Tom and his wife Gerri decided to have their kitchen remodeled. They developed plans, hired a carpenter and for some three weeks, the schedule around the house was changed into something new. Each day at about 7 AM the doorbell would ring and the carpenter would come in to start his work. He would usually work until about 4:30 when he would close the front door and the house would be silent.
Since both Tom and Gerri worked during the day, it was a good arrangement for all. All except for their cat Tuffy. The sound of pounding and sawing and the clutter of construction upset him greatly. Daily life was different and he didn't know why it had to be that way. So Tuffy also developed a schedule. The moment he heard the doorbell ring each morning, he scampered to an open bedroom closet and slipped far back under some hanging clothes. He stayed there in the dark all day, not even coming out for food or his catbox. Only when he heard the door shut at 4:30 did he emerge from his closet. Even on weekends when the carpenter didn't come he was seen to sneak into his closet when a door slammed.
You had to feel sorry for Tuffy. He couldn't understand what was going on. He could not have realized all the noise and clutter meant something good in the future, for the plans included a special place just for him in the new laundry room. Every day he just hurried to his dark hiding place, assuming the worst, thinking it was the best place to be until that nasty carpenter left the house.
Sometimes we're like Tuffy. God is at work in our lives like the carpenter and we're not sure what's going on. He seems to allow trouble, clutter and unnecessary messes to come into our lives, causing us fear and aggravation. We wish things would get back to normal, and soon. But all the while God is making needed changes, building something good and useful for us, doing things we will not appreciate until later.
The Bible says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6) Sometimes that's not easy to do, but it's always the best way. God loves us and wants to bring us to eternal life by faith in Jesus. He will guide us in the right path of life if we will just trust Him.
Are you hiding in the closet, or are you looking for how He is at work in your life?
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