I had a different idea for this post, but the Lord put something else on my heart so, I’m assuming it needs to be written.

A few weeks ago, I went on hike with two of my daughters and our bearded dragon. Our bearded dragon, Rocky, is happy to go anywhere with us. He’s a bit lazy because he’s getting older, so he doesn’t care much for running around, but he does enjoy being out in nature and the sunlight. I promise I have a point to make, this post isn’t just a cute post about my baby beardie. We carried Rocky the majority of our hike, but often he would get restless and want to be set down to feel the earth beneath his little feet.

As you can see in the picture above, Rocky was in full solar panel mode soaking up the sunshine. He even crawled up into a little nook (very close to me) and made himself at home. I have no doubt that Rocky in that moment felt like a wild bearded dragon and would have been fine with being allowed to run off into the sunset. I mean after all, although he’s never been wild a day in his life, he still has that “wild” part of himself ingrained in his biology.

So, the thought that occurred to me is how comparable my relationship with Rocky is to my relationship with the Lord. I get this is a very elementary comparison but hear me out. Rocky is completely dependent upon me. I feed and shelter him, I care for his every need like heat and specific lighting and nutrition to keep him healthy, and I keep him safe. I do my very best to give him a good life. He is so loved by our family. He trusts me but that doesn’t mean that he gets to do everything he wants. Sometimes he wants to run under the deck when we’re outside in the backyard on a sunny day, but he doesn’t know that 1) there are cats that hang out under there, and 2) it’s just not safe, I couldn’t reach him if he got too far away. So, I correct his path and keep him in the safe zone. If he were to stray too far, he could get hurt. There are many times, like during the hike, that I was caring for Rocky and keeping him safe and he was oblivious to any potential danger, he just trusts me.

I began to think of how often in my life I have been spared of pains that I only saw in hindsight, but those pains would’ve been deserved of me because I walked right into bad situations. Earlier in my life before I truly committed to the Lord, His mercy and love kept me safe. How many times daily am I just going about my life and there are spiritual battles happening that I am completely oblivious of? The Lord feeds and shelters me, He meets all of my needs, He has kept me safe and has given me a good life. I am completely and utterly dependent upon Him whether I know it or not. We all are! It’s just a fantastic truth that is our reality even if we don’t acknowledge it.

Now I realize like I said that this is an elementary comparison but isn’t that what we’re called to be? Humbled like little children?

Matthew 18:2-4 KJV

² And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, ³ And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

I feel like the Lord was showing me something profound in this example and doesn’t He often teach us in these simple, yet beautiful ways. Sure, we could brush off these moments and think to ourselves that it’s silly, but it isn’t. The Lord has spoken to me so many times with comparisons of myself and something so seemingly unrelated. I gladly praise Him for His tender approach to His children and how gently He teaches us. The Lord knows us better than we know ourselves and has such a personal relationship with us, it’s just astounding to me! His goodness far exceeds my wants and needs, and it always has. I couldn’t imagine what my life would look like without the Lord. Yahuah Shalom; the Lord is my peace.

~Amanda