Chariot

Sunday she woke up and just couldn't walk. Bentley is my handicapped lab. We are heading out of town; business for Mel, and seeing children and a grand baby for me. And usually I take Bentley to stay at a petsitter's home and she sleeps outside but this week is too cold and I had to make other arrangements. She needed a bath and since she can not walk I was going to have to transport her to the back half of the house to get her to a shower. When she was paralyzed 6 years ago, after her accident, we made her a flat stroller out of the metal side of one of those "Container Store" bins, a flatbed furniture dolly, and a outside chair cushion. We attached my son's old "Tae Kwon Do" belt to it for pulling and it became her caddy to and from our room at night. It was just where we had stored it in the garage. It was a little dusty and had a few blown in leaves gathered on it, but it still in working order, and once again, it was the necessary mode of transportation, because Bentley is just too heavy to pick up, let alone carry.

Bentley is accustomed to riding in a wagon to the pet sitter's house, because even on her best days, her movement is limited in length and in ability. So the reintroduction to the caddy was not too much of a adjustment. She obediently hopped on with her front two legs after being directed and I grabbed her by the tail and lifted her backside. She didn't know where she was going but she trusted me and responded to my request to load up. The rest of the adventure worked pretty much on target except the handle on the sprayer needed a wrench to make it move. Funny how God can even guide you through stuff like that.

But as I was thinking of Bentley and her lack of fear in doing something new by getting on the cart, it made me reflect on how I respond when God pulls something up before me that I am not familiar with. Am I willing to climb aboard his chariot of adventure, trusting not where I am going but who I am going with? Or do I dig my heels in and hesitate until I am more comfortable with the plan?

Everyday we are faced with new adventure. And the adventure is not always a pleasurable journey. It comes braided with grief, sorrow, pain, growth, appreciation, perspective, joy and peace. Sometimes in combination of all of these while other times it seems to be tilted and out of balance landing in one overwhelming emotion at a time.

Bentley trusted me because I have earned her trust. I love her, I feed her, I talk to her and she is accustomed to my ways, as I am of hers. Trust is not something that you usually just pick up and begin to
hold onto. It comes by being in a partnered relationship with someone. It begins with a seed of trial, and as one test is passed, another one is offered. And the trust factor begins to take hold, and roots of strength, loyalty courage and faith are the fruits of God's harvest that calm our fears and insecurities.

I have given God a few tests, or maybe it is God who has given me the tests. For how am I to know how much I trust him if I do not have anything to trust him with. We have all been given opportunities to know Christ, and then more opportunities to know him better. But when it really comes down to the rubber meeting the road, we have to know, with all our hearts that when things are down and dirty and out of control, that we can trust God. For He is trustworthy. He doesn't always let us know why we are on the road that we are on or really where our next stop will be or where there will be detours. But one thing we do know is this: God will not take us anywhere that he will not be with us. It is like a mama sheltering her cubs in the wake of a storm. God will not only lead us to and through the showers of adversity, but if we trust him to be our soulful companion, we will clearly come out of it bathed in his grace and in his glory.

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Isaiah 12:2
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation."

Jeremiah 17:7
"But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him

Bentley is just a dog, oh but I pay attention to her gentle spirit, her watching eyes, and her desire to please and respond when asked. She acts out of love and obedience and trust. Are God's requests of me so different? I don't think so. He sends me opportunities, he has faithfully procured my future, he loves me unconditionally, and pushes me to new heights of trust through experiences that I would not have asked for but would never have learned so greatly of his love or grace from either.

I don't know what testing situations are upon you today but whatever it is that you are struggling with, plant that seed of trust into your heart and let God grow it according to his purposes. He is up for conquering our monumental fears, or making miracles happen through the impossible as well as caring about the trifle little things that absorb our thoughts. Christ wants us to grow in faith and in trust in Him because there is where we will find a true peace. A lasting peace that trumps situations.

I even had to pray about where Bentley should hang out for the next few days...yeah, he even cares about the contentment of the dog...the clean dog!

Dear Lord, May you continue to grow my trust in you so that in all situations, and through all adversities I may be confident of your hand upon them. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!