Finding our way
A few years ago a friend came to talk about her anxieties. She was frustrated, couldn't get anything accomplished. She was spinning her wheels in activitiy, but couldn't find peace.
"What are you avoiding?" I asked. "What is there that you know you have to do, but don't want to do it?"
I had seen her frenetic activity and recognized it. Did I mention that I had been there too?
Immediately she knew what it was, took care of a task she'd been avoiding, and voila' her anxieties were relieved. Life leveled out again.
"What are you avoiding?" I asked. "What is there that you know you have to do, but don't want to do it?"
I had seen her frenetic activity and recognized it. Did I mention that I had been there too?
Immediately she knew what it was, took care of a task she'd been avoiding, and voila' her anxieties were relieved. Life leveled out again.
In II Kings 1, Ahaziah, son of Ahab and Jezebel was having a bad day. He succeeded Ahab, then Moab rebelled. Next Ahaziah had an accident. He fell through a lattice and became very ill. He wanted to know if he would be alright. So, true to his heritage, he sent messengers to inquire of Baalzebub for his prognosis.
Now, it wasn't that Ahaziah didn't know about God. Elijah was the prophet of God and Ahaziah well knew it. But he didn't want to hear from Elijah. He didn't want to hear truth. He wanted to hear good news. So he sent for the "Lord of the Flies" to give him a positive message. (II Kings 1:9)
Sometimes the answer -- or where to seek the answer is right in front of us. Frantic activity results when we are so determined to avoid what we perceive is bad news, a relationship we're afraid to fix, or a job we don't want to do.
True Jehovah style, God aroused Elijah and instructed him. Elijah arrived, prophesied death, and departed. True Ahaziah style, he sent captains to inquire of Elijah, trying to get him to change his mind. It took the death of two captains and their men before the third wised up and acknowledged God.
I wonder what would have happened had Ahaziah been man enough to inquire of Elijah in the first place? I
I think I need to spend some time contemplating just what it is that I'm avoiding.
Now, it wasn't that Ahaziah didn't know about God. Elijah was the prophet of God and Ahaziah well knew it. But he didn't want to hear from Elijah. He didn't want to hear truth. He wanted to hear good news. So he sent for the "Lord of the Flies" to give him a positive message. (II Kings 1:9)
Sometimes the answer -- or where to seek the answer is right in front of us. Frantic activity results when we are so determined to avoid what we perceive is bad news, a relationship we're afraid to fix, or a job we don't want to do.
True Jehovah style, God aroused Elijah and instructed him. Elijah arrived, prophesied death, and departed. True Ahaziah style, he sent captains to inquire of Elijah, trying to get him to change his mind. It took the death of two captains and their men before the third wised up and acknowledged God.
I wonder what would have happened had Ahaziah been man enough to inquire of Elijah in the first place? I
I think I need to spend some time contemplating just what it is that I'm avoiding.
Pastor Phylis
Good thoughts pj. I enjoyed this!
ReplyDeleteHit the nail on the head for me. Always interesting how God chooses to point things out to me. Thanks for the great post!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I do that too! If something happens in my life and I want sympathy, or if I want to hear what my itching ears want to hear, I know just who to call and who not to. I remember a Bible study leader once telling the group to "Go to the Throne before you go to the phone" when we have problems.
ReplyDeleteWow, this is good. I have found in my life that I have what I call the "Jonah" syndrome. I avoid others and keep to myself as I know when there is something I should be doing and I'm not, God will speak to me through others. So I run from them. It seems terribly silly and yet every once in awhile, there I am in the boat hiding.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this excellent reminder. One of my favorite quotes says, “What we choose not to look at rules our life.” (methinks may come from Lynn Andrew but possibly it’s Louise Hay?)
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessings,
Avoidance and activity. Never thought of the two going hand in hand. Definitely something to think about in my life.
ReplyDeleteWell wrote. Thank you. I needed this.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, my daughter and I were talking about something similar just the other day. Like me, she's a procrastinator...we'll find ANYTHING to do except the task that we know needs to be done. She said she was watching Spongebob the other day (yes, she's 21 years old), and Spongebob was trying to do anything to avoid an essay he had to write. It was pretty funny, but so true. Good words!
ReplyDeletePJ, thanks for encouraging me by stopping by my blog!
This reminds me of my loft of doom - my life would feel so much simpler and I would feel less anxious about this move if we could get the one thing we've been putting off actually accomplished!
ReplyDelete