Stephanie Shott

The lessons of life come in all shapes and sizes. My last one came in the form of an inch worm. Small, sort of cute in a wormy-kind-of-way, and nothing I would normally stop and notice. Well, maybe I'd stop for a second and smile, but then I'd keep walking with my to-do list weighing heavily on my mind.

But this was different. This time my trip from one building to the next would be completely halted by an inch long worm. My mind was whirling with thoughts that turned into prayers as I was desperate to see God move in a specific area of my wee little world. Anxious for answers and wondering if God even noticed, I was feeling much like Job who said, “I cry to you, O God, but you don’t answer.I stand before you, but you don’t even look."

Have you ever felt like that? I know we know God is faithful and that He will never leave us or forsake us, but we all face seasons of silence when we're desperate to hear God's voice. To see Him open doors and move mountains. This was one of those times.

My problem is I grew up in a Burger King world where we learned to want it now and to want it our way. So, while I tend to have a drive-thru mentality, I have something more like an inchworm reality. And on my way down the breezeway that day, the Lord got my attention and answered the cry of my heart.

I watched as wasps flew quickly from one place to the next and butterflies carelessly...almost effortlessly flitted on their course to no where. "Why can't my life be like that? Why is it that others seem to soar through life as if a red carpet of answered prayers was placed before their every step, yet mine come painfully slow?"

The answer came in the form of inchworm making its way along the paved trail of concrete leading to its long awaited destination. Quickly making my way back to the office I looked down and noticed this cute little creature moving in slinky-like motion. I was busy and wanted to hurry on my way when I sensed the Lord stopping me in my tracks to take note of the little guy on the ground. It's as if He spoke to my heart and said, "Stephanie, when's the last time you saw an inchworm? You want things to happen fast, but your path is to be more like an inchworm's. Little by little. But just like the inchworm...you'll get there."

It's funny how the Living God delights in speaking to our hearts when He seems to be silent in our circumstances. It's even funnier how He chooses to stop us in our tracks to teach us life lessons from something as simple as an inchworm.

Oh, how I love how He loves us! I'm so thankful for His still small voice, His unconditional love and the lessons He taught me that day from an inchworm.

"Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears." 1 Samuel 3:9