One of the tasks at my job at a medical office is to deposit the checks. Yes, even with all the advances in technology, we do still get a lot of checks from insurances and patients. One of the conveniences with this is I have my own check scanner, like at the banks. Well, convenient when it works properly. The checks would jam right at the end so it wouldn’t accept the check. Apparently, you have to clean the device from time to time with specific wipes. Like how we used to have to use the cleaner tape for our VHS. Yes, I remember those. The manager at the bank gave me a few wipes and they did clean out some dirt. So I figured it would be all good now that it was cleaned. Wrong. The checks still would get stuck and even wrinkle them, which would make it more fun to try again. The trick I finally got was I was trying to push the check too much. If I just got it set and gently tapped it, it ran through just fine. 

So what does this have to do with our faith? We can push ourselves to do something, even spiritually, but it may not be what God wants us to do. Or, we can keep trying to serve in a particular area when God has told us that it’s time to move on. But, because we are afraid to step out of our comfort zone into the unknown, we keep trying to force ourselves to stay. When God tells us to move on, He can frustrate us like wrinkled checks, to then be more open and willing to try something new. 

Where in your life have you been trying to force yourself to stay when you need to let go and let God?