Don't Jump

I love this little excerpt from Margaret Feinberg's Hungry for God:

A few years ago, my husband Leif and I adopted a little puppy. As soon as the soft brown ball of fur crawled into the palms of my hands, I was in love. We named him Hershey.

After extensive training, Hershey was ready to go anywhere and everywhere. If dogs earned airline status, he'd be triple platinum. Though it sounds silly, sometimes God uses Hershey to teach me spiritual lessons. My furry friend is a living, breathing example of unconditional loyalty and love.

Because Hershey weighs less than five pounds, I carry him with me rather than use a leash. When Hershey stands still and trusts me, I scoop him up in a single motion. But sometimes he thinks I need his help. As I'm leaning down, he'll try to jump up, creating a klutzy moment in which I have to scramble so he doesn't fall. In the split second I'm trying to grab hold of my dog, I've sensed the Holy Spirit whispering, You do this sometimes too.

Like Hershey, I don't always trust my master. I think he needs my help. When I jump to take matters into my own hands, rather than trust God, I find everything falling apart. God is faithful and gracious enough to prevent me from thumping on the ground, but these moments remind me of the importance of relying and waiting on him.