Walking in the Rain

I stood at the window, considering.

The kitchen, behind me, was still a mess from the night before. The rain poured against the glass. I was so cold. My soft, cozy chair and quilt called for me, offering their comfort. I considered the evidence, Yeah, maybe I’ll just skip my walk. Stay in. Get the kitchen clean. Stay warm. 

But the day ahead promised to be demanding, and deep down I knew, I need that walk.

“Ok, kids, I’m headed out. Do your chores and be kind to each other.”

I put on an extra sweatshirt, zipped up my raincoat, pulled up the hood.

It was pouring hard, but the fresh air filled my lungs and shocked me awake. Instantly refreshed, I strode out up in the hill, quickly warming up, breathing deep, whispering my prayers to God, letting every ache and need and concern and fear and petition pour out freely, confident of His listening ear.

It felt so good to walk uphill, in the rain.

And with each step I listened, and the word came and it made sense why this walk was so important:

Don’t just take the path of least resistance. 

*sigh*

So good. So true. These words spoken to me by the One who knows that that is exactly what I am prone to do. So prone to back off at the slightest opposition. So prone to deviate when I see an obstacle. So prone to lose heart when things don’t go as planned.

It was good to walk in the rain. It was good to know that rain didn’t have to ruin my walk. It was good to know that, in the days and weeks ahead, challenges and obstacles and delays don’t have to discourage or derail me from plodding ahead into the good plans of God.

It’s so small, I know. A walk. But how often do I take the easy route, the wide way, the short-cut, the path of least resistance, instead of pressing on in the good way, the narrow road … that leads to LIFE.

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matt. 7:13-14)

{Friends, every day we have the choice to enter by the wide or narrow gate. Every day we can choose the path of least resistance, or we can go the good way, trusting Him to make our paths straight (Prov. 3:5-6). Praying you have a rich thanksgiving week walking the narrow way and enjoying His love, His LIFE, along the way. Thanks for reading.}