A Date with Harrison Ford

A Date with Harrison Ford

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight,” Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬, ‭NIV‬‬.

I was a teenager when Harrison Ford first placed his famous archeologist hat upon his head. Indiana Jones became my perfect date criterion. Needless to say, I had many Friday nights to myself. Nonetheless, Harrison Ford was on every birthday and Christmas list: “A date with Harrison Ford.”

But God knew better than my childhood fantasy, on who would be a better date for me. I needed to trust Him to do so.

But I was impatient, and I knew what I liked. What did God know about dating anyways? So, I went out with guys who asked, yet no one showed up with a fedora.

God knew exactly what I needed to enjoy 30 plus years of marriage. I had to trust God to bring my husband at His perfect timing, not my own. I needed to submit my dating life to Him. And He was faithful. Though my husband doesn’t wear or even own a fedora, he does put on an amazing smile.

Submitting to God isn’t easy. We want our own way, believing God doesn’t understand our culture; He’s way too old. Or we think we need to stretch out our own wings and fly away and figure life out on our own.

Well, there are many unhappy people in the world who flew too close to the sun, and their wings melted. It’s only after we are stripped of everything that we understand submitting to God first would have saved us from a lot of unnecessary heartache.

We can trust God is for us. It’s challenging at first giving up what we cherish more than anything, our rights, but that’s what God asks us to do. Stay under His authority, and He will make our paths straight. He can see further down the road than even the tallest of men. He knows what’s coming up and is able to prepare us to move, jump or run to get out of harm’s way.

What God doesn’t do is take away our will, our personalities or our desires. He gave them to us as gifts. He just helps us keep them on a path that will serve the Kingdom of God, as well as ourselves. Just because I submit to God doesn’t mean I give up who I am. I just get to use who I am in the best way possible.

I submitted my dating life to God, and He brought me a man that exceeded my expectations. I submitted my education, and I became a teacher. I submitted my housing and ended up in Southern California. At first it was a challenge, yet soon it became home.

With each surrender more doors opened allowing me to understand who God is and how much He loves me. I have learned that submitting to Him has privileges, not punishments.

He adds so much more to my life than any fedora.

How about you? Are you able to begin submitting a piece of yourself to God today? Maybe you’re ready to submit your all. God waits for His children to return home.

Father,

Thank You that You make returning home easy. You welcome all of us who have once insisted on our own way. In fact, You welcome us time and time again—for we have a tendency to do our own things, don’t we? At least I do.

Thank You for helping me learn to trust You as I submit my all to You piece by piece.

You are a good Father whose arms are always open. Thank You.

Help us to turn to You first, before trusting the voice in the mirror.

Amen.