A Moments Hesitation

Wednesday night, we hit a deer on the way to church. Thankfully, we are all okay, but the van is not. It’s minor damage to what it could have been and it will be fixed, no big deal. As for the deer, I’m fairly certain she is alive too, but she was hurt, I know that for sure. As we were driving down the road we all saw the deer, and the deer saw us. We started slowing down so the deer could cross. She had more than enough time to cross the road without getting hit, but she hesitated. She didn’t immediately take off, which in the end, caused her to get hit. I think the first words out of my mouth after we knew that we were all okay were, “That stupid deer hesitated.” Everyone that I told heard the same thing come out of my mouth. “The deer hesitated.” I didn’t think it meant anything at the time, but as I was talking to my mom this morning, she brought it to my attention that there was a deeper meaning to that statement.

How often do we hesitate? How often does our hesitation get us in trouble, or get us hurt. Has God ever spoken to you and told you to go talk to someone, or to go and pray for someone, or to go witness to someone, but you hesitate for just one second or you question God and then that opportunity is lost? I sure have and I don't like the way it feels. 

I am reminded of the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: 

Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:13-18 NIV)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not hesitate when King Nebuchadnezzar told them that if they did not worship the idol that he made they would be thrown into the fiery furnace. They didn't even have to think about it. They knew without a shadow of a doubt that their God would deliver them from the fiery furnace. 

I no longer want to live a life of hesitation like the deer. I want to live a life without hesitation! I want to live a life of obedience to God without hesitation! This is my prayer for myself and for you!