Years ago, on my daily morning walks I was trying to train my dog, Lily, (a German Schnauzer) not to cross the street when cars were coming. One day I thought I’d try something new. As we were walking along we got to the place where we cross a very busy street. I stopped at the curb and waited and Lily waited with me. No cars were coming, but instead of going ahead and crossing, I waited… and Lily waited with me, looking up at me from time-to-time as if to say, “Can we cross now?” I waited a full minute without a single car passing by. We could have crossed at any time but I wanted Lily to know that she shouldn’t cross until I crossed… until “I” was sure that it was safe. She passed the test.
I mused at what might have been going on inside her head as we stood there waiting for no particular reason. Perhaps she thought, “Doesn’t my master realize there aren’t any cars coming?” Or, maybe, “Why are we waiting here so long anyway?” Maybe even, “Does he know something I don’t know?” Most likely, however, there was probably NOTHING going on inside her head at all. As I laughed inside myself at the thought, a more important thought came to me. Is it possible that those times in our lives where seemingly nothing is happening, where it seems like we’re waiting at one of life’s intersections for no apparent reason, that God is actually training us? That He is teaching us not to make a move WITHOUT HIM… preparing us for future moments where hearing His directions will be vital to our very survival? Yes, my friend, it’s quite possible that you are “in training” at this very moment without even knowing it.
Exodus 33:14-15 (NAS)
And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then he [Moses] said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.
