A Norvell Note 2020
Vol. 22 No. 20 | May 18, 2020
I watched the compost truck’s huge pinchers come down, clutch the dumpster on either side, raise it above the truck, shake it a few times, and set it back down on the side of the street. Within minutes, the truck had come and gone and the trash dumpster was empty. It had taken me much longer and a lot more struggle just to roll the dumpster from behind our fence to the curb.
As I witnessed the powerful display of mechanical strength, I thought about how foolish it would’ve been for me to run outside and tell the truck driver how heavy the load was and insist on helping him, just as would be for me to insist on doing the Lord’s work for him.
There have been times when I’ve watched our children struggle to find their way. Even though I had prayed for them to know the Lord and let Him guide their steps, I still thought there were times when God was acting too slow and maybe needed my assistance to move things along. But every time, He would put the right people in each of my children’s paths at just the right time to accomplish far more than I could have imagined.
The truth is, I’ve thought I’ve known how to fix a situation, relationship, or person better than God more times than I’d like to recall. And every time, I’ve looked back and seen how perfectly His plan has unfolded, leaving me feeling like Job after his requested Q&A with God.
Job answered:
“I’m speechless, in awe—words fail me.
I should never have opened my mouth!
I’ve talked too much, way too much.
I’m ready to shut up and listen.” (Job 40:4-5, The Message)
There is so much going on in the world right now that I wish I could explain and resolve, but I can’t. I can work to improve my circumstances and help others with the gifts and abilities I have, but I cannot do God’s work. And I don’t need to.
He has it taken care of, and His plan will unfold infinitely better than I could have ever imagined. So, I’m ready to shut up and listen.
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved