Missing the obvious.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

We were at a rest stop in Wyoming near the South Dakota border. I was hurrying to wash my hands and get back out to our minivan. We’d had trouble passing a car a couple of miles back and I wanted to stay ahead of them. I needed soap now! Why wouldn’t it work? I was pressing the big button!

Maybe if I smack it? Nope. OK, I’ll try the other dispenser. Sheesh!

Finally enough soap trickled out to use. I rinsed and looked up to see this sign in front of my face in red letters and ALL CAPS.

“TO GET SOAP REACH UNDER AND PUSH UP ON THE SILVER NOZZLE. DO NOT PUSH OR BEAT ON THE PLASTIC DISPENSER!!!”

Since then I have done the same thing at least three times where I missed the obvious as I struggled to figure something out. A few times people saw me and drew my attention to the simple directions. “It says ‘pull’ not ‘push.'” Embarrassing.

Why do I keep doing this?! I beat myself up with my own application. “I’m a space cadet! I need to get my head in the game and read the Instructions (the bible) better!” But when I asked God about it, His voice was more gentle.

He reminded me that there is a lot on my plate. My mind is trying to keep myself and family on the road, catching up to where I think we should be. He invited me to enter “rest areas” with Him to be still and look for His guidance. He asked me to trust Him with where I am and how He leads, even if it feels like I’m behind.

Can you relate?

Father, thank You for Your grace in our hurry. When we are in figure-it-out-ourselves mode and miss Your signs, please provide others to point to them. May your compassion draw us into places of rest where we notice the obvious. You are patiently guiding. You are providing. You are always with us. Amen.

“I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.
 I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.“
Psalm 16:7-8 New Living Translation

Copyright photo and text Jennifer Brukiewa