Splinters, something so small that can cause a whole lot of trouble. My daughter, Lydia, got one in her toe the other day and being the self-controlled six-year-old that she is, proceeded to wail, scream, sob, and whine from the playground to my side.

At first thought, one might think her entire foot was going to fall off or that the splinter was more the size of a 2 x 4, but….no! Upon inspection, I discovered the 1/2 cm speck of wood chip stuck in her big toe and waiting for maternal surgery (which I actually enjoy…he, he, he)

Lydia wanted to try to get the splinter out herself, so she took my little set of tweezers and went to work, wailing and moaning along the way. After a few moments of vain attempts, she handed the tweezers back to me. “I can’t do it!”

“Are you ready for me to try?” I asked.

“Is it going to hurt?”

“Yes, it is, but I’ll try to be as careful as I can.”

She sniffled, nodded, bit down on her bottom lip, and started wailing before the tweezers even touched her toe. I have no idea where she gets such a melodramatic personality from…

So, after the trauma, she put both her arms around me and gave me a hug. “Thank you, Mama. I’m tougher now.” Sure she is!!

God, I can do it. I don’t want to give it to You! You might make me hurt….you might lead me through pain…..You might guide my paths through the valley of death, or the road of bankruptcy or up the hill of rejection…..God, can I trust you?

Do you ever secretly wonder these things? For example, “Lord, if I really give you my whole heart and trust you to do whatever you will to make me more like you…..what will you do? What will you make me go through?” At the heart of these questions, is doubt. We doubt that God loves us and has the best in mind for us.

Somehow, we forget the amazing truth that God sent his son Jesus down to die for our unworthy, hateful, embittered souls…..why? Because of love….REAL love.

Sometimes we forget God’s promise of working ALL things together for our good and His glory because we doubt His control and His love.

Lord, help us to love you with our whole hearts so that the fears and doubts which so easily distance us from you, will be wiped away in the shadow of your great love. Help us to offer our lives up to you for service, in whatever way You see fit and may we look out what comes into our lives as opportunities to trust You. Help us to believe you truly love us and You are in control. Amen