No Parking
Author: Chrissy S.
26 July 2003

     If you are a driver, you could probably relate to me in the frustration of not being able to find a parking space. And when you finally think you have a place to park, you realize there is a big white sign that reads, “No Parking.” Isn’t that a bummer?

     You can get out of the car now and see that this stress can be found in our lives too. In our life, we often go through times where we don’t know where to go. We could park ourselves in this position, but it would be a large hassle to walk so far and do this or that. No, that wouldn’t work, because it’d take forever to get out of that situation with all the traffic piling out. It seems like everywhere we look, other people are where they need to be, but we are stuck driving in circles wondering where we should go.

     Perhaps it’s a significant decision. Maybe it’s a just a trial or struggle in our life where we think we should just be parked and resting- where everything is okay and all worries are gone- but we are still driving in circles wondering where and what is for us.

     I often struggle with grades. To go to the school my eyes are settled on, I will need a great scholarship. Scholarships are hard if you don’t make the greatest grades. (Or if you aren’t athletically or musically blessed. Well, I’ve got some surfing, biking and figure skating skills, but so far it hasn’t found me much.) During the time of my brain injury, I kept asking, “God, isn’t it your will for me to get good grades and go to a good school that teaches that You alone are Lord and Savior of all?" And reality hit me with good timing. For one, God is the One making plans for my life, because He is the only one who knows what is best for me. And on top of that: no matter how hard or how little we try, God is going to get us where He wants us to be in life. When there is a struggle, it’s not because He has an error in His planning’s. Instead, God is taking a moment to remind us that we need to rely on Him, for He is the only sovereign One who can get us through.

     Matthew 6:25-34 (NASB) “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

     It is often hard when we are not sure where to go nor what is for us. It’s even harder when we are rushed to make our plans work out. However, we must not forget to trust that God is going to bring you where you need to be in life.

**Following Up** Check out Proverbs 3:5-6. Committing that verse to memory may be a wise idea. See also Psalm 121.

   - Chrissy S. <ChrissyS@teenz4theLord.com>

   "No Parking", Copyright © 2003 Chrissy S., All Rights Reserved.