You know the story of how the Tortoise grew tired of hearing the Hare brag about his speed so the steady-but-slow Tortoise accepted the challenge to a foot race. The Tortoise knew his competitor loved to chase rabbits, so to speak, and sure enough, the Hare's overconfidence in his own ability and his lack of commitment to reaching the finish line cost him the race.
Riding downhill on a bicycle I could say I love bike-riding, but huffing and puffing up the same hill on the way home I might wish I had opted for swimming or had simply stayed home. The Israelites faithfully followed Moses down the hill through the newly-parted Red Sea then danced in celebration, but as soon as they turned to face the next big challenge, they began grumbling against Moses and ultimately against the Lord. "Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur.
For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.
When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter.
(That is why the place is called Marah.)
So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"
Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood.
He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet."
Exodus 15:22-25
We might assume from this passage that grumbling gets things done, but it was when Moses cried out to the LORD that the LORD answered their new need. New is exciting. New churches and Bible study classes grow more quickly. New friendships take off and new fashions catch on and spread. Newlyweds and new babies are adorable but the new wears off while the commitment to finish the race remain. Adorable bunnies frolick around us, tempting us to step off our course to "live a little" and not be so predictable.
Maybe God's urging us to accept and fulfill a new calling or ministry. A group of us who want to learn sign language sit on the back pew during Sunday night services as a friend, fluent in signing, interprets the service. It's a start into new territory and, right now, it's an exciting challenge.
Or, maybe, we're in the middle of a desert or sea He's already called us to cross and we're finding the water is bitter or we've lost sight of the finish line since the purpose of the journey has grown muddy. We can grumble as we seek relief and resent feeling left alone or abandoned by those who committed to run alongside us race off to join "new," exciting ministries. Our answer is to let them run their own race as we cry out to the LORD and trust Him to show us how He'll sweeten the bitter moments with His Presence and provision.
Lord You know we love to be entertained and we detest being bored, but Your mercies are new every morning and Your infinite creativity is anything but boring. Guide us to find the "new" in what You've called us to do even if it's the fifty-thousandth time we do it. Guard us from having grumbling hearts and fill us with gratitude for the ways You sweeten our lives with Your Presence.
In the Name of Jesus, our example for taking the next difficult step
Inspired by Jesus Calling
photo from VBS slide show
"But I trust in You, O LORD; I say, 'You are my God.'" Psalm 31:14
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