Straight Paths: Proverbs 3:6, part 4
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Let’s wrap up the swimming pool story with a fourth and final note. Let’s say there is a child who wants to be a swimmer so badly. The problem is that the child just cannot understand how to do it, and in the time it takes to learn how, the child fears the pool will swallow him up and drown him, or swallow her up and drown her. It’s too hard, too scary.
But dad is in the pool promising, “If you will just jump to me, I’ll hold on to you and show you how. I’ll teach you. It’s not so hard that I can’t show you. We can start today even!”
The child doesn’t need to know all the steps to swimming before getting into the water. The child doesn’t need to hit the water and become, instantly, in command of the deep end of the pool, the high dive, and the waves caused by others. The child needs to enter the water, and step by step, the dad will teach all the necessary techniques. Maybe not all at once. Maybe not all today. Step by step. Moment by moment.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (ESV).
Is there any impatience that makes you want to quit? That steals your hope? Is there any slower progress in the past or regression right now that causes you to give up your trust in God? Go ahead and tell him. From the deck of the pool, tell him why you think it is taking too long or it is being too complicated. Compare your timeframe to his. He is waiting for you to dip that toe in the water and let him begin the next part of your progress.
The Bible says that God gave his Son for us, to die for our sins, and that his Son Jesus came to earth “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4). God knew how to direct the whole course of human history for maximum understanding of our sin and need and maximum understanding of his grace and mercy and power to save. If he can direct all of that, with perfect precision, couldn’t he direct your life?
God doesn’t promise that your path is linear. He doesn’t promise your destination is instant. He certainly doesn’t promise that your fullest potential is immediate. He simply promises that your progress will be directed. He promises the he himself will direct your progress. He’s waiting for you!