Parking Space!

Parking Space!

Isaiah 30:15”For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: " In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."

The word ‘rest’ does not exist anymore in an era where people believe in working 24/7, the hoarding brags: ‘we work round the clock and open all the days of the week!’ Imagine!

Just when we entered the huge complex where we had to give the laptop for repairs, the security waved out and said ‘no parking space.’ Then started the harrowing journey of traversing from street to street, driving past the narrow roads, squeezed between vehicles parked on either side of roads, traveling back and forth looking for parking space for nearly an hour. No exaggeration! Finally when we found a spacious vacant area, we scurried to halt, when the glaring words ’towing zone- no parking’ glared at us that dipped our already exhausted spirit even more. The entire family were dumped inside the car, we were hungry, tired, and sleepy – the roads were dark. We thought we could just make it to the shop before the shutter comes down. Again, determined to park the car, we started the rigmarole journey; hurray, finally we found a ‘paid parking space!’ Everybody stretched their legs gleefully, just when we got ready to pick up the laptop, we found that an important ‘component’ was missing!! Then started a frantic search in all the bags in the car; alas, we finally realized that it was nicely packed and left behind on the table at home! Just when we thought everything was smartly well-planned, organized and sorted out, a small forgotten but important ‘component’ blitzed our plans! The hard struggle for a parking space and the frantic search was all in vain! We dumped back the laptop back into the car, paid the parking fee - yet another waste – and drove back home. None uttered a word, none pointed fingers, none blamed the other – but still it was a huge learning!

Don’t we frantically traverse high and low the roads of life – looking for a parking space: if only I get that promotion, if only I get that foreign assignment, if only I could buy that dream home, if only I could have a kid, if only I could get the right partner….parking space in life! We feel we could slouch and relax then!

Broken marriages, financial loss, failure, discouragement, discontentment, confusion, are all because we are spending our energy traversing the wrong route all our life - looking for a parking space, leaving behind the most important ‘component’ JESUS behind! Jesus said: John 15:5"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

When I got saved as a young mother of two kids, I sobbed at His feet at a revival meeting: ‘Lord, I have lost the best portion of my life scavenging for the wrong things and spending my energy; nevertheless, now I surrender my life to you.” That was no emotional mumbling, I meant every word, I went on from there to resign my job with a multinational bank and join full time service for the Lord. (Click HERE to read my launch into ministry)

Psalm 37:1”Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him…”