Seesaw

Have you noticed how confused you feel when you battle to make up your mind about something, or just can’t decide what to do in a situation? When I was little, there were times we would go to a park where there were swings and other playground equipment. I remember never particularly liking the seesaw, because, unless your friend was more or less the same weight than you, you would struggle to get the benefit of the seesaw ride, as the heavier one would weigh the other down. When there was no balance, it took the fun out of the seesaw experience.

When I read James 1:6-8, my past experience with the seesaw came to mind:  “…For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;  he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” I don’t think God ever intends for us to be double-minded. Double-mindedness robs us of inner peace. It is like a seesaw where there is no balance, and the scripture in James 1 warns that it may cause us to be unstable in ALL our ways. What a disturbing thought!

So, the question would be, how do I overcome this inclination to second-guess myself and to be doubtful in my thinking? Isaiah 26:3-4 (AMPC) gives us good advice: “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]. “

It seems to me that I need to cultivate new habits when it comes to my thinking. The very inclination and character of my mind should be to direct every vacillating, wavering thought to God. The word used in the above scripture is “stayed”. This means my mind needs to remain fixed in one place (or more specifically, on one Person). When I learn to direct my thoughts to God, talk things over with Him, make Him my FIRST port of call when my mind is all over the place, then He will keep me in perfect and constant peace. Why? “…for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].” No uncertainty or second-guessing with Him! He is the ROCK – unquestionable, unmovable, unshakable! I don’t know about you, but my mind really needs that kind of stability and certainty – perfect and constant peace, fixed on a constant, trustworthy God.