Give Way

Every now and then a phrase will strike me. Most recently it's "give way."

What an interesting expression. It conjures up this image of letting something pass. Letting the thing go its way. We ultimately have to give in, to move.

It brings to mind the things we resist—the things we don't want to let through. On the flip side, there are other things we let sweep us away.

We are the ones who decide. We either fight or we step aside.

Often we think of our journey as we are the ones moving. We encounter obstacles.

But what if sometimes we are the obstacle? What if those forces pushing against us aren't trying to block our path—we're blocking theirs?

It's not us encountering the obstacle. We are the obstacle.

Sometimes we're right to stand firm—against temptation, against compromise, against what would pull us away from God. But other times, we resist the very things we should welcome. We dig in our heels against God's grace when we should let it sweep over us.

So the question becomes: what forces should we give way to? And which ones should we stand firm against?

Because the choice to give way—or not—is always ours.