Go Back to Go Forward

I had it in my heart to ride to ride this new trail called "Boney Elbows". The thing is, I wasn't all that clear on how to get there. All I knew was that I had to access the trail by an old familiar trail called "Entrails", and about 1/3 of the way down I would see a turn-off to my right. I had to keep my eyes peeled so I wouldn't miss it.

I got to the top and began my descent. Riding an old familiar trail it was easy to put it in cruise control. But before I knew it I knew I had gone too far. I was now where I didn't want to be, half way down the same ol' trail I had always ridden. I actually felt disappointment I didn't want to be here again. This wasn't where I wanted to be. I knew there was so much more, but I didn't know how to get there! Ever feel that way in your spiritual journey with Jesus. Or with some kind of addiction. O no, not here again! That's how I felt.

I got to the end of my ride and turned left, the same old way out that I was familiar with, only this time there was a tree across the trail. Immediately I had this thought to stop, turn around, and go the other way. It was as if God had blocked my way, just to get me to turn around. So reluctantly I followed His lead.

Not 15 meters up the trail I see this new trail come off the mountain and immediately I knew, that's where I wanted to end up! That's the trail I was looking for all along! I could recognize where I wanted to end up, but didn't have a clue how to get there. Again this thought popped in my head to climb back up to see what I missed. The only way to see where I missed my turn, is to do the hard work and climb back up. So I picked up my bike and began the long hard steep climb back to the top.

30-40 minutes later I eventually got to the spot where I missed my turn. From this new vantage point the turn-off seemed plain, but for some reason I missed it. I marked the trail so I wouldn't miss it again, hopped on my bike and descended one of the gnarliest funnest trail I have ridden in a long time. But you know what, because I had now seen the trail I was better prepared for what was coming. Maybe it wasn't a mistake that I missed the trail. Maybe that was part of the lesson.

I came home and shared my experience with Kenda and the kids, telling them that it was like God was with me on that ride, teaching me something new. Then with beautiful discernment Kenda says, "Interesting, that is a picture of exactly where we are as a church. We are discouraged, finding ourselves "riding" the same trail all over again (roadblocks, struggling financially, people resigning from ministry positions, wondering if we are making any Kingdom impact whatsoever). But sensing that God is somehow in it. But He is also putting obstacles across our path to get us to turn around, and catch a glimpse of where we need to be. All to encourage us to go back and see where we missed our turn. 

To discover where He wants us as a church we feel we need to go back. Climb back and see where we missed our turn. Not that we made a mistake, for we believe this is exactly where He wants us. But if He wants us here, we don't want to miss what He's trying to say. This is why we believe we need to pray. Take the time to listen. Discern His voice. We don't want to react to what we think needs to happen in this season as the River. We want what God wants.

Let me close with these words from Eugene Peterson in his book "Working the Angles." He says "The inner action of prayer takes precedence over the outer action of proclamation. Prayer means that we deal first with God and then with the world. Or, what we experience the world first not as a problem to be solved but as a reality in which God is acting."

In order for us to see our challenges not as a problem to be solved but as a reality in which God is acting, we need God. Prayer is that right path.

I would encourage you and your Simple Church to dive in the best you can into the 3 weeks of prayer beginning March 18th at the BAG. Please check out the 21 Days of Prayer on the events page.