The Master of the Exit Plan

A few summers ago I noticed our daughter conveniently went under water as we would tell her it was time to leave. We’d begin gathering our things to give a five minute warning (best parenting tip ever) and she would suddenly be on the opposite end of the pool.

When we'd holler in her direction, she'd go back under. Then as she came back up for air we'd quickly try to get her attention but sure enough, she returned to her watery cocoon, pretending to be a mermaid or a fish or something.

But, as you guessed, we were totally onto her.

One time in particular I disciplined her for being flat out disobedient but she claimed total ignorance. Yeah, right.

This is also what WE like to do with our baggage.

Instead of dealing with the reality that it’s time to go - time to do something about our loneliness, bitterness, anger, anxiety - we go underwater. We save it for another day, a better time. But, friend, these feelings are telling us to DO something.

So let’s do it. Let’s take action together and surrender all of this baggage to an almighty God who LOVES us unconditionally.

I imagine He watches us ignore Him much like I watched Charlotte go under water at the pool. I'm sure she has to be aware we'll leave eventually, but right now she is doing all that she can to avoid me so she can avoid the exit. But what I'm also sure of is that I control the exit.

God is in control of your exit plan.

Let’s take a page from David’s playbook and pour out our feelings plain as day for God to grab a hold of and redeem. If you don’t know where they’re coming from, ask Him. If you don’t know why you are feeling lonely, tell Him that. If you can’t figure out why you are discontent, apathetic or just going through the motions of your day… ask Him.

These feelings are here for a reason - they're telling us it's time to deal with our baggage. And God is FAITHFUL - He will come in, pulling you even closer to Him as you lay your junk down.

The exciting thing is He already knows what you're feeling. He knows it can be scary and vulnerable for you to say it out loud but often the power those feelings have over you remain only in the silence.

So let it go, friend. Stop avoiding it and let God help you exit today.