Biking or Bumbling

by Peggy Cunningham @Inca_Writer

Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.  Proverbs 3:6 MSG

Learning to ride a bike sometimes results in scratches, sore muscles, and maybe even broken bones. At least that was my experience. It was on my son’s seventh birthday. He got a bike and so did I. Warning: Don’t learn to ride a bike at the same time your kids are learning.

Seriously, I was still young! How hard could it be to sit on two wheels and stay upright? Pretty hard, I was soon to discover.

The July sun beamed down on the shiny new bikes. My son and I walked our bikes down the steep driveway and across the buzzing highway onto a less-traveled mountain road. Earlier that day, my husband pleaded for me to wait until he came home so we could all be together for this memory-making venture. He knew our son couldn’t wait to get on that new bike, so he finally conceded and agreed to join us when he arrived home.

I helped my son up onto the seat. He got the hang of it quickly while I played the role of traffic police. Then it was my turn. I sat with the posture of a natural cyclist even though I had no idea about brakes or speeds or balance. Determined to do this thing, I pushed the peddles while my son took his turn as traffic police.

With one push of the peddles, I sped into the wind. Whoa, what fun! Fun, yes…until I realized I had no idea how to brake. Panic set in as the wheels seemed to lift from the pavement. How to stop? What if a car came over the little knoll? Think, I told myself! The only place to go and the only way to stop was to steer straight into a fence. Crash! Fortunately, a big bush kept me from a fall.

Tears fell over my son’s sweet face. I assured him I’d be okay. We walked those bikes home as I tried not to limp. The experience never deterred that seven-year-old from learning to ride––but I put my bike up for sale that very night.

Sometimes the Spirit nudges us to avoid a bumbling outcome. And, sometimes he pushes us into a fence to avoid a dangerous fall on the pavement while He gently teaches us that while we don’t know it all, He does.

I’m sure God’s hand held me up that day and kept me from falling. I learned this, “…don’t try to figure everything out on your own” (Proverbs 3:6 MSG). Sometimes we go ahead of Him as I did that day by not waiting for my husband who knew how to ride. When we are out of step with God, we may end on a pavement with bruises or even worse. Even so, He promises He will direct us in the way we should go––even into the bushes to lessen our injures from going our own way and not waiting on Him.

Have you gone off track and crashed into the bushes thinking you know it all? Me too. So, how do we avoid the proverbial crashes and bushes? Listen for God’s voice. He’ll keep you on track. The key is…drum roll please: Listen to His voice by reading His word, praying, obeying, and also learning from our circumstances.

I finally learned to ride a bike while passing through my mid-life zone. But still, I strive to trust God for less bumbling and more proverbial biking without crashes because He does know it all. I’m still learning to ride my proverbial bike. How about you?

TWEETABLE
Biking or Bumbling – insight on #FollowingGod from Peggy Cunningham, @Inca_Writer, on @AriseDailyDevo (Click to Tweet)

About the author: Peggy Cunningham and her husband, have been missionaries in Bolivia, South America, since 1981. In 1999, they founded Rumi Rancho Ministries. Rumi Rancho is their ministry base and home outside the city of Cochabamba where they work with the Quechua people and have a children’s ministry. Peggy is also a published author of children’s books and women’s devotionals. Shape Your Soul is her latest devotional book for women. All her books are available on Amazon.com.

Join the conversation: Have you ever crashed and burned? Please share your experience and what God did in you as a result.

 

Advertisement