Lily Pads

I was just reminded of lily pads, pictured them in my mind, and then saw them again as an emoji. A prompt to get this post, posted.

Often when I reflect back on the ways God has moved me throughout my life, always unexpected or “unplanned”, it’s hopped me from one point to the next over time. Certain introductions can lead to opportunities, which lead to more opportunities and connections. Moving us from one place to the next along our paths.

I’ve often associated lilypads with this process. One might stay on a Lilypad for years, sometimes for months, but each landing spot becomes its own.

I was picturing a little frog standing on one side, looking all the way across, with nothing but lily pads in view. Of course it could try to swim but it’s a long way. Hop by hop, gaining momentum as one gets along, or maybe needing to stop and rest at a spot for awhile. 

The lily pads came up as I was reflecting back on some very specific and subtle ways God has moved in my life over the last several years and especially the last year. I was shown something that came to fruition, that seemed a blessing at the time, but I see now how even more of a blessing it is given current circumstances. God knew what needed to be lined up for such a time as this.

But, it took lily pads of events to get there.

The thing about lily pad field is that there are so many ways across. There’s no one straight line across like a bridge. So many choices on direction and shape and support of what you land on. 

But, you make it across, even if you end up downstream.

I’ve been going through a Women in the Bible bible study and we just read about Ruth and Naomi. Ruth is widowed and remains with her mother-in-law instead of returning to her family. In scripture it relays a strong bond between Naomi and Ruth, and Naomi being inspired by Ruth’s faith in God to provide a way.

Through course of events they end up in Naomi’s hometown of Bethlehem where Ruth meets Boaz and remarries. Boaz is portrayed as kind, thoughtful, and respectful. Given the times, widowed women especially did not have it easy but God led the path from one point to another to provide a way.

There are many examples of this in the Bible, being led from one point to another. Paul is probably the epitome of the frog, hopping from one point to the next in whatever way he felt the Holy Spirit blew him. And anywhere he landed, God provided a way.

What has been your lily pad journey to date? What major hops do you see in retrospect of God leading you to where you are, and potentially indicating where you might go in the future?

I’m also reminded that movement, in the case of going to God and the Holy Spirit for guidance, is directly tied to obedience. Which can be hard when we’re unsure of where it might lead or the outcome due to fear or anxiety.

I refer to this as the “Go without the Know”. Moving forward without the answers, the full picture, but acting in obedience when the time is right is when we often encounter miracles or those human interactions that can be life changing for us, or for others. We can’t predict the ways God will move us in the world to interact with one another. It’s a chain of events.

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.” He goes on to say, “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”

(Acts 20:22)

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

(Hebrews 11:8)

Paul and Abraham, going without the knowing. That is at the heart of faith.

I’ve also been hearing an old hip-hop song (not PG, at all) by Ludacris called “Stand Up” with a hook that says: “When I move, you move. (just like that?)”. 

As I reflect back on certain actions or moves I feel God inspired me to do over the past many years, and especially past year, I see now examples of how he has provided a way in what seems indescribable circumstances.

When he’s said, move. I did. I’m starting to see some of the reasons why. 

I could not have known then, but God did. Perhaps much the way Ruth didn’t know when she felt God lead her to her hometown, not knowing what was on the other side to help save her and Naomi’s lives.

This is why when we’re looking at all those lily pads in front of us, making our jumps, we need to be tuned into the Holy Spirit, spending time in prayer, and giving room to let it breathe for a minute before jumping. 

And then, when we feel that prompt, the urge, that motivation to do that thing or call that person or step out, we move. We are obedient. We act.

And often doors open, breakthroughs happen, progress starts to be made. 

When you move, I move, God.

Just like that.