To Read, To Think

Instructions

May 26, 2023May 25, 2023 by T Whitaker

Reading the Manual Helps

When you buy a bookcase from certain stores, you most likely will have to assembly some, if not all, of the item yourself. It can look pretty self explanatory, but as many have found out , when you don’t follow the instructions the finished product may be very disappointing. As I was getting sober, I was handed some instructions to follow. Those instructions were pretty simply and came with a manual. Of course, I like many many others before my tried to do it without following all the instructions. My results were not what I expected and the finished product wasn’t that great. Once I opened up the instruction manual and followed directions, my results were much better and my time working through sober stuff became much easier.

“Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path.”

Preamble BB pg 59

Even if you are not struggle with addictions, life can be challenging. We are human and we make mistakes. Luckily there is an instructions manual for everyday living. Again, trying to go through things alone and “your way” can make it harder to get desired results. Reading the instruction manual and following a path laid by others before you can and does make things easier. It can be the difference in facing tribulations unprepared and facing them with the tools needed.

“The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.”

Proverbs 16:1

I remember as a child being confused, or upset by something and going to the Bible for answers. I never go the answers in black and white. I wanted the Bible to tell be why so and so was bullying me. Like getting sober, the manual wasn’t written to give me the definitive answers. It was written to guide to to the answers. The bible itself is about Jesus and is not written in such a way that there are step by step instructions for every detail in life. What it does have is instructions on how to live your life in such a way that the confusing things, the trials of mankind, even the awful things that can and do happen, do not strike you down spiritually. Following the instructions laid out can get you through what you’re going through. As much as I wished as a kid that the Bile could tell me how to make Little Miss Bully to disappear it did not. What it gave me was the fortitude of heart and the strength of my soul knowing that this too shall pass.

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

1 Peter 5:10