My daily regimen of an early long distance running workout was somewhat interrupted by a mother duck and her two little ducklings. It was rather puzzling to me how all three of them were able to cross the busy street without getting hurt or, even, get hit by on-coming cars. Fortunately, Mama-Duck was smart enough to safely guide her ducklings to my side of the street and onto the sidewalk. It was rather unfortunate that she hopped onto the other side of a cement wall, leaving her two ducklings behind quacking for help. With overwhelming compassion, I was able to lure the ducklings to their Mama’s side and were reunited.

Three things came to my mind as I witnessed obedience and dependence, as well as guidance that these ducklings had upon their Mama-Duck. During my temper-tantrum and “youthful-Christian” days of trouble and hardship, I found myself putting up a wall in-between God and me; refusing to obey His instructions, which lead me to claim my independence and sought guidance from other individuals rather than from God. However, as I matured over the years, my dependence upon God has been non-ceasing, His guidance is the only thing that I seek daily and obedience to God is my highest priority.

King David was a man of obedience and his dependence upon God was his greatest strength when he was fighting God’s armies and hiding from King Saul as told in 1 Samuel 24. In Daniel 6, Daniel knew that God was the more powerful over King Darius, and told him that, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime.” Daniel 6:21-22 (NASB) These are only two stories out of myriad of stories in the Bible about brave, courageous, and faithful servants of God who were obedient, dependent upon God, and sought God’s guidance at all times.

The Lord God is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on my high places. Habakkuk 3:19