Last week, I shared how one of the qualities I most admire about my husband is his habit of finding spiritual applications in ordinary, everyday things. I also mentioned a challenge from my brother-in-law, Jim, who had been thinking about the different ways people respond when approaching a green traffic light, and asked me to see if I could come up with a spiritual analogy. Some drivers see the green light and speed up, hoping to make it through the intersection before it turns red. Others see the same green light and begin slowing down, anticipating that it will soon change. Now, before I go any further, I want to clarify something. I’m not suggesting that our driving habits are a reflection of our spiritual condition (unless we are breaking the law). There are perfectly reasonable reasons for adjusting your speed when approaching an intersection, and sensible driving is always important. But I do think these contrasting reactions provide an interesting illustration of two tendencies we sometimes demonstrate in our Christian lives. One rushes ahead because of what might happen. In some ways, these responses are two sides of the same coin. The action is based on something that hasn’t even happened yet. The light is still green! Full Disclosure: I Have a Lead Foot!
When Jim brought up this scenario, I knew immediately where my tendencies lie. When I see a green light, my natural instinct and desire is to get through it before it changes. I’ve had a tendency toward speed since I was a teenager. I can remember my driving instructor nicknaming me Mario Andretti. “Slow down, Mario!” So embarrassing! I was thrilled when I finally had a car with cruise control. It’s one of my favourite inventions. How I managed to not get a speeding ticket until I was in my 40’s is a mystery and a blessing. To me, cruise control is a great comfort because it allows me to set established boundaries and easily drive within them. Now that I think about it, I have to laugh because, in some respects, that’s how I’ve approached much of my life. I see an opportunity, especially an opportunity to do something worthwhile, and my immediate reaction is, “Sure! This is great! Let’s do this!” Unfortunately, I don’t always stop to consider whether I should do it. I remember one of the staff members I worked for during my early college years telling me something I’ve never forgotten: “Angie, you have to learn to say no. Just because something is a good thing doesn’t mean it’s the thing you’re supposed to do. If you take on too much, you will do none of it well.” That was excellent advice, and forty years later, I’m still learning to apply it. If that light is green, I want to race through it. Whether it’s helping someone, taking on another responsibility, getting involved in a ministry opportunity, or starting another project, I have a tendency to think that if something is good and I have the ability to do it, then surely I should. Don has had to rein me in on more than one occasion and protect me from my own enthusiasm! Along with the Bible and the Holy Spirit, he’s my God-given cruise control. 😊 The older I get, the more aware I become that my time, energy, and abilities have limitations. I’ve also learned that saying yes to one thing often means saying no to something else, whether I intended to or not. The Bible gives us this warning, via Solomon:
Enthusiasm without wisdom can get us into trouble! I think part of the challenge for me is being sure that I am discerning the Lord’s specific will, rather than just doing every ‘good’ thing that I am asked to do. Because I genuinely want to please the Lord and obey Him, the following verse has been both an inspiration and a stumbling block:
I certainly don’t want to neglect something the Lord would have me do. But I’ve had to learn that this verse doesn’t mean I’m personally responsible for every good thing that could possibly be done. There is a difference between refusing to obey what I know God would have me do and recognising that I cannot accept every worthwhile opportunity that comes along. Just because the light is green doesn’t mean I need to put my foot on the accelerator! But What About the Other Driver?On the other side of the coin is the driver who begins slowing down because the light might turn red at any moment. Again, I’m not suggesting that this person’s driving habits reveal anything about their spiritual life. But there’s a spiritual parallel worth considering. How often do we allow fear or the possibility of something going wrong to keep us from doing what we know we ought to do? We imagine difficulties before they’ve appeared. What if I fail? What if things don’t work out? What if I don’t have what it takes? What if tomorrow brings problems I’m not prepared to handle? What if….? I was just talking with a friend the other day about how much time we can waste worrying and stressing about things that never actually happen, and reminding her that we need to deal with the day in front of us instead. Sometimes we can become so focused on what might happen that we fail to act in obedience on what God has already made clear. Solomon made an observation about this tendency, too:
Of course, there’s wisdom in watching the weather before planting a crop, but the farmer who insists on absolutely perfect conditions may never plant anything! There’s a time for caution, certainly. But there’s also a time to stop worrying about every possible difficulty and simply do what needs to be done. Jesus addressed our tendency to become preoccupied with tomorrow:
The Lord wasn’t forbidding thoughtful planning or wise preparation. He was warning us against allowing tomorrow’s cares to consume us today. We don’t know what tomorrow holds. And if we’re continually worrying about what might happen next, we can miss the opportunities, responsibilities, and blessings God has already placed before us. Just because the light might turn red doesn’t mean we need to stop moving forward! So What’s the Right Response?
As I’ve thought about Jim’s challenge, I’ve come to the conclusion that, spiritually speaking, neither rushing ahead nor unnecessarily holding back is pleasing to the Lord. Usually, the wisest thing we can do is simply keep going at the appropriate pace, in the right direction, paying attention to the instructions we’ve been given and the commitments we’ve already made. Think about it. When we’re driving, we know the road we’re travelling, or we’re following a map. We know the speed limit. We know the rules we’re expected to follow. We don’t need to panic every time we approach an intersection. We simply need to pay attention, drive responsibly, and respond appropriately to the conditions in front of us. When the conditions change, that’s the time to re-evaluate. It may then be time to slow down, stop, or change direction. And isn’t there a lesson here for our walk with the Lord? God has given us His Word to guide our lives. We know many of the things He expects of us. We are to love Him, obey His commandments, love others, remain faithful, and seek to honour Him in all that we do. We don’t have to spend our lives anxiously wondering what might happen tomorrow, nor do we need to rush ahead and take on every opportunity that presents itself. We need to walk wisely. I love what Paul says regarding this:
Notice that we’re instructed to walk circumspectly. Thoughtfully. Carefully. Wisely. We are to redeem the time, but that doesn’t mean cramming every possible activity into every available minute. And we are to understand what the will of the Lord is, not merely assume that every appealing opportunity is one He intends for us to pursue. I’m talking to you, Angie Berg! What about the Yellow Lights?Don’t forget! Traffic lights don’t simply change from green to red without warning. There’s always a yellow light in between. That yellow light serves an important purpose. It alerts us that conditions are changing and that we need to respond accordingly. Of course, God doesn’t promise to send us a bright yellow signal before every poor decision. He has given us His Word, the privilege of prayer, and opportunities to seek wise counsel. I’m also grateful that, as a wife, He gives me a husband to take the responsibility of the final decision. If we aren’t paying attention, He often does give us a gentle nudge or a subtle reminder, especially through His Spirit. If all else fails, our Father is very good at chastisement. One truth I have been learning, sometimes the hard way, is that I need to stop and examine my urge to race ahead through every green light. Am I rushing into this because I’m excited, or because I’m afraid I’ll miss an opportunity? If I want to slow down, is it because I genuinely need to exercise caution, or because I’m allowing fear to control me? Have I sought the Lord’s wisdom, or am I simply following my own inclinations? And perhaps most importantly, am I being faithful to the responsibilities God has already given me? Sometimes the appropriate pace really does change. Responsibilities change. Health changes. Circumstances change. There are times to take on new responsibilities and times to lay some aside. Faithfulness isn’t measured by how fast we’re moving or how much we’re accomplishing. It’s measured by whether we’re walking in obedience to the Lord. The Light Is Still Green!I don’t want to spend the rest of my Christian life rushing ahead of where I ought to be, simply because another opportunity looks exciting. Neither do I want to spend it holding back because I’m afraid of difficulties that may never come. I want to keep my eyes on the road the Lord has placed before me, follow the directions He’s already given, and remain attentive to His guidance. I don’t want to lose sight of the blessings and responsibilities of today by worrying too much about tomorrow. Not rushing ahead. Not holding back. Just walking faithfully with the Lord, one day at a time. Blessings, P.S. Do you ever find yourself rushing into good opportunities without considering whether they’re yours to take on? Or perhaps you’ve hesitated to do something you knew was right because of what might happen? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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