Tug of War

I love to go for walks in nature. I am not a runner, I prefer a faster paced walk. I joke that I want to be a power walker when I am older. I actually really do. I just need to work on my form more. Sometimes I take my two miniature dachshunds with me for a little adventure. When they know we are going for a walk, they get so excited to get there. Once we are there, they are right at the door and window, trying to hop out as soon as I open the door.

Rocky and Eevee on a Walk

THE STANDOFF

Something changes between the time the door opens and when we reach the trailhead. My oldest dachshund, Eevee, will all of a sudden stop walking. She refuses to go down the trail. So there I am, standing on one end of the leash while she has it extended on the other side as far as it will go. We are at a standoff. She no longer wants to go, and I am trying to convince her that it will be as fun as last time.

Eevee trying to go back the way we came.

I know once we get down the trail, she will be trotting along with her tongue hanging out and a big grin on her face. I know that she will enjoy the walk, but she has forgotten that this walk with me will be enjoyable. Instead, she is so focused on the unfamilar smells and what we might run into. Will there be an animal or a person? She is letting fear keep her from the joy that will come on the walk.

Last time this happened, as I was pulling on one end of the leash and Eevee on the other, the Holy Spirit shared with me that this is exactly how we as people can be. God will ask us to do something, and at first we are excited and eager to be obedient. But then, when we start to do what He asked, we see all the things that could go wrong and we freeze up. We start to question everything that God asked us to do.

What if there are wild animals or snakes? If you know me, you know that I am terrified of snakes, and no snake is a good snake in my mind. I have actually come across snakes during my walks that are covering the width of the path, and do you know what I do? I do not just keep going past them or in the grass around them. Nope, not happening!

I turn around and walk back the way I came. That is what fear and obstacles can do. These challenges can convince us that fleeing is safer than the actual obedience of walking the path with God. We start to try to take back control of the leash and pull ourselves back to where we think it is safe.

Maybe you can relate.

STAY ON THE PATH

When we are walking with God and are being obedient to His calling, we run into things along the way that are scary and challenging—things that the enemy hopes will have us turn around and go back to the start. Truthfully, he hopes that those fears and challenges will keep us from ever getting on the path again.

So in this moment, when we experience fear and challenges during our walk, much like my dog, there we are with God on one end of the leash holding, while we are at the start pulling tight, trying to go back to what we know—what is comfortable. At this moment, we are in a tug of war.

I know Eevee will enjoy it more at the end of the walk, but she has to get over the hurdles and start walking again. What I tend to forget is that God knows what’s on our walk and what is waiting for us at the end of the walk.

What is there to fear when the One who knows everything about this walk will be with us the entire way? It can be so hard to remember that He is with us. We aren’t walking alone. Remembering that He has gone before us and He is with us during the walk helps us continue to stay on the path and not run back to where we started.

When we have fear and obstacles with something God has asked us to do, we need to let out some slack and give control back to God. We need to keep walking, letting God lead us through our walk.

On the walk and she is having a good time. Tongue is out!

Praying that you have the faith to keep walking, friend!