Donald Wickham’s Blog

I was chatting, yesterday, with a good friend, describing this current season in my walk with God.  He asked if I’d ever gone on a road trip with someone as it sounded similar.  That got me to thinking.  There are some interesting parallels.

Comfortable with silence

On a long road trip, there are long stretches of silence.  Just enjoying being together without having to talk about anything.  Watching the scenery go by.  Comfortable with the silence.  I’ve observed this in other relationships, too.  When you first enter a relationship there seems to be a need to share almost continually.  Getting to know one another, their thoughts, ideas, likes and dislikes.  But as the relationship grows and matures, the need for talking seems to grow less.  You know them well and are comfortable, even desiring, just being together and participating in the same thing without lots of chatter about it.

Our walk with God, well, at least mine at this point, is entering this stage.  We are enjoying being together without lots of chatter.  I’ve been absorbing His word (the Bible) for years.  I’ve been attentive to His personal words for me.  And clearly He knows me intimately.  So the need for chatter has lessened.   I was uncomfortable with this at the start, wondering why He wasn’t speaking more to me.  Yet there was a deepening sense of His love and approval.  I’m growing more and more comfortable with just being together without having to “hear” a word from Him.

Directions just for the next turn

Back to the road trip.  If the passenger knows the route and I don’t, I rely on them to give me directions.  Since I really like to be in control, even if it is only in my mind, I like to know the whole route ahead of time.  But that isn’t always the way it works.  Quite often, all you get is the next turn or change.  Otherwise you just keep going on the road you are on.

Again, our walk with God is quite similar.  Early on there seems a need to get specific directions over and over.  But as our relationship grows, that changes.  God gives a direction and we stay on it until He gives a change.  Sometimes, well, maybe quite often, we are insecure in our journey and we keep asking, “Am I still on the right path?”  But I’m coming to learn that He frequently doesn’t respond to that question.  He is God and I’m not.  Since He knows my heart and my commitment to Him and His journey, He will give me the next turn or change at the right time.  It really comes down to trusting that He knows the best way for our journey.

So, although I don’t know anything more than this current direction, I’m learning to trust the One who is in control (and it isn’t me!)  He knows what I need and when I need it.  I trust Him to provide because I know He really, really loves me.  That doesn’t mean I expect it to be easy because I also know that He is committed to growing my character and strength.  And He is loving others through me and love isn’t easy but it sure is worth it.

I’m on the road again and enjoying it more and more.  Enjoy your road trip with God.

Tags:   change · comfortable with silence · directions · enjoying being together · love · road trip · silence · TrustNo Comments