Going Nowhere

We have those days when we have a hard time getting it into gear.  As we take stock of our sluggish attempts to get it going, we conclude, "I'm just going nowhere today."  Actually, while it may appear certain that you are going nowhere, you are most certainly going somewhere.

Life doesn't have a pause button, where we can "sit this one out."  Our journey continues whether we like it or not and whether we are on track or off the rails.  We might not make much progress today, we might even loose some ground, but we are going somewhere.

Life is a bit like a river, always flowing.  In a lake you can climb on your air mattress and float in one place.  In a river, if you are not paddling against the current, you are being drug downstream.  Unlike a lake, a river is not static - neither is life.  Time keeps moving on, regardless of what we do or not do.  If you are not swimming upstream, you are being carried downstream - you are always going somewhere.

In Hebrews 9:27, we read, "people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment."  We have an appointment, an appointment with death and judgment.  We don't get to reset that appointment, we are moving closer to it every day.  The only question really is how prepared we are to arrive there.

It is often said that Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.  And it is in this life that our preparation takes place or not.  “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 18:3).  Did you notice the action word "change" and the object "heaven?"  We are called to move toward a childlike faith in Jesus, trusting in him for all things.  Each day is an opportunity to make progress toward that goal.

Even on days when you feel like you're going nowhere and perhaps even especially on  days like that, we have an opportunity to increase our trust factor as we admit that we do not feel up to par and need to rely on Him more today than yesterday.  Facing a day that seems overwhelming, while you feel like you are running in mud, turning to Christ only makes more sense.

You are never going nowhere.  You are either making progress or you are regressing, either paddling upstream or carried downstream.  On days when it seems to be too much, accept Jesus' offer: "Come unto me all who are heavy burdened and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you..." (Matt 11:28-30).  Taking his yoke means to get in the yoke with him so that he can help you and teach you how to more easily carry your burden.

If it seems like you are going nowhere, turn your face toward Jesus and invite him to provide you with the strength and the help you need to make forward progress in your journey home.  Jus' Say'n.