Problem Solving

I like to problem solve; it makes me feel productive and valuable. Listening, for me, is an area of constant growth. People stereotype the man in the marriage as the one who hears his wife and just wants to offer ways to fix it, the wife listens with compassion. Oddly enough, in our marriage, it is often the other way around. But I'm learning.

The thing is I find myself doing the same thing with God. Too often in the past I prayed to talk out MY solutions to life, not listen to His heart. Truth is I don't much like my solutions and when I use them, I often end up in a pickle. (Sometimes, it's an entire jar of pickles.) Then, I'm just weary, frustrated, and confused. God, where are you? Only, He hasn't gone anywhere, I've just moved on without Him.

As I've gotten older, I find that the confidence and the recklessness of youth has faded, and I am much more willing to ask for help and I am learning to listen. The more I know about life, the more I realize I don't know. It's humbling. But the more I realize my imperfections and ineptitude, the more I realize God's incredible strength. He is my everything, and He is enough.

In thinking about prayer this week and about my relationship with God, I've realized that true communion with God requires that I be vulnerable, humble, and well, quiet.

I was reading this week about Moses and the Israelite people as they fled Egypt. One verse captured my attention and I haven't been able to quit thinking about it. Here it is in two translations.

"The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent."
"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."
Exodus 14:14

I can imagine the fear and desperation the people were feeling. They have witnessed the plagues on the Egyptians as God provided a way out of slavery for them. Now they are free, but Pharaoh has changed his mind and all of Egypt's army is on their tail. In front of them is a massive body of water, impassable. Behind them, death and slavery. Where are you now, God? What do we DO?

I hate that feeling. Worry, anxiety, fear. That sinking pit of dread that hits you at times when your circumstances are completely out of your control. How to pray then? What to DO?

In this case, the answer was simple. Keep silent. Be still. In other words, don't DO anything except TRUST God.
Even when you are afraid.
Even when you are vulnerable.
Even when your hope is flagging.
Even when the world is falling apart around you.
Even then, trust.

So did God fight for them? Yes, He most certainly did. God's power is limitless. His love is eternal. His forgiveness complete. Our circumstances change, but God doesn't. Our circumstances confound us, but not God. We feel trapped by our choices, God frees us.

I'm learning that being vulnerable with God and not having all the answers is really the best place to be after all. In His infinite mercy, God delights in loving His weary, broken, and tired people. He wants to be my Champion and Defender and Protector and Guide. So, I will...

Trust in the Lord with all my heart
and lean not on my own understanding.
In all my ways, I will acknowledge Him,
and He will make my paths straight.
Proverbs 3: 5-6

God is a much better problem solver than I am. To my utter relief, I gladly relinquish that role.