Are You Available?

Ecclesiastes 11:4 (New International Version)

Whoever watches the wind will not plant;

   whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

In 1745, the Scots rebelled against the Hanoverian King George. Their leader was Charles Edward Stewart, other wise known as Bonnie Prince Charlie. For several months, he victoriously led the Jacobite forces against Royalist troops. As he marched down South, many more people joined his army, and they eventually reached the English town of Derby, 200 miles north of London.

The Hanoverians were ready to flee the country, when Charlie made a terrible miscalculation. He started to worry about the weather. Instead of marching on to victory, he halted the Highland army and debated with his generals. Major disagreements broke out, which resulted in a divided command. Charlie then obstinately decided to head home for shelter with his beleaguered troops.

He was hoping to avoid the bad weather, but it caught up with him. The whole army retreated, in much the same way that Napoleon’s troops would in 1812, from Moscow to Paris. Morale was extinguished; the weather was merciless; and the Highlanders lost hope. Within a couple of months, the rebellion was over and this time, Charlie was the one who fled the country.

He who hesitates loses. That’s what today’s Bible verse is telling us. Everyday, God gives us opportunities to do His work and make our lives more meaningful. Faith involves risk and God always calls us to do things that are above and beyond what we can do on our own. That’s when we depend upon Him most. That’s when we give up worrying about whether we can accomplish it ourselves, and completely put our faith in Him.

Dear Lord we pray that we would be free from being fearful, timid, and cautious. Help us to place our lives into Your Hands, so that we can fully accept the calling that You have for us today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.