the unexpected good
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Videos
  • Contact
a blog for Christian women about

discovering joy

in the challenges of singleness,
marriage, motherhood, chronic illness,
​and every day faith

Hiding in the Long Grass

8/26/2014

1 Comment

 
Picture
Riddle: How is a frog’s instinct to hide in the tall grass similar to the natural instincts of humans?

When I mow the grass in my yard, it is not uncommon for a frog to suddenly startle from the grass right in front of my lawnmower, and to leap frantically away. The instinct to run from the deadly machine is a good one.

But the direction of that flight is often wrong. The frog’s natural instinct is to hide from its predators in the long grass, where its shiny green sides make it nearly invisible. The problem? The purpose of the lawnmower is to cut the long grass.

The Wise Frog
Out of the dozens of frogs who have fled my lawnmower, I recall only one who abandoned his instinct and leapt into the shorter grass. He sat, exposed, easily visible amongst the clippings of shorn grass.

I actually burst into a flurry of cheers for that one sensible frog. “Yay, froggie! You amphibious genius, you!”

For every frog like him, there have been many more for which I have had to stop the lawnmower, lift the terrified frog, and remove him to safety. There have been others whom I have not seen until too late.

Humans are like frogs. 
You see, just as frogs seek refuge in the long grass, so we humans seek to hide our true selves in a variety of ways. We convince ourselves that we are “good people” (What is good? By whose standard?), that we can do it on our own, that we are in control of our lives, that we don’t need help. When the lawnmower of God’s judgment passes by, we hide in the tall grass, little knowing that the judgment will inevitably roar right over the ground on which we stand. We hide ourselves from God, and we reap the consequences.

But if we were like that one wise frog, we would abandon everything we think we need in order to survive.

“Good person”? Who is ever truly good enough?

In control? Control is an illusion.

Don’t need help? Do we really outgrow our dependence on others?

If we were honest, we would see that we are weak, sinful, inadequate, incapable. We would see that all our attempts to save ourselves from our sin, our troubles, our problems, are all worthless. We would abandon all hope and throw ourselves into the very thing that seems most self-destructive.

Exposed, our sins and inadequacies opened before our eyes.

Visible, to the Being who is so far above us, who holds the power of life and death.

Saved.
Picture
Matthew 16:25
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Like this post? Subscribe to the email list!

* indicates required
1 Comment
speedypaper link
7/1/2019 03:52:28 am

Too bad for me because I haven't read this book yet. Hiding in the Long Grass seems to be a book that is full of wisdom, something that a person might need especially on life situations when we are on the lowest. Stress is there but it is not striking me that hard, that's why I am thankful. But I want to be prepared if ever the stress will strike me the hardest way. At least, I would know the emotion to have because I am utmost prepared!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

      Never miss a post.

    Subscribe to Email List
    Picture

    Meet Yaasha

    None of my life has gone the way it was "supposed to go," but I don't love my life any less because of the hardships and new directions. I see so much unexpected good in it, and I want others to see the good in theirs.

    Learn more about me here.


    Picture

    Archives

    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    May 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013


    Categories

    All
    Adoption
    Bible Verse
    Book Excerpt
    Book Excerpts
    Christian Community
    Chronic Illness
    Courtship
    Dating
    Depression
    Discovering Joy
    Evangelism
    Excellent Relationships
    Faith
    Family Relationships
    Fearless
    Forgiveness
    God And Christianity
    Godly Womanhood
    How We See Ourselves
    Identity
    Incredible Journey
    Joy
    Life Direction
    Marriage
    Ministry
    Miscarriage
    Motherhood
    Our Story
    Overcoming Sin
    Persecution
    Poetry
    Prayer
    Pro-life
    Ready For Him Today
    Relationship With God
    Service To Others
    Singleness
    Spiritual Growth
    Suffering
    Womanhood

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Videos
  • Contact