Needs

Image by Dorothe from Pixabay

This memory popped up this week, and with Thanksgiving approaching, it seems as relevant now as when I first posted it back in November 2011. 

Needs

I've spent much of my life clinging to a job, a home, financial security, husband, children, and parents, expending a ton of emotional and physical energy. I am not saying we shouldn’t care about people or things, we should. We need relationships. We need things in order to survive, but we need God more.

One of my devotions mentioned a popular chain e-mail. It asked, "Suppose you're house was burning, with all of your family already safe, you have just enough time to take one item with you, what would you chose?"

What if God came to the door and said, "Come." Would I say goodbye to family first or would I have enough faith and trust in Him to step out the door, leaving everything behind? I decided I could just walk away. How could I refuse God when he was standing at the door? 

Another image formed. With nothing but the clothes I was wearing, I embarked on a journey with Him. For a woman who carries a large purse everywhere, and always has multiple suite cases when traveling, this was an intoxicating concept. He even made keeping up with Him easy, matching His pace to mine, and carrying me when I became too tired to walk.

We were deep into a wooded area, far from any town, when night descended. A thunderstorm struck, soaking my clothes within seconds. I could no longer see God or feel His touch. As I considered my desperate situation, a large lightning flash revealed a small cave only a few steps in front of me. The floor of the cave was sandy and dry, but I still shivered in the night chill. I wondered why God had brought me there and then just left, leaving me to die of exposure and hunger.

Lightning hit the tree just outside the mouth of the cave and ignited one of the large limbs. It fell a within arm's reach, and with minimal effort I drug it further into the cave. My clothes were soon dry, and the blaze held off most of the night chill, but I was still hungry, tired and alone.

Even in my misery, I knew God would do two things. He would either provide food, warmer shelter, and everything else I needed to continue the journey  - or He would take me Home where he would fill all my needs, even those beyond my imagination. With that in mind, I could endure short-term hunger and a little cold.

God came to the cave and sat next to me.He entertained me with stories and amazing natural wonders. He assured me that although I missed dinner, breakfast would be indescribable and told me how much He loved me.

I fell asleep, curled next to the fire, covered with a blanket of God's love and peace. No worries, no concerns. I didn't make any do lists or minute by minute plans for the next morning. Nor did I check off a list of all the things I failed to accomplish that day, nor did I recite any list of transgressions. I followed God, and that was all I was required to do.

Now, I can say, if the house was on fire, or if God knocked and said, "Come." I would walk away, leaving everything. I would be selfish (according to the world's point of view, but God will take care of my loved ones and everything else). By choosing God above everything else, life becomes simpler and far less stressful. My burdens are much lighter, especially when I let him carry most of the load.

Thank you, Lord, for being my most gracious Father and for all the blessings you have granted me throughout my life. Amen.