Wednesday

Marco Polo Anyone?


Do you remember playing Marco Polo as a child? In case you're not familiar with the game, it's usually played in a pool and the person searching  has his eyes closed and calls out "Marco" while the person waiting to be found (and can have his eyes open) calls out "Polo". Can you see how it might be very challenging for Marco to find Polo?

Well, sometimes I feel like I'm stuck in the Marco Polo vortex of life. Me? Well, I'm Marco stumbling around with my eyes closed and Polo, that's God, and I'm trying to find Him (or at least figure out what He might be up to in my life).

Apparently I'm not the only one who has felt like this because Job say in Job 23, 

“My complaint today is still a bitter one,
and I try hard not to groan aloud.
If only I knew where to find God...
I go east, but he is not there.
I go west, but I cannot find him.
I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden.
I look to the south, but he is concealed.
'But he knows where I am going.
And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.
For I have stayed on God’s paths;
I have followed his ways and not turned aside.
I have not departed from his commands,
but have treasured his words more than daily food.
But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind?
Whatever he wants to do, he does.
So he will do to me whatever he has planned.
He controls my destiny.'"
Can you relate to how Job was feeling at the time?

I remember as a teenager reading Jeremiah 29:13 which says, "If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me." The context of this verse is God speaking to the Israelites telling them that they are about to go into captivity, but that if they search for Him with all their hearts, they will find Him. He prefaces this verse by saying, "For I know the plans I have for you...They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen" and He concludes by saying "I will be found by you.”  

Unlike in the game Marco Polo where, no matter how badly I want to find Polo, I can rest assured that God can be found. He is found in His promises in His Word, He is found in the encouragement I receive from a friend and He is found in the provisions that are specific to our needs.

So although at times it feels like God can't be found and I'm stumbling my way through life, in reality, my gentle Shepherd is leading me and guiding me along the best path for my life.

True, when I am walking by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7) it can be hard, frustrating and at times discouraging. But sometimes it's just a matter of changing my perspective to see that I'm not really stumbling, I'm actually being carried through it all.

I Peter 4:12-13 "Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world."

During times like these when God is calling our family to walk by faith and not by sight, I need to remember that He tells us in Isaiah 55:8-9 that “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts...and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." God cares more about weaning my soul from this world than He does about me feeling comfortable in it. 

When things aren't quite like I want them to be and I start viewing our circumstances through my eyes I might be known to cry, complain and wonder why God isn't doing something to make things better. But when, by God's grace, I look around and see how wonderfully blessed I am and that He is working, it helps put things in perspective and I'm able to stop feeling sorry for myself and give thanks.   

Can you relate to this post at all? If so, I do pray it has been an encouragment to you in some small way.

Thanks so much for visiting Purposeful Homemaking. Please take a moment to "Like" me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter or follow with Google Friend Connect so you don't miss a thing!

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  • 3 comments:

    Anonymous said...

    Hi Becky,
    Thanks for this. My brother posted something on his blog that I think dove tails a bit. http://toknowhimtoday.com/i-dont-know-about-this/
    Maria

    becky@purposefulhomemaking.com said...

    Thanks for recommending that post to me, Maria. I read it and yes, you are right, they do go together. I love his analogy and it is so true!

    The Freemans said...

    Stopping by from the crew to say hi and follow!

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