The image that comes to mind is a warm spring day with a parent taking their child’s hand and leisurely walking down the lane” stated the pastor on the radio.

He was preaching on Jeremiah 31 verses 31 and 32. Here Jeremiah tells the Jews, “‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt . . .’” The section he was referring to was where it says “I took them by the hand to bring them out of Egypt.”

He said when we read this we often imagine a very picturesque setting of a parent and child taking a stroll, like a Norman Rockwell painting.

If this is what comes to mind,” he stated, “we couldn’t be more wrong.” “Actually the picture we should see is more like a parent trying to get their child to leave Chuck E. Cheese” he concluded. More of a tug-a-war than a casual stroll.

If you don’t know, Chuck E. Cheese is a place were children can ride rides, play arcade games and collect tickets to redeem for special prizes. It’s a miniature carnival where children have lots of fun and find difficult to leave.

I thought this was an interesting analogy of how God has to deal with me.

Picture this. A child has settled in and is enjoying all Chuck E. Cheese has. His parent comes up and tells him it’s time to go. The child puts up a fuss but is finally dragged out of there and into the car. Unsure of where they are going, the car ride seems like it’s taking forever.

He complains, grumbles, fusses and fumes. “Why in the world did I have to leave what I was doing at Chuck E. Cheese to take this crumby, boring ride” he whines.

After what seems like an eternity of torturous waiting and riding they finally stop. He gets out of the car and realizes, to his amazement and delight, they are at Disneyland!

All his grumbling, complaining and whining really were unnecessary since the enjoyment of Disneyland so out shines Chuck E. Cheese it’s not even comparable.

So, what does that have to do with God’s work in my life and yours? I’m glad you asked that question.

The scenario goes something like this. I am living the life God has called me to live. I have settled in to it, have accepted it, and often am enjoying it. I’ve learned the ins and outs of it and am quite comfortable.

Then all of a sudden He comes along and lets me know its time for a change. This could be a move, a change of friends, a time of spiritual growth or a variety of other things. Whatever it is, I know God is bringing a transition into my life. And quite frankly, I don’t like it.

Like the little child having to leave Chuck E. Cheese, I go but often I fuss and fume, grumble and complain.

This is what the Children of Israel did to whom Jeremiah was referring. God took them by the hand and led them out of the slavery in Egypt into the freedom of the Promised Land. A place flowing with milk and honey.

Yet in the transition they had to go through the wilderness of transition. And boy did they complain and rebel! So much so that God finally had had enough and let all those over age 20 die in the desert, except for Joshua and Caleb.

Even though the place they were going so out shined where they were, they still threw a fit over what they had to go through to get there.

That’s the point that struck me.

I know from experience when God brings a time of change into my life He always brings me to a spiritually better place than where I began.

I know God promises to always lead me to an improved relationship with Him and greater opportunities for growth and ministry.

Verses come to mind like Jeremiah 29:11, “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’” and Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”

I know whenever He takes me away from one thing and moves me to another it always ends up better.

I also know that, like the child in the car or the Jews in the wilderness, I generally complain about the transition, about what I have to do, go through or give up to get where He is taking me.

I thought about this a lot this past week. The question that came to mind is how do I stop my whining, stop being so grouchy during the “wilderness wandering” of my transition?

I reflected on a verse in Hebrews 12 that is very helpful. Verse 2 states, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Just as Jesus got through the horrific torture and agony of the crucifixion by looking ahead to the future awaiting Him, so I must look beyond the struggle I face in the change God is taking me through. I must focus on all the benefit and fulfillment I will ultimately experience.

Even though I don’t know exactly what it will be, I can still rest in the assurance that God will make it happen. Or to put it another way, I can be confident that the future God has for me will be far better than the present His is moving me out of.

The choice is yours and mine to make. Do I want Chuck E. Cheese or do I want Disneyland?

It does take change, adjustment and often time in the “desert” but as I allow God to bring me through He always leads me to something better.
Mark