Recently my sister and I went to pick up her new eight-week-old kitten, a sweet, cuddly kitty that loved being held.
She had prepared a nice, comfortable haven for the kitten with a soft bed, food, and water dish nearby, and a litter box easy to find, as well as an array of toys. Everything a kitten needed for a happy, comfortable life had already been provided and set up. All we had to do was get her to my sister’s house, about an hour’s drive away.
My job was to sit in the back seat with the kitten to keep her company. Everything was peaceful until the car started to move. She began to meow inquiringly. What’s going on? This doesn’t seem right! Her inquiring meows became louder, and distress filled. The fact that I was nearby, talking soothingly, meant nothing. She tried to climb out of the carrier, sticking her paws and then her nose through the wire mesh door.
Who knew such a sweet little kitten could make such a horrible fuss for almost a half hour. Nonstop! Finally, out of sheer exhaustion, she stopped and sat quietly, fighting sleep, and eventually taking a brief nap before starting the bellowing, clawing, and climbing again. I told her, “If you had any idea what a nice place you’re going to, and the magnitude of love that’s going to be poured out on you, you would just relax and enjoy the trip.”
I saw a lesson in this about God’s love for us. So often we struggle against our circumstances. We yell and complain about what we’re going through or try to fix the situation using our own strength, because we’ve lost sight of God’s love for us. All we can see is the little cage we’re in, and we feel trapped. But when we focus on God’s love, we can rest, knowing that Jesus has already done the work and paid the price (Hebrews 4:6-11). God has already prepared the solution to the problem. We just need to trust Him. If the kitten had been able to trust us, the car ride would have gone differently.
When we focus on God and His love, “the peace of God that passes all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
To learn more about resting in God’s love, come visit us at Charis Christian Church, 4811 E. Julep St. in Mesa.