Monday Motivation: Security Blanket
Posted by Andrea
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)
Like Linus, our sweet little Sugar Plum has a very special blanket. Hers is white with an array of pastel colored hearts and in order to sleep soundly, Sugar Plum must have her beloved blanket beside her in bed. No other blanket will suffice.
One recent morning, I changed and washed the girls’ bedding. That evening as I prepared to put Sugar Plum to bed, I realized I had not transferred the morning laundry over to the dryer. This meant Sugar Plum’s precious blanket was still wet and would not be ready for bed.
Though I knew my offer would not be accepted, I volunteered a similarly colored and similarly sized blanket. Sugar Plum would not accept it and started to cry. After she calmed down, I explained that her blanket was drying and that she could have it the next day. That explanation was not sufficient for her and Sugar Plum said she wanted the blanket that night and would wait for it to dry.
Sugar Plum’s day was a long one and I knew she was tired. But rather than retire peacefully with a different blanket, Sugar Plum fought sleep and insisted upon waiting for me to bring her security blanket. Each time I slipped into her room to check on her, I found her wide awake and whining impatiently. Unfortunately Sugar Plum was giving up much needed rest because she thought she needed to hold onto that blanket!
Isn’t that how we can be? So eager to hold onto the things we think will bring us security! Perhaps we have missed a blessing or two simply because we refused to let go of something we thought would bring us security, comfort, or stability.
When we cling to things other than God, we show that we do not trust Him to provide for our needs. Likewise this lack of trust in God can prevent us from experiencing the many things God has in store for us. How can we live the full lives God has intended us to live, if we don’t lean on Him? Simply put, we can’t.
Sooner or later we learn that our spouses, best friends, children, jobs, and material possessions cannot give us the security we seek. Unfortunately placing full dependence on anything else but God leaves us disappointed and unfulfilled. In addition, it doesn’t leave us free to embrace God, the only one who can meet ALL of our needs.
As the year comes to a close, I encourage you to join me in taking a careful look at what you’re grasping. Let’s make sure we’re seeking security in God. If our trust lies elsewhere, let’s redirect our focus and embrace Him!
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for the friends, families, and materials goods you have given us. We thank you for the joy these things bring to our lives. Help us to remember that You are the one who has provided these and many other things for us. Help us not to put our trust in false securities. Forgive for the times we have depended on other people and things for our needs instead of relying on You. Remind us that only You can meet our needs completely and help us to lean on You completely. Help us to conquer our fear of letting go and letting God and give us the faith we need to rely on You. Amen.
Food For Thought:
1. What makes you feel secure?
2. Are you holding onto things that interfere with what God wants to do in your life?
3. Why is it sometimes hard to “let go and let God”?
Tags: Monday Motivation, Proverbs 3:5
Amen! We’re on the same page, as usual. Keep the encouragement coming, Andrea. Hugs!
Hugs right back to you e-Mom! Thanks for being for a faithful visitor!
Andrea, Thanks for sharing your thoughts and prayers. Once again, your reflections give me pause and are so timely. Our world is looking less and less secure as we enter the new year. This should always point us to God, his security, hope and foundations.
Kathy, your comments about the direction in which the world is moving is true! May our spiritual compasses be pointed in God’s direction all year long!
aren’t we just like that! i love to think of God’s patience and kindness to us! and i am so grateful to Him for “growing” me so that i increasingly find my security and confidence in Him. the last forty years have brought such growth (”look how tall i am now!!”) and i look forward to seeing what He is going to do in the future!
Tammie, that was very well said! I love the concept of looking at how tall we are now! Amen! You’re such a blessing Tammie! Enjoy your day!
Love this post Andrea…I am growing taller as I look to him and trust in him.
My daughter has a blankie too she will not sleep without. It has cute little trains on it and is ripped on one corner. I try to get her to let it go but not yet.
Have a blessed day and thank you for the encouragement.
Blessings, BJ
I really experienced this when my father passed away. You were right- it definitely brought me closer to God and showed me that I could only truly rely on HIM. Your Monday motivations would make great MOPS e-mails.
Monica, I learned that same lesson when my father died too. I find that God often uses hardship to grow me.
Perhaps I’ll consider sending Monday Motivations to all my MOPS buddies! Thanks for the encouragement!