On the Road Again - DAY 52

Day 52: Filling in the Blanks

Read: Luke 17:22-25

Ever play “Mad Libs?” You fill in lots of blanks with nouns, adjectives, and verbs. The resulting story (if you can call it that) is often absurd - and fun!

Mad Libs spirituality is not so much fun. It can be disastrous. But it’s tempting to fill in the blanks for God when we don’t understand what God’s doing. Jesus warns his disciples that they will long for “the days of the Son of Man” but shouldn’t be deceived by false hopes or signs. Just like the Pharisees, we can become so eager for what we think God should do that we start filling in the blanks when things don’t go as we expect.

When we don’t see God moving in the way we imagined, we might start making up our own interpretations or explanations. This can lead us away from the truth and into dangerous territory. Jesus calls us to trust in God’s timing and ways, even when they don’t match our expectations.

REFLECT: Have you ever tried to fill in the blanks when you didn’t understand what God was doing? Can you think of examples you’ve seen in your life or others?

PRAY: Father, forgive me for the times I’ve tried to make sense of things on my own instead of trusting You. Help me to rely on Your wisdom and timing, even when I don’t understand. Amen.