But Lord

 “Yes, Lord, I will follow You, but. . .” Luke 9:61 (New Living Translation)

God spoke. You heard Him. But because it didn’t make sense, you mulled the conversation over in your mind. You may even discuss the matter with Him to see if He would clarify or reconsider the directive.

 

It was a stormy day. The rain was so heavy that I could barely see as I drove down the long street. Then I saw a woman in the distance walking towards me on the road's shoulder. My heart went out to her at once because she had no umbrella and carried several paper bags of groceries. God spoke to me very distinctly by the Holy Spirit, telling me to ask her if she would like a ride. I didn’t mind having her ride with me, but because of the circumstances, no one else nearby, and I was a stranger, I knew she would not accept my offer. (If I were in her place, I would not have accepted the invitation.) After sharing these thoughts aloud, I said, “But Lord, You know she won’t get in the car with me.” He again said to extend the offer.

As I neared the woman, I rolled my window down and asked if she would like a ride. With a scowl on her face, she rudely said, “Well, no!” and kept walking. I rolled my window up, and with a miffed attitude, I said, “I told You she wouldn’t get in the car with me!” God so sweetly replied, “But you did what I told you to do.”

The man speaking to Jesus wanted to follow Jesus but felt he must first take care of life’s pressing matters and offered his excuses (which included taking care of his parents until they died). I didn’t deserve a loving response from God that day. Why do I sometimes question or doubt His directives when He has always proven Himself faithful? Whenever I think of this incident, God reminds me to not “second guess” Him but trust Him—by faith obediently follow without any “buts.”