Of God and Grocery Carts
When the Lord first nudged me to wheel the grocery cart into the stall specified for them, I did it without question. But then there was a next time, and a next time. Every time I went to the grocery store, I felt the Holy Spirit gently reminding me to put the cart back.
I found it a little irritating. I have to confess that I very rarely put the cart back before this, and my conscience did not suffer for it. I wasn’t inconsiderate. I put the carts where they could not damage any cars. I often anchored them to the middle island nearest me so they would not prevent anyone from parking in a spot. But the whole issue of grocery carts and their return was one that never impinged on my consciousness.
So I was surprised when suddenly the God of heaven and earth was making it a deal.
Fortunately God knows me and it gradually became clear to me that there was something on His mind larger than grocery carts. For the life of me, I could not figure out what it was. One of my prayers that I often pray is for God to explain things slowly and clearly to me. I am always asking Him to clarify because I have learned that leaning on my own understanding is a great way to court trouble.
I experimented once or twice with not returning the carts. It felt bad to me. I felt like a two-year old saying no to her parent for no reason other than the need to say no. So I kept putting them back. Finally, I confided this bizarre religious experience to a friend. Wiser than me, she nodded her head and told me God was teaching me obedience. He does this, she went on to add, in order to make sure you know His voice, so that when He tells you to do bigger, scarier things, you will be in the habit of obedience.
It was a relief to me at first to know that God wasn’t spending His time concerned about grocery carts. But as I gradually got into the habit of putting them away, I found that He was asking me to do bigger, far more uncomfortable things. Part of the real importance of this exercise in obeying in small things was learning to trust that even small matters of obedience have a purpose.
If I could be trusted to come through on the still small voice urging me to do something that seemed unimportant, then I could be trusted to follow that same voice urging me out of my comfort zone.
Even writing this was an act of obedience. I felt that nudge and still my first response was, “Really? The whole grocery cart deal?” But now I understand God has a different agenda than I do. Like the karate kid learning how to wax a car, God trains us from the ground up until following Him becomes automatic. And I’m pretty sure that there will be a miniature grocery cart on my crown in heaven.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
8 Comments
Leslie Peebles
Today I stopped and talked to someone who I’ve seen a few times and didn’t take time to stop. I know him from years ago but now he is very disabled and sad. I felt the voice before and didn’t stop. It’s good that I took tine. He needs someone to help him mat a bunch of his art and I’m going to help him now. A friend is putting together a show for disabled artists. We are going to get him into it.
Alice
That is awesome! I had a friend who felt the Lord tell her to stop drinking. She wasn’t a big drinker or anything, but she got rid of all the alcohol in her house. She soon after adopted a 12 year old girl from Russia whose mother had been an alcoholic. If she had had any liquor in the house, she would have been unable to earn this girl’s trust. It seemed small at the time, but in all truth, it was crucial.
Peggy
Oh how I love His nudges! They’ve kept me out of trouble & guided me to His will.
Jennifer DeFrates/Heaven Not Harvard
I know that still small voice! He whispers to me too. And if we are faithful in the little things, He will know that we will be faithful in the bigger things. Keep putting away the carts!
Terri
reminds me of 1 Kings 19:11-13
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
Andrea
God wants us to obey Him in ALL things – big and small…
Caroline
beautiful. I love that he is ALL the details.
K Hill
Thank you for sharing this. I really enjoyed it. The message was an encouragement to me, and I felt you through your writing. God bless you, His beloved one.
P.S.: I also have felt the nudge to put back grocery carts, even when they weren’t my own. But I never saw them as God teaching me obedience to Him and recognition of His voice. So thanks to you and your friend for the wisdom and insight.
With much love, Kyndall.