Trust God for the ride of your life!

I really like this picture. A daughter, who probably isn't a strong swimmer in on a surf board with her father. She has floaties on her arms to help her be buoyant if she falls and goggles on her eyes to protect her eyes from the salt water. She's enjoying the ride, while her father intently has his hands on her, but at all times is watching where he's guiding her.

Some might call that dangerous. His child completely trusts her father and one day, will probably be a world class surfer because of these experiences that the rest of us look at with fear.

I'm sure she didn't get it right the first time. She had to learn to stand with her legs straight so he could hold her up. I'm sure she fell the first few times they tried this. But... she listened to her father's instructions and he is teaching her to glide across the top of the water where so many of us would sink!

Bringing this closer to home, my wife called me today and asked me about a scripture that she was reading. This wasn't out of the ordinary, frequently we'll pray together or read God's word together. This time, I was driving and didn't have a chance to really sit down and read what she was talking about.

Later on that evening when we were talking she said the words that husbands hate to hear... I have a confession. After a brief moment of panic, I was able to hold my composure and ask her what was on her mind.

She said, while in her prayer time, the Lord spoke to her and when she re-read the scripture, it was God talking to her about an attitude that she needed to change.

Here's the thing... instead of being sad, she was excited!

She understands that God has put the floaties on her (given her His word), and goggles (the indwelling of His Holy Spirit) and is taking her on the ride of her life, as long as she trusts Him!

Psalm 94:12
The Message
How blessed the man you train, God, the woman you instruct in your Word, providing a circle of quiet within the clamor of evil...

Hebrews 12:6-8
New Living Translation
For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punished each one he accepts as his child.
As you endure this dicing discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn't discipline you as he does all his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.