Reaching the Choke
Get to the heart of the matter – learn how to live the Spirit-filled life.
“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8)
Have you ever eaten a freshly steamed artichoke? I remember my first one. After dowsing the first outside leaf in lemon butter, careful not to get pricked by the tiny thorn at the end, I scraped my teeth across a tough outer edge only to get barely a tongue-full of flavor. But it was enough to make me want some more. I grabbed the next leaf and the next. The leaves were more tender and flavorful. I was sure I was nearing the heart of the artichoke, the best part. I instead hit the fibrous, inedible fuzz, called the “choke”. To get to the heart, I had to scrape away all of the gunk first.
I was so tempted to give up. I’d had a bit of scrumptiousness. Perhaps that was enough. I began to justify my plight. Maybe these fibers were a warning. I should stay away and not dig into them. What lay beneath may not be as tasty as I thought it was. Maybe the heart was rotten or tough.
I thought about my life as if it were an artichoke. First, there are the little thorns that prick us as we try to get to the good stuff. Those are trials and tribulations. Nothing good comes easy, right? Then there are the small blessings, like the tiny amount of flesh scraped from an artichoke leaf. But, the more we taste God’s goodness, the more we recognize it in our lives and want more of it. But mostly, I realized all the things that separated me from fully receiving God’s blessings had to first be arduously and carefully removed, just like the choke. It’s easy to become entangled in the inedible fibers of life and then give up hope of ever reaching the good stuff.
Isn’t it funny how we can twist things around? I turned my desire to avoid the hard work of getting through the rough part into God telling me I didn’t deserve any more. I convinced myself that He blocked me from going further for a reason. To my surprise, God helped me peel away each layer of the choke around my heart. Together we tackled what had become entangled in my life. Little by little, more goodness emerged. I could see that we were making progress.
The more I think about it, the more God’s gentleness, His patience, and His careful guiding put me in awe. I can see that now, but when I was in the middle of it, all I could see was the fuzzy choke. I thought I’d never get to the heart at the end. A few times I scooted away and said I’d had enough.
Then my soul’s stomach would growl. Feed me. With a deep sigh I knew I couldn’t shove this arduous task aside and start on a new issue until this task was accomplished.
So, once again I scooted towards the plate and began to remove the prickly fibers, confident that underneath lay the heart of the matter—a deeper relationship with God, and with those around me. In the back of my mind, I heard the reassuring voice saying, “Atta girl. Keep at it. Taste my goodness.”
Note: Excerpt from her newly released Bible study: Between the Window and the Door.
Question: What choke have you encountered in your life? Did you see it as a sign to stop, or to go forward with God’s help?
16 Responses to “Reaching the Choke”
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What Do You Fear?
What do you fear, and why? Is it holding you back from realizing your full potential?
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I just came across this latest devotional at crosswalk dot come, also related to food :), and thought it might help us to put some of our ‘negatives’ in perspective! Enjoy!
April 2012
Can we really trust God?
By Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
Romans 8:28 (NIV) “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Friend to Friend
A daughter was telling her mother how everything was going wrong. “I am failing Algebra. My boyfriend just broke up with me, and my best friend is moving away,” she wailed. Her mom listened patiently and then asked, “I made a cake for dinner. Would you like a snack?” The girl grinned and said, “Sure, Mom. I love your cake.” The mom smiled and asked, “How about some cooking oil?” The daughter looked surprised at the offer and responded with a loud “Yuk!” The mom tried again, “How about a couple of raw eggs?” With a look of confusion, the daughter said, “Gross, Mom!” With a smile, the mother offered, “Would you like some flour or maybe a cup of baking soda?” The daughter responded, “Mom, all of those things are gross!” The mother cut a piece of cake and placed it on a plate with a fork. As she handed the delicious snack to her daughter, she explained, “Honey, all of those things seem bad when you think about eating them alone, but when they are put together in the right way, they make a delicious cake.”
God often works the same way. We sometimes wonder why He allows us to go through such difficult times, but when God puts everything in the right order, they work out for our good. We just have to trust Him to do so.
Kate, WOW! Your response is a definate confirmation to the very prayer i got down on my knees with this very morning! i went before the LORD and started to SEE the Victory. That i should be praying FROM HIS VIEWPOINT! You are SO right Kate. It did APPEAR that the enemy won for sure in Jesus’ case. Isn’t that what i heard fear was? F alse E vidence A ppearing R eal!
Fear was the enemy, in my case and i guess we can say THAT is what won. i allowed it to scare me away. Perhaps the relationship wasn’t the best one for me so the LORD separated us. i DO believe in His Restorative abilities and His Resurrection Power, so who knows? Only He does. i mean i HOPE He restores us yet if this man hasn’t gotten closer to the LORD and since He sees the end from the beginning, Him being my Father, wouldn’t want this man to hurt me anymore than i already have been, ya know? i would only want the relationship to be restored if it were going to be a Godly one all the way around. This man has moved on with his life so maybe this is what i’m supposed to do as well? i just don’t know yet i know God knows. i keep thanking Him for His Wisdom and Guidence in this matter. i KNOW i still love him very much yet i also know when you love someone you let them go and if they come back…well…only time will tell. i still thank the LORD for the Victory either way. Thank you so much for sharing and caring. Please keep us posted about your marriage. God richly bless you today and always.
Dear Trisha,
Thanks for sharing more of your story. I am so thankful for your prayer for my husband and I, as well as being very glad that your faith is in the right place! Please know that as a child of God, the enemy is NOT permitted victory in your life, though it may seem like that for a time. The victory belongs to our LORD. Please reflect on the cross. When Jesus died, hung as a criminal, rejected and scorned, it sure looked like the enemy had won. In fact, even today people without faith cannot see the VICTORY, but those of us who have FAITH know for certain that on the third day, Jesus was raised! The resurrection is the VICTORY of God, once and for all, and it is ours today and eternally by FAITH! So whatever your situation, however bad things LOOK, all is NOT lost, for God says that to those who proceed by FAITH, He shall share VERY SAME RESURRECTION POWER that raised our Lord Jesus from the dead. Take heart my sister, God is at WORK, we may not see it yet, but by faith, we know He HAS answered our prayers when we prayed them, and now our hearts are full with JOY and HOPEFUL expectaction. We shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! I am standing with you in faith!
God bless you,
Kate
Camille, when i first read your post i prayed for you and am so happy the LORD answered your prayer in a positive. Do you know what i would give to having my prayer answered about my 7 yr relationship being restored? Having another chance to get to his “sweet” heart? i would feel as happy as you do about God saying “Yes” to your job! i guess we are still so much like children when it comes to asking for something and the Father actually says “YES”! Congradulations!
Kate, thank you for your comment.The man i refer to had asked me to marry him twice and twice i got so scared i said “No”. You, on the other hand ARE married so you stand a better chance of staying together through your vows and commitment. i would rather work something out in a marriage then just having the ease of walking away or letting the other person walk away. This man is lost to me now and it breaks my heart. i just couldn’t seem to overcome the fears as i had been married twice before. i was selfish and fearful and now i pay the consequences for it.The enemy won. i pray you and your husband work things out and the power of God’s Love and Mercy will prevail in your marriage.
Trisha, thank you for laying your heart out in your post. I find myself in just such a situation with my husband, and am looking forward to how the Lord will gently but persistently teach us to peel away the tough stuff, to get to the sweet heart!
Dear Lord, thank You for Your awesomely affectionate ways of dealing with us. Father it is so good to be Your children! Your word is so beautiful, wise, delicate and good. Truly, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103). Lord, we bless Your name and with our lips we praise You. All honour and glory are Yours O Lord, forever! Thank You Jesus! Amen
Praising the Lord with you Camille! Thank you so much for sharing. What an encouragement!
I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYER AND I KNOW THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING!
Camille, That is such a great reminder – be faithful in the little. I need to remember that too.
Father, I thank you that Camille was reminded to bring You and her faith in You into all the corners of her life, even the little ones. Thank you that she took the time to comment here so I can be reminded too. Thank you for this interview and for the vote of confidence is it for Camille. Whether she gets the job or not now she knows that her boss definitely thinks she’s qualified. If this is the job for her then I pray that You would help her to do it with excellence. And if this is not Your plan for her just yet, then help her to stay faithful in the little things so that she won’t miss the great things you have planned for her. Amen.
I am a part time student and i woek part time as a receptionist for an isurandce agency. i applyed for a position as an agent 2weeks ago and yesterday i was notified i didnt get the position, I was so disappointed. Today it was raining so hard and i have to catch a bus and lightrail just to get to work and i started to think “what is the point in walking in the rain to this dead end job God” and then it hit me! Be faithful and the little Camille. so i put on my praise music and got my butt to work. 1hour into my shift my boss asked me to come to his office and he offered me an interview today for an agent position today at 3:30… I pray i get it but if not im staying faithful in the little. Im still trying to get to the heart of my artichoke!
Thank you for sharing this word with me today not only am I in the process of this, but I am seeing that God’s timing is the most perfect above all. Why it took me so long I will never know. But I am so glad that He is faithful and patient. And also will to peel each layer of junk away at a time. :)Have a blessed day and I pray God’s divine blessings on this ministry. >//> :)
God Bless you abundantly Julie Cosgrove! Once again i can NOT leave w/o commenting: what a brilliant analogy! i, too, could never see the benefit of eating one of those artichokes. i didn’t see how it was worth my money. Yet when you open it up like you have on this devo, i can truly ‘see’ what you are saying. i was “choking” on a 7 yr relationship. i knew there was a “sweet” heart within this man i loved so dearly yet there were SO many “pricklys” on his outside, i couldn’t get to it. i kept breaking up with him when one of them would stick me hard. He would gently come back and we’d try again. The same thing would happen and when i got tired of all those ‘ouwees’i threw the whole “artichoke” in the trash and let him walk away. There were “pricklys” around me too and i guess we both just got tired of trying to get to each other’s “heart”. Just like i never thought to buy one of those artichokes b/c i felt it wasn’t worth it, i felt the same way about the relationship. NOW, after understanding what your experience was like with it, i’m sorry i didn’t keep at it like you did. i now have such a different perspective not only about artichokes but about relationships as well. Thank you my sister in Cnrist! ~Hug
I so needed to read this today. I am in the middle of a nasty divorce with a very vindictive, controlling man. I was losing the light at the end of the tunnel, thinking it is attached to a freight train that keeps moving. I know that God has been with me all the way through and I am anxious for it to be done. I need to be reminded that its all in HIS time, not mine. But in the meantime, I need to keep moving forward in my personal growth with HIM. Each nasty move my husband makes, God is there with me to help me overcome it. I see my husband as the choke and have stopped several times, but I need to keep my eyes on the Lord instead and He will show me what to do to keep on moving forward.
this was so timely for me. I just decided something was a sign to stop because it was getting too hard and I’m afraid. I will now pray and ensure I’m doing what God would have me do.
It is a very interesting way of presenting the truth and true to life.
This is one of your best yet and since I think they are all outstanding, that’s saying a lot.