Title: Beyond the Guardrails: Embracing God’s Unexpected Choices
By Thad DeBuhr – Your Jesus Journey
You know, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how often we put God in a box. We look at people, maybe even ourselves, and think, “There’s no way God could use them.” Or “There’s no way God could use me.” But the Bible, if you really look at it, is full of stories that challenge those assumptions. God’s ways are not our ways. He sees potential where we see limitations. And He uses the broken, the flawed, the unexpected, to accomplish His purposes.
Take Moses, for example. Here’s a guy who stutters, a shepherd with a past, a murderer. And yet, God chose him to lead the entire nation of Israel out of slavery. I mean, think about it. God didn’t pick the most eloquent speaker, or the most powerful leader. He chose someone who felt completely inadequate. And what does that tell us? It tells us that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. He uses people who are not perfect.
Then there’s David. A young shepherd boy, the youngest of his brothers, overlooked and underestimated. But God saw his heart. God didn’t choose the strongest, or the most experienced. He chose a humble shepherd to be the king of Israel. This shows us that God looks at the heart, not outward appearances. Our pre-conceived notions of who is qualified are often wrong.
And who could forget Paul? A persecutor of Christians, a man who actively sought to destroy the church. And yet, God transformed him into the greatest apostle. From a destroyer to a builder. God’s ability to change a person is limitless. This is a powerful reminder that no one is beyond God’s reach. No matter our past, God can redeem and repurpose our lives.
And Mary Magdalene, a woman who had demons cast out of her. In a time where women were not seen as reliable witnesses, she was the first witness of the resurrection. Those who have been forgiven much, love much. God uses the people that the world discards. God uses those who have been seen as broken and uses their testimony to change the world.
Recently, I was traveling through Shreveport, Louisiana, and I had this experience that really stuck with me. We were driving our truck and RV on some of the roughest roads I’ve ever seen. And then we hit a construction zone. The road narrowed to a single lane, and the guardrails and cement dividers were placed in a way that made it incredibly difficult, even dangerous, to navigate. It was a gauntlet. There was no turning back. We were locked in. And it was frustrating, because it was clear that with just a little adjustment, those guardrails could have been moved, making the drive so much easier. But they were fixed, immovable.
It made me think about how often we, as Christians, put up our own guardrails in our walk with God. We might enjoy the idea of salvation, the fellowship, the time in church. But when it comes to truly serving God, to stepping out of our comfort zones, we set up these rigid boundaries. “I’ll follow God, but only within these limits.” “I’ll go to church, but I won’t teach Sunday school.” “I’ll pray, but I won’t share my faith.” Like those guardrails in Shreveport, these boundaries are often self-imposed and unnecessary. They restrict God’s movement in our lives.
So, what are your guardrails? What limits have you placed on God’s work in your life? Are you willing to let God move those guardrails, to widen your path, to take you on a journey you never imagined? God wants to do more in and through us than we can possibly conceive. He wants to take us beyond the narrow lanes of our comfort zones.
Let’s pray for God to reveal our guardrails. Ask Him to give us the courage to remove them. Be open to unexpected opportunities to serve and to grow. Remember, God’s ways are higher than our ways. He sees the bigger picture.
Don’t let your self-imposed boundaries limit God’s incredible plan for your life. Trust Him and let Him lead you on a journey beyond your wildest dreams. I want to encourage you to reflect, what guardrails are you sensing God wants you to remove? Let’s journey together towards a life without limits. God is waiting to take you beyond the gauntlet, let Him widen your path.
A Call to Action:
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