We must learn that, like farmers, we can’t sow and reap the same day.
(Amish perpetual calendar for May 12)
Last week I told you I made five lists … to get myself reorganized and back on track. That was Step One. This week is Step Two.
I almost picked a picture of a pair of legs (belonging to a body, of course) walking a road that went on for miles, until it disappeared into its vanishing point. But I didn’t. Why? Because that is the problem most of us have when we make lists.
Lists are meant to help us accomplish things in the future . . . even if it is just a tidy house. Though we need to keep that future goal in sight, the problem comes when we keep looking up and that destination point still seems a long way away. That’s when we get overwhelmed and discouraged and give up.
So instead, I chose the picture you see. The one of just a couple of feet (still attached to a body), but with only a few steps visible. Unlike Superman, we cannot leap tall buildings in a single bound; we have to climb the stairs one by one. So, even if we stop to rest for awhile on a step, or we lose our balance and drop down a step, if we just continue to take those steps, we will reach our goal. We will complete our task. We will arrive at our destination.
I can remember when we would instruct students on how to go about writing their first term paper. We would break the process down into its parts and then deal with each one individually and in a manageable length of time. And we would be right there with them every step of the way, to help, to remind, to correct. Amazingly, (or not) all finished.
God is no different and a whole lot better at it. He knows all about big plans and human frailty, and so he does those exact two things. First, He only gives us what we need when we need it. And second, He promises to be there with us every step of the way.
Joshua was told he would take Jericho, at big task, but Joshua’s job was just to have his warriors circumnavigate the city one time each day, then on the seventh, march around seven times and have the priests blow their trumpets. Just one task a day, and one day at a time.
There is a reason Jesus instructs us to pray for our daily bread and to not worry about tomorrow. One day is just about all we can handle, and all we need to handle. Today is within our power. Tomorrow is in His.
(Amish perpetual calendar for May 12)
Last week I told you I made five lists … to get myself reorganized and back on track. That was Step One. This week is Step Two.
I almost picked a picture of a pair of legs (belonging to a body, of course) walking a road that went on for miles, until it disappeared into its vanishing point. But I didn’t. Why? Because that is the problem most of us have when we make lists.
Lists are meant to help us accomplish things in the future . . . even if it is just a tidy house. Though we need to keep that future goal in sight, the problem comes when we keep looking up and that destination point still seems a long way away. That’s when we get overwhelmed and discouraged and give up.
So instead, I chose the picture you see. The one of just a couple of feet (still attached to a body), but with only a few steps visible. Unlike Superman, we cannot leap tall buildings in a single bound; we have to climb the stairs one by one. So, even if we stop to rest for awhile on a step, or we lose our balance and drop down a step, if we just continue to take those steps, we will reach our goal. We will complete our task. We will arrive at our destination.
I can remember when we would instruct students on how to go about writing their first term paper. We would break the process down into its parts and then deal with each one individually and in a manageable length of time. And we would be right there with them every step of the way, to help, to remind, to correct. Amazingly, (or not) all finished.
God is no different and a whole lot better at it. He knows all about big plans and human frailty, and so he does those exact two things. First, He only gives us what we need when we need it. And second, He promises to be there with us every step of the way.
Joshua was told he would take Jericho, at big task, but Joshua’s job was just to have his warriors circumnavigate the city one time each day, then on the seventh, march around seven times and have the priests blow their trumpets. Just one task a day, and one day at a time.
There is a reason Jesus instructs us to pray for our daily bread and to not worry about tomorrow. One day is just about all we can handle, and all we need to handle. Today is within our power. Tomorrow is in His.
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