Face the Dead Ends in Life

How do you face the dead ends in life?  Do you turn around, do you throw up your hands in frustration, or do you ask a friend for help? Dead ends make me think of the book, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen.  When faced with an obstacle, the family considers their options, “We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it, so we have to go through it.” There are so many times that we have to face the dead ends in life, those instances in life that we can’t go over, under, or around.  The only choice we have is to address the issue head on and go through it.  While turning around can definitely be the easiest thing to do, trusting in God is the right thing to do.

This week’s verse selection was submitted by Carla Aaron. I met Carla several years ago through a professional event; however, I enjoy every time I get to talk with her.  Carla is one of the most real and kind people I have ever met.  Carla will tell you that her choices have not always been right but her faith is unwavering.

“The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” ‭‭- Exodus 14:14 Carla adds, “I find it so hard to just stay calm, I think I need to be doing something when I just need to be still and trust. I know we need to do our part but like the Israelites, they had their back against the wall and needed to just trust God all while not complaining.” Can you imagine the panic and fear the Israelites must have felt with the vast Red Sea ahead of them and Pharaoh’s army closely behind them? Have you ever thought how much we are like the Israelites?

“Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans 5:3–4)

Ephesians 6:12–13 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” There will be battles. But God is faithful in the midst. We are not left to fight on our own. Rather, we put our faith and hope in Him.

There are so many stories of people in the Bible who didn’t fully trust God so the issue of not trusting is much older than us.  How do we overcome this?  Psalm 46:10 tells us to “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Since we know God is in control, does this mean we get to avoid battles?  Unfortunately no but it does mean that “Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope”, 2 Timothy 3:12. I know I have said this before, it is through the hardest times in my life that my relationship with God has grown.  I can’t imagine where I would be without this relationship.  Yet, I still struggle with trusting.

One of the most aggravating things my husband does when we come to a stop sign is to ask me “if anything is coming”.  It drives me nuts because what if I don’t realize how fast someone is coming?  Does he always just trust me to tell him?  I personally like to look myself, multiple times before pulling out.  Maybe I’m the one that is aggravating because I don’t trust enough.  I am very guilty of saying, “I’ll do it myself” instead of asking for help.

When we put our trust in God, there are no real dead ends.  Zig Ziglar once said “F-E-A-R has two meanings: ‘Forget Everything And Run’ or ‘Face Everything And Rise.’ The choice is yours.” How will you face the dead ends in life? How will you face your FEARS?  I pray that we can face our FEARS and dead-ends with the full understanding of God’s Got It.  I pray that we can show grace to ourselves and others along the way.