Lessons from a Two Year Old: Danger of Self Reliance
Is God too slow for you at times? Have you rushed ahead of Him on occasion only to discover trouble?
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“Guide me on the road to eternal life” (Psalm 139:24b, The Message).
“My do it!” were the words he repeated over and over.
Recently I was hiking on a very challenging trail along the southwest coast of Vancouver Island. My almost three year old grandson was with me. At least one section of the trail could possibly be described as dangerous, but overall it was a combination of easy and difficult stretches. I carried him on some of the sections of our 8 kilometer hike but for some reason along this particularly dangerous section, he was determined to walk on his own.
I was very vigilant in my coaching. At times I would pick him up and lift him over difficult sections. Each time his response was, “My do it.” At one point some other hikers passed us. For some reason he was convinced that he should try to keep up with them and started going faster. I glanced behind me for a split second and when I turned back to look at him, my heart missed a beat!
My small apprentice had slipped, and was hanging over the ocean, holding onto a tree root while his feet were swinging in the air. A 5-meter drop to the water and rocks below awaited him, if he let go of that root. I grabbed his arms and lifted him to the trail. He had no idea of the danger that he had just faced. He simply said, “Thanks, Papa.” Off he went. I, on the other hand, have relived that moment many times since.
As humbling as it might seem, we are all like two year olds in our strength, knowledge and wisdom when compared to God. Just as it is dangerous for a two year old to be on his own, even for a split second because they just do not understand the dangers, so it is with us. Just as we don’t allow two year olds to hike a challenging trail on their own, we also were never intended to go through life without someone to watch over us. We are invited, but not forced, to journey with God.
There are areas of my life where I like to say, “My do it!” When I try to do it on my own, I miss out on God’s strength and wisdom. Here is a prayer from the writer of Psalms 139 that helps to motivate me to move from self reliance to God dependence.
“Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal life” -Psalm 139:23-24 (The Message).
Questions: Are you tempted to rush ahead of God and live life your way? How are you motivated to move from self reliance to God dependence?
About the Author Mike Woodard
Tags: challenging, coaching, Cross-examine, dangerous, Devotional, grandson, guide, hikers, hiking, humbling, Investigate, mike woodard, ocean, Self Reliance, Vancouver Island, vigilant
6 Responses to “Lessons from a Two Year Old: Danger of Self Reliance”
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Because of our humanity, it is not possible for any of us to be the perfect parent or grandparent. It’s not possible for any of us to predict each and every situation. I think this is the very reason that God provides guardian angels for each of us. I Thank Mike for having the courage to relate to us the story, I’m sure he realizes that it brings to light that his loving grandparenting was not perfect, and yet in the same moment he is reminding each of us that Our Heavenly Father fills in the gaps of our imperfections with His Love and protection.
What a wonderful God we serve!!
yes some times I am bad about trying to rush ahead of God
I get the lesson but am appalled that it happened at all and that was all that he gets from it happening? If authorities knew they would probably be discussing child endangerment. As a mother and soon to be grandmother I am again, lack for a more fitting word, appalled.
Hi, thanks for the devotional. What came to mind for me was something my aunt, who raised me used to say “Let Go, and Let God”. I have a hard time letting go sometimes and during those times it is me saying “MY DO IT”. I am working on letting God do it. I pray to be able to get up each day and give my life to God’s will, and not my own. Thanks for the reminder to get out of God’s way, and “trust” God has a plan for me every day, if I do not say “MY DO IT”..Blessings!
If I were your grandchild’s mother I would be furious with you for endangering my child no matter what age. My heart dropped reading this. How has God comforted her after this? Have you gotten any feedback or new boundaries from her? Sorry, just another mom’s point of view you may not have thought of.
This is a good reminder that even when we feel that we are keeping close to our Lord that we might GET AHEAD OF HIM & OUT OF HIS WILL. Thanks for the prayer from Psalms. I am praying that for my life right now. Am I close enough to hear God’s whispers to go, stop, turn around, or be bolder or more confident? I want to grow in my faith in God’s promises. I want to be trusting in where he is leading me through his word.
Thank you, please pray for me to be humble as he prunes in my live & my family’s lives. It hurts, but if I trust in his word, I know he loves the ones he prunes so they will produce more fruit.
John 15: 2