Looking For What You Need To Find

Last week I was looking for a lid for one of my Tupperware containers but was frustrated at every turn. It wasn't in the dishwasher, the dish rack, the cupboard where most of my lids are, the other cupboard where some of my lids are, the kitchen counter - nowhere...or so I thought. After I had checked all the aforementioned places I decided I would take a look in the fridge; not because I thought the lid might be there but because I have an identical container but two different coloured lids. I had been looking for the pink lid so expected to find the green lidded container in the fridge...wrong! The container in the fridge had the pink lid on it so I went back to the cupboard where I keep most of my Tupperware lids and right away spotted the green lid I needed.

As I went about putting the cheese I had on the counter into the container - and fitting the green lid tightly on it - I thought about how that experience with a Tupperware lid mirrors some of my life-experiences. So often I go looking for an answer or solution to a particular situation or problem and come away frustrated because I can't seem to find one only to discover later on that the answer/solution was right in front of me all along. I had missed it because it was not what I was looking for.

I find this especially true when it comes to God-things. You know what I mean don't you? I bring a situation to God and I ask Him to work it out, I ask for His provision, His intervention, His direction. Then I begin to search for the answer/solution that I am looking for. Even though I have asked Him to take control, I have essentially maintained the position of Director in the situation. Time and time again I am frustrated in my search simply because I am looking for the wrong thing!

Why? Essentially because, as Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us...

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Too often, that's one of my least favourite Scripture passages because I want my thoughts to be God's thoughts and my ways to be His ways. You get the subtle difference there, don't you? I want Him to see things my way. I want my logic to make sense to Him - it makes sense to me after all! So when I take my concerns to Him and I begin to look for the answer/solution, I am looking for what I would do and for what makes sense to me. Time and time again, His answer is a green lid, not a pink one.

This faith journey that I'm on requires that I be open to different coloured lids. Let me tell you - it's definitely easier to type that than to live it. Some days it's exciting and I look forward to discovering what colour/shape/form God's response to my request will be. On other days, it feels terrifying not knowing what I'm looking for or how God will bring it about. Today...I'm open to fuchsia, magenta, chartreuse, jonquil, fandango, malachite or - of course - Caribbean green! As for tomorrow...I'll be checking the list of colour names on Google before I leave for work. I really want to the looking for the right coloured lid.