Have you ever tried to help a child whose shoelaces became knotted? Perhaps you have also had the experience of that task being made more difficult because the child would not sit still. Being anxious to get back to play — wiggling their feet or pulling them away as they tried to see what other children were doing — only served to knot or tangle the shoelaces more. If only they would understand that being still for just a moment would make the unknotting or untangling go much quicker, and therefore allow them to return to their activities much sooner as well.
Have we learned the lesson? What do we do when we get tangled up in the problems or challenges of this life? Don’t we often twist and turn and tug and pull when perhaps what we need to do most is be still and look to God for His help in untangling the mess so that we can move on in life? Like the child who sometimes gets his hands involved with ours in trying to unknot the shoes, have we often gotten our own hands in the way of God’s work of untangling some of life’s situations? God has power to unravel what we cannot. There are things we must leave to Him. Our pulling and getting our hands in the way may merely serve to lengthen the time needed to rectify the problem and allow us to get back into the activities of which God wants us to be involved.
In the Psalms we read. . .
“(8) Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth. (9) He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. (10) “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”” (Psalm 46:8-10 ESV)
The conflicts and challenges mentioned were not to be approached or viewed based on one’s own ability, strength, or wisdom. (note also Psalm 20:6-7) The encouragement was toward a calm and trusting faith in the God Who has the power (in accordance with His own wisdom and timing) to bring order to the mess humanity often creates in this world. Sometimes in our attempts to untangle our messes they get even more tangled up.
Paul exhorted. . .
“(6) do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV)
In everything we need to be turning to God, for by so doing in calm and trusting faith we can find peace to guard our hearts and minds. Let us trust in the assistance He offers.
Have a great day WRAPPED UP IN THE GOD WHO CAN UNTANGLE LIFE’S KNOTS!
Carl
