by Freida Harrison
I was a soggy, limp noodle. Perspiration was dripping from me like I had been caught in a quick rain shower. At that moment, standing in a downpour would have felt refreshing. My arms were trembling with exhaustion from holding the heavy hedge clippers while I had trimmed all the higher-than-my-head Abelia shrubs in our flower bed. The hot, humid Texas heat had taken it’s toll on me, and my muscles were screaming to get inside the house where it was cool and comfortable.
A weak sigh of relief escaped my lips when I realized that I was finished except for putting away the garden tools. I bent down to begin cleaning up and was aghast to discover that the cord to the electric clippers was in a knotted mess. In my haste to finish the shrub-trimming task, I had neglected to watch the cord, and now I had a long line to undo. Growling, I bent down and collected the snarled web of frustration, along with the clippers, walked to the shade of the oak tree, and sat down on the grass to straighten the jumble of intertwined cable.
While grumbling through the tedious task, I paused for a few moments to reflect on how often my life has resembled that tangled electrical cord. How many times have I had to ask God to undo the personal web of knots I have created in my life? Times when I have:
been disobedient.
allowed fear to take over my life.
allowed bitterness to harden my heart.
said things I should not have said.
said nothing when I should have spoken.
charged through life doing things my own selfish way.
taken my focus off Jesus.
I am saddened to admit that this list could go on and on.
Those periods of trial were agony until I would finally swallow my pride and cry out, “Untangle me Lord!” Each time He came to my rescue and helped me unravel the web of chaos I had woven. Through the reading of His Word, prayer, and gentle, supportive sisters in Christ, He showed me the way I needed to go and put me back on the clear, straight path He had planned for me.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the many times you have untangled the messes I have created through my lack of trust in You. Thank you for your never-ending forgiveness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV 84)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (NIV 84)
Copyright © 2013, Freida Harrison, all rights reserved, Breath of Life Women’s Ministries. Bible scripture taken from New International Version 84. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™