way this morning.
Its the intangible that tends to present more of a challenge.
Do you ever feel there is “something” you can’t quite put your finger on? Something blocking that feeling of peace you are seeking? It sometimes shows up as anxiety. Sometimes it look more like frustration or anger.
How do you work through that? Sometimes it hangs around for too long and begins to feel comfortable and that’s when I get scared of it. God promises me His peace. He also tells us this life will be hard. It will be full of challenges and obstacles.
This is when I dig in and pull out my deep truths – the ones that have been faithful and unchanging to me. One would think I would never put them away – but – being transparent here – I forget and start relying on myself to overcome and then I wonder why its not working so well. I don’t know if you can relate or not but . . . this is the part where being still comes in.
This morning sitting in my car not having a clue what to do – being still – not getting out and screaming and yelling my frustrations at the men at work – doing their job – I was reminded – just be still.
And so I become still. I pray in that still space. Sometimes I read – usually the Psalms – and something shifts -whether it is in me or in the world around me – the situation changes. I pray for discernment. I pray for wisdom. I pray for answers.
So, join me in the stillness and the beautiful blessings waiting there for you.
“Lord, please let us remember to become still when we are overwhelmed by life’s obstacles. Show up in these quiet times as we listen for You. Reveal Your light as we seek answers along our journeys. Let us know You are near. Hold us close. Fill us up. Create in us a desire to be still as often as possible and learn to find You in that stillness. Amen.”
Psalm 18:1-2
I love You, oh Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.