Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

If you’ve ever been to our house, you’ve probably met Chloe.  She’s a beautiful little beagle, skittish but kindhearted.  She loves to greet Pam’s piano students when they come in and then lay down next to the piano to hear the music.  She loves snacks and sitting on the couch watching TV with the family… well, she really just sleeps and snores. At night she tries to slip into our bedroom to lie beside our bed just to be close. I say all these things to let you know that I like her.  She’s a good dog. Not the kind to take rabbit hunting, but a nice family pet.

But she’s not smart.  I hate to say it, but it’s true.  She never barks, so we’ve been trying for months to train her to ring a bell when she wants to go in or out.  Previous dogs picked it up quickly, but not this one.  If we let her out and forget that we did, she’ll just stand at the back door for hours, even in the rain, silently whimpering as she waits for someone to let her in.

Several years ago, I bought and installed an invisible fence.  I dug in the perimeter wire, put out the flags and put the special collar on her.  We went through the training process just like it outlines in the manual.  But after listening to the warning beeps and receiving a few mild shocks, she went and sat on the porch and refused to go out.  So now, we attach her to a light line when we put her outside.

But this simple solution is not without challenges, too.  For Chloe will get wrapped around anything and I mean anything that’s in her path.  Trees, shrubs, our well head, the fire pit, a lawn chair, you name it.  She seems to ignore the wide-open spaces and gravitate towards obstacles like a moth to the flame.  And then when she gets tangled and feels resistance, she gets stuck and stands there until someone comes to free her.

When we approach her, she always wags her tail and dutifully follows us as we “un-walk” her around whatever obstacle that’s ensnared her.  But she doesn’t seem to learn and gets caught over and over again. It’s hard to stay annoyed at the dog because she just doesn’t understand the obstacles and how to avoid them.

Don’t be like Chloe.

The truth is, Chloe isn’t the only one who needs help avoiding obstacles.  We all do. This world is full of temptations and distractions. None of us have the foresight, wisdom, or self-discipline to handle everything that life throws at us.  We need a Guide, Sustainer, and Friend.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Every day we have a choice.  Who will we trust?  Upon whose strength will we depend?  Whose agenda will we accomplish? And whose voice will we follow? God wants us to come to him with the everyday details of life.  He invites us to lean on him. He promises to guide us. And as we walk with Him, he will activity lead us away from pitfalls that will ensnare us and towards the open ground of his perfect will. Our trust in the Lord isn’t just for the salvation of our soul but can be the animating force of our entire day. Are you experiencing his leading? Are you willing to be led today?

What we cannot see, show us.

Where we ought to go, lead us.

What we do not know, teach us.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.