Whenever we run into ants in our yard or house, we immediately proceed to eliminate them, without a second thought or feeling about their welfare—justified.

Now consider the story of a colony of ants making a path across a busy wagon trail.

Every time a wagon passed, dozens of ants were wiped out, and they had to repair their path across the new track.

Imagine a person stopping to watch, and feeling sorry for the ants’ situation.

He wanted to explain to the ants that they needed a better plan, for survival.

He realized the only way to communicate with the ants and help them, was to become an ant.

There were two major risks in becoming an ant.

One, they might not listen to his plan.

Two, as an ant his very life would be in danger from the wagons.

It turns out, both happened, ending in disaster.

The ants did not want to listen, and they threw him under the next wagon.

Justice—you don’t care

Sympathy—you care

Compassion—you act

Sacrifice—you suffer

God Cared

God Acted

God Suffered

God Died

All for you, and me.

“God so loved . . .”

Jesus had compassion on those so hungry for His words that they followed Him three days without food.

Then He fed them food also.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled.”

I wonder how the song on the radio came to be written:

“Maybe this is how it starts—I find You . . .

You find me when . . . I fall apart.”

I don’t hear anyone confirming the thought—besides myself.

God, I don’t know what to do!

God, why?

If you’re at the end of your rope, and yell out, “God,” that may be a good thing.

That may be the best place to start.

If you’re in trouble, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble, . . . ”

If you don’t know what to do, “. . . lean not on your own understanding; . . . ”

Now the rest of the story—the rest of these two promises from His Book.

Step one:  “Call upon Me in the day of trouble, . . . ”  Just do it—don’t have to sound fancy or look pretty or speculate the outcome.

Step two:   “. . . , I will deliver you, . . . ”  That’s God’s job—keep your hands off and your thoughts, and let Him do it without your help.

Step three:  “. . . , and you will glorify Me.”  That is your job—don’t ever forget to thank Him, even when your trouble seems to work out through natural means.

So, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you, and you will glorify Me.”

Step one:  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, . . .”  It says all.

Step two:  “. . . , and lean not on your own understanding; . . .”  You can skip trying to figure it all out, and save a lot of wear and tear (and tears).

Step three:  “. . . in all your ways acknowledge Him, . . .”  In every single detail of your life, just think about God and include Him.

Step four:  “. . . and He will direct your path.”  And that is called walking with the Lord, in the light of His Word—the way to go!

So, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.”

And, by the way, imagine God saying, “I love it when you get in trouble, because then we get to spend more time together.”  (Not exactly in His Book, but the reality is there.)