There is a story that I heard years ago that I have adapted as I met with a dear friend yesterday. Here’s the original story.
There was a father who had 2 sons. One son was never happy. His outlook in life was always bleak. The other son was the opposite, everything in life was great. The father wanted to understand his sons better so he decided to test their attitudes. The bleak child was put into a room full of brand new toys. At the end of the hour the father went into the room and found the boy crying. He was surrounded by toys but he was still unhappy. the 2nd son was put into a room full of manure. At the end of the hour the father went into the room and found the boy digging through the manure and laughing joyously. The father was confused so he asked his son what he was doing. The son replied “With all of this poop in the room, there must be a pony in here somewhere and I am going to find it!”
I was talking to me friend and she is going through a situation that is very tough. Her family is in the midst of a pile of poop but I reminded her that there are blessings that are happening. God is always in the midst of our troubles but He promises that He will NEVER leave us or forsake us. He is the pony in the middle of our poop! But we have to look for Him.
Rick and I are in the middle of a situation in our life. We have been restless and God has been prodding us in some new directions. Sometimes I haven’t wanted to change course and other times I want to do it now just to get it over with but God keeps telling us to wait on Him. Prepare our hearts and lean on God. It doesn’t FEEL good. Frustration and tears have been coming in waves. So yesterday as I heard myself telling my friend that she needs to allow God to be her pony in the poop I heard God asking me if I am looking for Him in the midst of the struggle! Ouch!
So I need to focus on finding God in the midst of the confusion. I need to see the blessings of waiting. The very first one is that I can take the time to let people know how important they are to me. I also have time to hear from God and truly know where He is sending us.
So today I will look for God to be my pony in the poop!
