Bath

He napped comfortably on the ottoman until something grabbed at him and he flinched and in discomfort and irritation jumped off to find a new place to settle in.  But again it happened, and George, the cat, was clearly aggravated and annoyed. After watching him on the move in frustration a couple of days, it was decided that maybe he needed a bath as to clear him of whatever was biting at him.  So I took on that dubious job, thinking it was be less traumatic if I washed him then taking him to the vet. So I gathered up the "dog" wash for fleas and ticks, picked him up, took him to the deep sink in the utility room and turned on the water.  George was petrified and all claws were out.  The battle had begun and the fight was clearly on, but I had to persevere becasue I had already gotten this far, and I knew in the end it would be a helpful gesture to him even though it might be scratchy one for me.  

He was frantic at first, trying to find any possible edge for escape, but I held tight and continued to talk to him as I bathed his strong and determined stiffened body.  Very cautiously, he relented in part.  But by the end, after he was towel dried, and set free, you could see his relief to be released.  He had clearly been traumatized by the event but after he had napped a while, uninterrupted, I sat down by him, and he turned over on his back, began to purr and had clearly forgiven me for my intrusion on his comfort.  The flinches seemed to be gone and he was once again at peace.

When God picks us up and allows us to be bathed in situations that we are not familiar with and we find ourselves trapped into unknown surroundings, we too stiffen up, get out claws out and prepare for battle. But how many times have the the baths of trials been the very thing that God has used to cleanse me of the things that are eating at me. He forces me to trust him even in the direst of circumstances and cleanses me through his power and the balm of his Holy Spirit. Nobody likes the trial at the time, but if we seek God's presence when we are immersed in the battle, we will find comfort in his words, and an ultimate peace in His tough love decisions, that make us better through the trials. He will not let us drown, and will not let us down. 

George was content when the experience was over, because he realized that the bath was for his own good. And he also now knows who his real friends are, and it is not just the ones who feed him.  It is the one who is willing to go to battle with him and  for him, in spite of His clawing resistance.  God is the very best friend that any of us can have.  He knows that the trails that are before us are hard, and he knows no one wants to be thrown into battle, but he also knows that through him, we can claim victory on all fronts.  Not always as the world views victory, but the true victory that lies in our obedience, trust and faithfulness in Him who has conquered the world.  We are sure to be scratched, often times scared and even scorned, but in the end we will be grateful for the one who has come beside us to guide us and wash away the insistent bites of the world. 

I bonded with George yesterday, but only because I was willing to go into battle with him in spite of his resistant, for his very own good.  Too many times I forget that the trials that I am undertaking, God has allowed for my very own good.  He is growing me through them, and bringing me closer to him as I have no where else to go but to depend on him. As we submit to God, he too will bathe us with his goodness and his righteousness, and set us free from the things that are biting at us.  And will we stand grateful for his perseverance, authority and overseeing commitment to make us better even when the circumstances about us are unnerving. 

Deuteronomy 20:2-4

² When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. ³ He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. ⁴ For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. ” 

Dear Lord, what a blessing that you are willing to pick us up and bathe us with your goodness and your righteousness, in spite of our continued resistance. May we learn, after we experience the end of a first trial, that your promise to be with us always  holds fast and you will be there when our next trail comes along. Amen 

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