The Master of muddy lakes.

It's a rainy day, a lone bird calls through the trees, there's lots to do but I'm thinking some of it may not happen. The trees are bare of leaves, the grass is brown and today, the lake is very muddy. Rain fell hard most of the night and more is promised today. I like sunshine. I guess I'm a true southern girl, I thrive on sunshine and heat. Intense, a-little-sweat-on-your-brow heat. I love it!
That muddy lake though, I watch the water trickle in from the bank. The surface is smooth and all the messy, nasty mud is swirling underneath, settling little by little, becoming a permanent part of the lake. 

There are days where everything is very clear to me- my direction, projects and goals, plans for the future. God-willing as my mama used to say. She prefaced everything she said with that statement. "God willing and if I live til spring" It's biblical you know? God doesn't want us worrying about the future. 

From Matthew 6:25-34

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[a] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

There are days when life is as messy and muddy as our lake is today.  It's been a difficult season of life lately. There's been life changes, new plans, health concerns, growing pains and intense losses to grieve. Some are still very fresh. There have been tears and restless nights.  

You know who isn't phased by muddy water?  Ducks. They hurry into the lake like a second grader on a field trip in spring.. with only the anticipation of  the water. They flutter their wings, tirelessly squawk at each other, chase each other around, preen their feathers and waddle out. They are totally spent from the experience but content as they rest on the bank together. 

In this season, I have retreated somewhat to spend more time in prayer and meditation, I'm finding my balance. I breathe in God's Word daily. I'm still learning, He continues to show me more. You know what I've learned? My God is the master of muddy lakes. He calms my fear, my doubts and gives me peace where pain dwells.  

I look at my life some days and see total chaos, not much direction and endless questions... God sees a plan, His complete plan for me. It has included some simplifying of life and I'm okay with that. (more on that subject later) And the trials? they become part of who I am just as the mud becomes part of the lake. Experience always shapes who we are. It changes us in ways we could never have imagined. This pain did not come from God but He will use it. 
So, for today, I may not get much done but I'm healing and growing in faith. I am content today to breathe and know without a shadow of a doubt, my God is with me.  

There will always be muddy waters in life but it's okay, because I know the Master of those waters.