Vine and Branches

So my cell group went out to a state forest for a little camping trip last weekend. We had a great time out there. We made s'mores and played some Texas Hold'em. I didn't finish in last place! Whoo! (It's hard for me to take poker seriously when no money is involved.)

The best part of the whole trip, however, was when Corbett, Noel, Drew, and I decided to go exploring. We went down to the main trail first and came across a couple of drunk women who were also walking around. We made small talk with them and were about to witness to them, but their boyfriends started calling after them. Not wanting any trouble with their boyfriends, we ended the conversation and started exploring the woods.

After getting a ways into the woods, we realized we had no idea where we were. We were lost. Corbett, Noel, and I thought it was actually pretty cool, but Drew didn't like it so much. He's not too fond of being lost. We told him that God is in control and that He brought us out there to teach us something.

Then I said, "I have a feeling it's going to rain." Drew was not too happy about that idea. Corbett decided he should pray... for rain. So he did. And not thirty seconds later it started raining! Seriously! God, with His sense of humor, answered our prayer!

We then decided that it would probably be a good time to try and find a way out of the woods. After about ten or fifteen minutes, we came across the original trail we went in on. So, much to Drew's delight, we made it safely out of the woods.

Afterward, Drew shared how God used the experience to break and humble him. He hates being lost, especially in the rain. So God had him get lost in the woods... in the rain... so that Drew would learn that God has everything under control.

We all learned how sovereign God is. Noel made an interesting comment. He said that God was probably looking down on us, smiling, and saying, "I got this, guys!"

Our experience is a lot like our lives. God takes us into the "woods" of our lives... the unknown places, the hard places. He takes us there so He can humble us and show us His almighty sovereign power.

It was a fun, yet humbling experience that I won't soon forget. Our God is an awesome God!