Going Back

Anyone make a New Year's resolution? Anyone already broken it? I smile as I type that question because it happens to me every year. Some resolutions are just hard to keep! Whether its because of habit or the fear and discomfort of change, starting something new can be hard. Staying at it can be even harder.

In 1 Kings 11, God's Word talks about enemies that God raised up against Solomon. One of them was a man named Hadad. Hadad had everything he could need in Egypt. He had Pharoh's favor and every comfort. Yet, we see in 1 Kings 11:21:

"Then Hadad said to Pharoh, "Let me go, that I may return to my own country."
"What have you lacked here the you want to go back to your own country?" Pharoh asked.
"Nothing," Hadad replied, "but do let me go!""

Now, I know that Hadad was being used by God to punish Solomon so this is a bit of a stretch. But, go with me here for a minute. Sometimes God directs us to a place, a resolution, a breaking of a bad habit or has taught us a new lesson. And we lack nothing in the new place God has brought us. But like Hadad, we ask God to go back to where we were. We liked it there. It was comfortable. It was familiar. And God asks what we lack with Him that would make us desire to go back. In honesty we say "Nothing! I just want to go!"

Oh friends. Let's be so careful. If we keep asking, God may answer us with permission, but to our own folly. More often than not, when God has grown me to a new place, I hear Him very clearly say, "You are not to go back that way again," (Deuteronomy 17:16) Because if I do, like Hadad, my going back will be bent on destruction.

Whatever God has told you clearly to do or not do, to give up or change, do it. And keep on doing it. Let's keep doing it together.