Read: Psalm 107 and Jeremiah 29:11
There are many things, I believe, the Lord put on the earth that I like to call equalizers. No matter how low one’s life may get or how high a person may climb up the ladder of success, the equalizers are there. They can be both humorous and humiliating, and at times can teach us a lesson or two about life.
Case in point—spiders. Have you ever noticed how they seem to be everywhere? I fully expect them under the picnic table, or suspended just outside a window, or busily constructing a web near the back door of the house. But I have seen them at the theater, in church, and at the finest restaurants and hotels! One’s rank or status in life means nothing to them and does little to deter their visitation!
Not long ago, I was staying at the house of a friend. She keeps a very neat, clean home, and I am always comfortable when I stay there. One morning I had awakened quite some time before everyone else and decided to rise and get my bathroom routine out of the way. I stood in front of the mirror assessing my early morning visage, when I noticed a black, blurry image at the base of the paper towel holder. I squinted to bring it more into focus but to no avail. So I reached for my glasses, put them on, and moved slightly toward the towel holder. At about the same time as I recognized the image, it realized that its cover was blown and both of us responded. I jumped back with a startled gasp and the somewhat small, black spider scurried out of sight around the circular base of the towel holder.
Five seconds later, it reappeared at the opposite side of the base, from behind the roll of paper towels. It had maintained its escape velocity and seemed to be giving it all that it had in trying to get away from me. The spider completed one revolution around the base and continued on, never letting up for one moment. I was curious to see how long this would last so I put my bathroom routine on hold and watched the drama on the towel holder.
Sure enough, about five seconds later, the spider emerged from the opposite direction at top speed, scurried around the base and disappeared once again. It was so funny watching this play out before my eyes—so funny in fact that I began talking to the spider! I asked it if it really thought it was making any headway. I said to my early morning companion, “Can’t you see that you are going around in circles? Haven’t you noticed that you keep seeing me about every five seconds? Can you possibly be that silly?”
Our actions, at times, are not so unlike that of my spider. We get on the treadmill of life and start walking with all of our might. On and on we trod without the slightest inkling that we are expending all this energy and sweat and are getting nowhere. But the Lord says to us today, “Be still and know that I am God. Rest in Me; find your strength in Me. I will guide you. I can see from a perspective that you cannot. I know the end from the beginning. Give your plans to Me, filter them through Me and they will succeed.” (Scripture references: Psalm 46:10; Matthew 11:28-30; Psalm 28:6-9; Isaiah 41:10; Proverbs 4:10-12; Isaiah 46:9-10; Proverbs 16:3).
Let’s jump off the exhausting, aimless treadmill of self-direction and self-motivation, and into the waiting arms of the Lord. He alone knows the game plan and can give us strategies to navigate successfully through life.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your glory and Your majesty. You are truly an awesome, powerful, wonderful God! Help me to rest in the knowledge of Who You are, and to believe that You can handle my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
