"Flexible Faith: Trusting in God's Timing and Loving Others"

My old pastor, Chuck Smith, wrote some of his own proverbs. One was, "Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be broken". I heard this decades ago, but over time it has proved to be helpful. 

From the time we leave the house in the morning, we've got a head full of hopes for the day. The problem is people get in our way. If it is while driving, at work, at school, or where ever. One day I got to work early to make some copies. However, walking from the other direction was my copy room nemesis. I was a little ahead of her. However it seemed petty, so I opened the door and let her go ahead of me. As I reflected on this throughout the day, I thought of Jesus' command to love my neighbor as myself. My motives weren't pure, but it worked out. 

This incident stayed with me, as well as the Golden Rule and Pastor Chuck's proverb about flexibility. Even though things rarely go as I planned, I would adjust my plans around these hindrances. Instead of getting frustrated, I would send up a prayer asking God to help me get my responsibilities done all the while being an encourager to those I'd encounter.

I began to see this is how the Lord intended me to live for Him. John Lennon said, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." Living for God doesn't mean we do religious things all day. It's living our lives in a loving way. Let others get the credit, let others go first, and so on. 

I would agree that this isn't how to win an athletic contest. However, in between plays, we can be good human beings. 

This may make some anxious, as they might be sacrificing some things. This is where faith comes in. I Corinthians 2:9 says, 'Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”' God has amazing things for us. They don't come by seizing them. They come as we sacrifice things by loving others. It's usually not an instant reward. He gives it in His time. Psalm 23: says, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want." He gives us contentment. We don't sweat it. 

Flexibility has been a welcome addition to my day. It'll work out. Trust Him.