Feb
15
Written by:
Route 365
2/15/2010 5:00 AM
written by Sara Albert
I love my parents. They are a shining example of what love should look like in a marriage, and they are fiercely protective of their young. They don’t know Jesus, and at times it’s a struggle to get them to understand where I’m coming from. This seems to be the biggest battle of my life. Even though I’m 32 years old and think that I can take care of myself, Mom and Dad are constantly finding ways to remind me that it’s okay to still rely on them. Don’t tell them I said this, but I do find comfort in still being their little girl and will hold on to that for as long as they will let me. For the most recent example, my parents bought me a new set of tires for Christmas. It’s the perfect gift for a single gal like me – car parts that I don’t have to pick out or install on my own. Dad took my Jeep for a day to have the tires put on, and when I went to pick it up from him he went through the long list of other maintenance he went ahead and had completed – a full alignment, new winter wipers, fluid checks and top offs . I’m pretty sure he even washed all of the windows for me. This gift was much more than I expected, and I jokingly said to him, “Just had to make sure your baby was all taken care of, huh?” He replied with, “Well since no one else is doing it, I guess I had to.” I laughed, thanked him, gave him a big hug, got in my car and drove away. Then, as I headed down the street, I cried. Not just because my father means well and has no idea how to talk to me, but mostly because he doesn’t realize that just because I’m by myself doesn’t mean I’m not taken care of. What my Dad doesn’t realize is that even though my God is not physically with me, He is at my side wherever I go, constantly defending me and making sure I don’t slip. My heavenly Daddy is ever-present, watching over me and protecting me, even when I’m not paying attention to Him.
The Israelites had been harassed and afflicted by the Philistines for a long time. They had just been defeated in battle, and it was suggested by the elders that the ark should be retrieved from Shiloh and brought to camp so that they could have greater protection from God. They were at war and had counted on the presence of the ark of the covenant of the Lord to protect them, which was a physical reminder to them that God was with them in their times of need. They thought this was going to be their saving grace, and that they would ultimately be protected from the Philistines. Their confidence was obviously premature as they entered battle with the Philistines again and suffered losses even greater than before. And to top it off, the Philistines took the ark. Where was the Israelites’ safety net now? I guess they should have thought twice about keeping God first all the time. I find that my daily battles, no matter how big or small, are best fought when I keep God right there with me, and not just pulling Him out when I’m really in trouble. I pray that I’m reminded by the Israelites’ actions to not let other things come before my relationship with God. When I let Him be the priority in my life, I am reminded that my battles are already won.
Your Fellow Traveler,
Sara
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1 comment(s) so far...
Re: 1 Samuel 4.1b-4.11/Psalm 121 : Our Safety Nets
I had no idea there are these little commentaries on the computer about Route 365! And what a pleasant surprise to see that you are writing the commentaries this week Sara:) I can relate to your story too because my dad doesn't know Jesus either. I'm encouraged by your message and am going to work on not letting daily battles get in the way of my walk with God. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of your comments this week!
By Carolyn on
2/15/2010 11:43 PM
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