Is the Easy Route Always the Best Route?

I was talking to a friend today about living in America versus other countries. We definitely have had a lot of freedoms and privileges growing up here. But, if you have an opportunity to live in another country for a period of time, as I have, you begin to realize that there are blessings and curses about having those freedoms and privileges. One of the first things I remember struggling with when I moved back to America after living in Germany for 5 years, was the difficulty I had buying an iron. I’m sure that sounds odd to some of you. I can remember being in a store, probably Walmart or something like that. When I looked up and down the aisle where the irons were, I had no idea how to narrow my choice down to the perfect iron for me. There were so many choices and so many options on each particular iron. It was quite overwhelming. In Germany I could go to the store and buy the iron that they had available and not have any stresses about whether I was getting the best one. It’s odd, because it feels right to be able to have so many choices, but it also felt so wrong to waste my time and energy considering each option.

I am reminded about Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Many things that seem right to us in the moment, after consideration and prayer may end up being completely wrong. The problem is, how many times do we just go with that initial feeling and don’t take the time to consider and pray? I think, for myself, far too often. It happens when I’m asked to do something and I only consider if there is a gap in the schedule or not and don’t consider if that is the best use of that time or if that is what God has in mind for that time. It happens when I feel like I “need” something and I go purchase it without weighing the future burden on the family budget. It happens when I feel strongly about something and prioritize that opinion above the relationships that are affected by it.

Thinking about things this way really puts new meaning to I Thessalonians 5:17, “pray without ceasing”. If I am praying continually, I will be listening for God’s answer for every area of my life, and not just going with my initial feeling that seems right in the moment. Considering God’s way in every circumstance, will look very different than what everyone else is doing, but it will be the way of the wise. Maybe this is why my friend, that has plenty of resources, keeps their broken down family van, and says “it keeps us humble”. She realizes that being humble is far more important than having things be easy or convenient for them. Living in America, we have many opportunities to turn down the easy convenient route in exchange for the greater blessing for us and those around us.