Shave that unibrow! (or, unbelievable commands from God)

I love this comic from Toothpaste for Dinner:
Every time I read it, I think about listening and obeying God’s word. Many times when I’m trying to make a decision, I know that God is screaming something in my face, wanting me to listen to his will. But then, at the last second, I’ll hesitate and worry that, if I listen to the command God has handed down to me, I’ll end up looking like the guy on the right with ridiculous eyebrows. And there is NO WAY that I want eyebrows like that guy. What would happen if I listened to God and then ended up doing something that looked ridiculous to me and to others around me?

During times like these, I am often reminded of Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own  understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Even if something sounds ridiculous, if it’s from God, it’s good. Possibly more importantly, God will guide you on the journey that he handed down. He’s not going to command you to do something and then leave you high and dry to defend yourself…he wants you to run to him and leave the understanding bit to him.

For a Christmas-themed example, read Luke 1:26-38, in which God sends the angel Gabriel to tell Mary she will bear the child of God. I always imagine Mary’s reaction right before verse 34 as being, “Uhhh…what?” But, even though that proposition sounds ridiculous to Mary, and even to us if we take it out of the context of what comes next, it is from an angel, a trusted messenger of God, so it must be good. In my own life, I’ve seen God use the most unbelievable situations for a glory to him that I would have never been able to imagine. I know that a better outcome has come from the situations when I’ve leaned firmly on God’s grace, rather than try to do things by myself.

Dear God, please lead us in our questioning of your will. Forgive use for the times where we go our own way, down a path that is not yours. Remind us that commands from you are good, and that you want to lead us in those commands. Amen.