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Ow, Ow, Ow!

Our grandson, Brendon, recently came for his summer sleepover.  He had a loose tooth.  Very loose.  Dangling by one thread of gum tissue loose.  Very painful.  Struggling to talk, eat, drink, and brush his teeth painful. 

Unfortunately, he couldn't forget the pain and blood of loosing his other teeth.  His fear of causing that pain to return kept him from pulling this tooth or allowing us to pull it for him.

Meanwhile, Grandpa and I watched his misery.  It was sad and frustrating.  We knew pulling that tooth would bring relief.  We wanted his ongoing pain and misery to stop!

I came to understand a spiritual truth while watching Brendon's struggle.  My fear of allowing the Holy Spirit to lead me in a new direction makes about as much sense to my heavenly Father as Brendon keeping that tooth does to us.

Walking away from where I am may bring momentary pain, but following the Holy Spirit will always bring me to a place of relief and joy.  The Spirit leads me someplace outside my comfort zone for my good.

And, like a tooth under the pillow brings a reward, so does walking away from what the Spirit leads me to leave behind.

LORD, help me to walk by Your Spirit without hesitation.  Teach me to trust You enough to face my fear of where You lead me.  Make me willing to endure the pain of allowing You to remove the things that hurt me.  Amen.

Isaiah 30:15, 18-21(NASB)

For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said,
“In repentance and rest you will be saved,
In quietness and trust is your strength.”
But you were not willing,
...the Lord longs to be gracious to you,
And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
How blessed are all those who long for Him.
...you will weep no longer. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. Although the Lord has given you bread of privation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.


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