God: a Box or an Adventure?

I think it was Aaron, last week, who talked about putting God in a box rather than letting God be God.

I'm thinking today that I kind of like God-in-a-box. I so often want to keep God in that place where I have defined Him... so my world isn't rocked. I like my comfort zones.

But God is on the move. I'm thinking of the Israelites who would move when the Presence of God moved and then wait and camp when the Presence camped. There was no plan laid out for this. No one gave them a calendar of what was going to happen or when it was going to happen. God just started to move. The word spread, "Hey, the cloud of glory is moving, it's time to pack up and go!" Maybe they had been camped for half a day, maybe six weeks. No advance warning. God just being God. He starts to move so you either camp out and hole up, or you move with Him.

Now, see, I prefer a more predictable God. "God, I'll just live my life and you show up at this time when I have made room for you." Or, "God, I like the way I experienced you yesterday during my quiet time. How about you do it again today, and tomorrow, and the next day?"

But, alas, He's on the move.

Two days ago he wanted me to spend an hour, late in the evening, with my 19-year-old whose car had broken down on the freeway. We were waiting for a tow. This was not how I planned to spend my evening... but God was on the move. I was where He wanted me to be; He was at work in it.

Yesterday, He wanted me to drink a little longer at the well of His Presence even though I had many things on my list to do. Not what I was thinking to do... but God was on the move wanting to bless my soul in ways I needed.

This morning, He wanted me to look at an area of pain in my life that I had been running from. He planned to have that emotional button pushed so that I would take note of it. Ouch! Not my idea of fun, but God had a deeper healing in mind... and He was on the move.

This afternoon, He has an adventure for me... and I don't know what it is. I'm just very much aware that I would like to get Him back into that box. "Let's just keep life predictable today, okay God?" But is that what I really want? Yes, and No. I love the activity of God, the Presence of God... the idea of God on the move. I just want it all at my convenience. I want the adventure and the predictability.

So, I'm wrestling! Even writing these words part of me is certainly saying, "Oh, God, I sure don't want to miss out on any adventures... but... oh me of little faith... don't mess with me too much."

Comments

[Heidi]

aahhhh - what a picture - if only He were that cloud to follow...