Going with the flow

A friend encouraged me this week to grow in my ability to "go with the flow" as life goes along. I picture this being me in a wave pool, kicking my feet up and letting it take me where the waves want to lead. This is entirely against my nature (i.e. my flesh), and I've had many days where I just put my foot down in that pool and say "No more!" I want to pick my destination and I want to choose when I get there. (the sooner the better :-) )

It is a constant battle for me to let go of control and let the Lord be the Master of my life- my Shepherd on the journey. And because He loves me so much, He gives me opportunities to experience trusting Him so that I can know Him better and trust Him even more the next time. He is ALWAYS faithful, always good, and always pointing us toward what is best for us- even when it is hard to obey or even go with the flow.

Today I feel swamped by the questions I have about our future. Greg is facing looking for a job in a very tight market right now. We have already seen one school that was excited about interviewing him say that they now have a hiring freeze. Will there be jobs available in academia? Will he venture outside the professorship to see what that could hold? With that comes the question of where on this planet earth we will be living in 9 months. I know pretty much everyone has faced this question before and it all turns out just fine. But this is new for us! Texas has always been home. Where will home be next?

Those are only a few of the questions on my heart today. I think the crux of the issue is that I am free and able to go with the flow only when I know that it is the Lord himself who is the tide that carries me. No other way would feel safe or like home to me. The fads of the day, the self help books, the head hunters, the laundry list of medicines doctors can prescribe....none of these is a safety net or healer.

Here is a verse out of Isaiah that is an encouragement to me:

"Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts." Isaiah 26:8

I may not have all the answers to the questions before me. I may not have the cure to the things that ail me. But I long for God's name and His glory to be what I outwardly and inwardly desire as I wait for Him to provide answers to questions and healing to pains.