Restricted Area

Ignoring signs like the one above can get you severely injured… or worse. 

There are a number of places that the average person is not allowed to enter without the proper credentials and/or training: construction areas, crime scenes, operating rooms, manufacturing shops- the list goes on.  And even when special permission is granted for Average Joe to enter in, it’s usually under the condition that he is wearing protective gear and agrees not to touch anything.  Look but don’t touch.  Questions are welcomed but suggestions are not, unless you are a hired consultant or an inspector.  Otherwise, you are just a liability.

It recently dawned on me that life for a Christian is pretty much a restricted area.  If I need work done in my life and in my heart I call on God.  The thing is for years I would call the expert and then shadow him as he worked, as if he didn’t know what he was doing.  If things were taking longer than I wanted them to I just had to get back in there and check things out for myself, knowing full well I had no idea what the heck I was looking at.  Oh the mistakes I have made.  How many times did I say, “Forget it!  I’ll do it myself!”?  And I messed up the job.  Every.  Single.  Time.  Then I went crawling back to the expert begging him to fix my mess.  And he would come in his own time without complaining or saying, “I told you”.  What a pain in the butt I have been!

Usually people stay at a hotel or with relatives when their home is undergoing some kind of construction.  I figure life is pretty much the same way.  Now I know that I have slowed God’s progress in my life by refusing to fully trust in him and leave the area while he worked.  My constant worrying and dissecting things only served to drive me nuts and keep me awake at night.  Why did I keep giving things over to God if I couldn’t stand to let go?  And because God is a loving, caring and safe God, he had to stop construction each and every time I entered the area.  He didn’t want me to get hurt but at the same time he needed me to respect his authority and let him do his job.  He has never needed my assistance but he has invited me in to hammer a nail or two.

Leave the area?  And go where?  Seek the kingdom first.  Sound familiar? 

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto.  -Matthew 6:33

Go volunteer at church.  Visit an elderly relative who might be lonely.  Host a pizza party for your nieces and nephews to kick off their summer vacation.  Be about your Father’s business while he tends to yours.  Trust God fully.  He has the all the expertise and he doesn’t need your help.  When he is ready for your input, trust and believe that he will call you. 

Until then, do something ‘constructive’ with your time.  I’m sorry I had to throw that pun in there.  🙂