Popping the Bubble

There are times when I feel as if I just go through life completely clueless! Everyone around me seems to “get it” yet I’m left standing, wondering, what “It” is! I wonder if God is really hearing my prayers. I wonder why I can’t feel Him. I wonder why it seems as if everyone around me does. And then I wonder why I seem to be hitting a brick wall. That’s about the time the brick wall hits me.

Ever have those “Duh!” moments? Those moments when it all falls into place and the light bulb clicks on and all of a sudden, you get it. I mean, you really truly GET IT! We often get into a rut in our walk with God. We get comfy and cozy in that warm, fuzzy place and decide, yeah I like it here just fine. Then we begin to go through the everyday bump and grind of living in a continuous bubble. Because face it, in that little bubble we don’t have to change. We can keep things just the way they are because we like it here. Things can stay the way they always were and we can never have any trials.

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POP!

God knocks us right out of that little bubble and into reality and we are left wondering, what just happened? We weren’t meant to live in a bubble. We were meant to play outside and get dirty. We were meant to interact with others, even when they don’t look, dress, act, or smell like us. We were meant to live that mystery that we so often place God in. “God is so mysterious! He’s hard to get to know. He works in mysterious ways that we don’t understand.” Nonsense!

Yes, God is mysterious! But He gave us a way to know Him! He gave us Jesus. He gave us a Helper in the Holy Spirit, Who intercedes for us when we pray. I mean, how hard is it to just get it? It’s not hard. We make it such by claiming mystery, being afraid, avoidance, and just play ‘ol obstinance. And in doing so, we are being disobedient.

I don’t want to live that way. I want to know God and for Him to know me. I want to get out there, roll in the dirt, get dirty, sweaty, smelly, and be able to say, “Yep! God was there! He showed up in all my grit and grime and we got some stuff done.

Don’t get me wrong. Even if you’re not out there getting dirty, God will still meet you wherever you are. God is not going to leave you where you are though. He wants to do a wonderful work in and around you. The mystery of God is that people are afraid of the mystery. We try to figure God out when all He wants us to do is just show up and let Him use us.

He has a purpose for you. He has a plan for you. But He’s not going to come in, breaking down the door, blowing the victory horn. God is subtle. God is kind. He is loving. He will kindly knock on your heart’s door. But you have to get up, go to the door and open it. Then you have to invite Him in because God won’t even come in without an invitation! He’s a gentleman. And there lies the mystery.

People have a hard time understanding that mystery. They believe God is sitting on His throne, waiting for us to mess up so that He can “zap” us. Nothing can be further from the truth.

What are you dealing with today? Been away from God for a while? Think you’ve gone too far? You haven’t. God still loves you and still has a plan for you. It’s up to you to decide if you want to know what that is. You’re out of the bubble. Are you ready to answer the door?

Shelley Wilburn

Shelley Wilburn has been writing since the age of twelve. She loves stories and adventures, and often finds herself getting into mischief with any one of her six grandchildren. She has written several articles and devotionals over the years for various newspapers, women's magazines, and newsletters. She has also co-authored devotionals. Shelley began writing full-time in 2012 after being healed of over 40 years of depression and anxiety. Using her love of writing, and wearing mismatched socks, Shelley has developed a unique ministry of encouraging others using biblical truths and stories from her own personal life. When not writing, you can find Shelley and her husband of over 30 years, D.A. zipping down the road in their newest adventure-maker, a bright orange, Mustang convertible Shelley has laughingly dubbed The Pony.