F.T.O
By
Lexi Cole Ellis
“Our
soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is
glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love,
O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.”
Psalm
33:20-22 (ESV)
Our fourteen-month old puppy, Calvin,
can be a little stubborn. After a long time of exercising, we’ll get home, I’ll
feed him and he’ll clearly be tired. However, he’ll stubbornly want to stay
awake “until Daddy gets home” and paces around the room tiredly. I’ll pick him
up and hold him; he’ll resist a little as I force cuddle time. I’ll give him a
chew toy and he’ll chew and blink, as he drifts asleep in my arms. We’ve started
calling these “breaks” F.T.O. for “forced time-out.” Often, it’s been exactly
what he needed. Though it’s a little bit harder now that Calvin is fifty pounds,
I’ll still occasionally pick him up and hold him when it’s necessary. He’ll
think about jumping away for a minute and then cuddle up, resting his head in
my neck, eyes blinking until he falls asleep.
Sometimes, God puts us in a forced
time-out because it’s what we need. Not as a punishment, not to be mean, but as
to reveal to us a new way, because He knows best. F.T.O. might be an answer to
prayer that says “wait” or “no.” F.T.O. might be a plan or timing we never
could have dreamed up.
I think of a friend who recently
received a “no” from God to plans she had made. Through the tears and “why’s,”
she choose to trust that His forced time-out was exactly part of His plan and
blessing for her life. What a privilege it has been to look back and see
specific ways God was holding her during that time and how His F.T.O. was
exactly what she needed. Only our God truly knows what’s for our best…often
more so than we do. In the midst of our angst and pacing around, God sometimes
picks us up and holds us, showing us His way is best.
When Calvin sometimes needs the
forced time-out, I’m thankful for the reminder that we serve a God who has
perfect plans for us…and lovingly holds us.
GOING
DEEPER:
1. When has God used F.T.O. in your
life? Is there a situation you can look back on and say “Yup, God’s way was
better” or are there circumstances right now where God is calling you to trust
His plan?
2. What truths do you know about the
Lord that you can rely on today as you walk through change or unknown? (Want some ideas? Click on the further
reading verses.)
FURTHER READING:
Lexi
Ellis is married to Andrew, has a puppy named Calvin, and teaches sixth grade
at Silver Lake Intermediate School. She serves with Children’s Ministries and
is the Fresh Start Coordinator.
