When I was a kid I loved the idea of the seesaw. It always looked like so much fun on the playground. Two people sit down on a long wooden plank that is balanced in the middle, then push themselves up and down. They could not both be up, or down, at the same time. Pretty simple idea and great fun for kids. However, the idea of the seesaw crept into my spiritual life a few years ago. It’s a dangerous game to play in the spiritual realm. Here’s why…
Has the Lord ever asked you to set boundaries with a friend or family member? Have you ever felt led to actually sever a relationship with someone? Or, has the Lord called you to a new way of living that would greatly affect someone you love? If so, you may have felt tempted to delay obedience because you were worried about the other person and how they would react. I have seen this play out many times in dating relationships. A girl feels led to break off the relationship but does not because she fears that the guy will suffer. She believes that she must disobey the Lord and stay in the relationship because the guy needs her. She honestly believes she is doing the right thing because she is selflessly thinking of another person before herself. Of course, most of us would disagree with her assessment. She is living in a spiritual seesaw, believing that her obedience to the Lord will cause true damage to someone else. Since the Lord won’t act as Lord to the other person, she must personally make sure they are taken care of the right way. I cringe as I type this because I have had this thought in my own life.
The root cause of this spiritual seesaw is lack of trust. I don’t trust the Lord to do the right thing. I don’t trust that He loves me, and the other person, equally. He must need my help since He obviously hasn’t thought this through properly. I trust in myself more than I do the Lord. I refuse obedience because trusting Him completely is too hard. I want to be in control of the outcome for the other person involved. Let me say that again… I want to be in control of the outcome for the other person. In reality, I am standing in the way of the Lord working in that person’s life. So now, not only have I hindered someone else but I am also hindering my own spiritual life through disobedience. But, in my mind it’s ok because we are now equal on the seesaw. How dangerous.
Getting rid of the spiritual seesaw in your life will bring freedom. Release yourself from trying to be god for someone else. Get out of the way and let other people encounter the Lord without you trying to be the moderator. Instead, walk in true obedience. Make the hard choices. Trust the Lord. Lead by example. Leave the playground that is full of toys the enemy has set out for you. I’m seeking to do this in my own life as I pass through…
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes ; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones." Proverbs 3:5-8
Copyright © Rachel D. Butler and Only Passing Through. All Rights Reserved.
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California. All rights reserved.
Has the Lord ever asked you to set boundaries with a friend or family member? Have you ever felt led to actually sever a relationship with someone? Or, has the Lord called you to a new way of living that would greatly affect someone you love? If so, you may have felt tempted to delay obedience because you were worried about the other person and how they would react. I have seen this play out many times in dating relationships. A girl feels led to break off the relationship but does not because she fears that the guy will suffer. She believes that she must disobey the Lord and stay in the relationship because the guy needs her. She honestly believes she is doing the right thing because she is selflessly thinking of another person before herself. Of course, most of us would disagree with her assessment. She is living in a spiritual seesaw, believing that her obedience to the Lord will cause true damage to someone else. Since the Lord won’t act as Lord to the other person, she must personally make sure they are taken care of the right way. I cringe as I type this because I have had this thought in my own life.
The root cause of this spiritual seesaw is lack of trust. I don’t trust the Lord to do the right thing. I don’t trust that He loves me, and the other person, equally. He must need my help since He obviously hasn’t thought this through properly. I trust in myself more than I do the Lord. I refuse obedience because trusting Him completely is too hard. I want to be in control of the outcome for the other person involved. Let me say that again… I want to be in control of the outcome for the other person. In reality, I am standing in the way of the Lord working in that person’s life. So now, not only have I hindered someone else but I am also hindering my own spiritual life through disobedience. But, in my mind it’s ok because we are now equal on the seesaw. How dangerous.
Getting rid of the spiritual seesaw in your life will bring freedom. Release yourself from trying to be god for someone else. Get out of the way and let other people encounter the Lord without you trying to be the moderator. Instead, walk in true obedience. Make the hard choices. Trust the Lord. Lead by example. Leave the playground that is full of toys the enemy has set out for you. I’m seeking to do this in my own life as I pass through…
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes ; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones." Proverbs 3:5-8
Copyright © Rachel D. Butler and Only Passing Through. All Rights Reserved.
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California. All rights reserved.
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