The Hidden Hindrance of Good Things
Comfort, success, and plans can quietly weigh down our faith race.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” — Hebrews 12:1
I’m not sure how God does it, but He shoehorned a 100-pound heart into a 7-pound dog. Bella, our little bundle of fur, thinks she’s the reigning queen of the neighborhood. Her passion? Chasing deer, rabbits, and her all-time favorite—squirrels.
Yesterday, on a walk, Bella spotted a squirrel before it spotted her. Suddenly, I was transformed into the sled behind her husky-like pull. She had the angle, the tree in sight, the advantage. Victory was in her paws—until the squirrel dropped its prize: a huge, unhusked hickory nut. Freed from the burden, the squirrel darted to safety.
That nut is a picture of what Hebrews 12 warns us about. Sometimes the things we cling to aren’t evil—they’re good gifts. However, if we hold them too tightly, they weigh us down and prevent us from running freely with Christ.
Here are a few:
Comfort – A gift, but it can keep us from bold obedience.
Success – Valuable, but heavy when it defines us.
Relationships – Beautiful, but hindering if pleasing people matters more than pleasing God.
Possessions – Helpful, but dangerous if they become our security.
Plans – Wise to make, but limiting if we can’t release them when God redirects.
The squirrel found life by letting go. So will we.
Reflection