Do You Read the Instructions?

A few days ago I was preparing to laminate some pictures for my classroom on my new laminating machine. I waited for it to warm up, put the first picture in the laminating sheet and tried to feed it through the machine. It refused to go through. I tried again several times but to no avail. By this time I was both frustrated and panicked. I had purchased the laminating machine in Florida so it wasn’t as if I could jump in my car and return it to the store if it was defective.


As I sat there frustrated and just a tad bit upset, I heard that still, small voice saying, “read the instructions.” So I pulled out the instructions (like I should have done in the first place.) As I looked at the instructions I realized that I was trying to feed the paper through the wrong end. Yep, I went through at least 15 minutes of frustration because I was too impatient to take two minutes and read the instructions.

“If you want to know the purpose of a thing, you ask the manufacturer. Dr. Myles Munroe

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

So many times in life we experience frustrations because we don’t want to take the time to see what the instruction manual says. Every problem we will ever encounter God has addressed in the instruction manual he left us called the Bible. Unfortunately, many times we just skim the surface and don’t really internalize his word. However, the only way we will really have a meaningful relationship with God and understand what His purpose is for our lives is if we take time out of our busy schedules to study his word.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

My prayer today is that I would not try to navigate life on my own strength but that I would always consult the instruction manual that the creator has left in place for me. It makes life so much easier.

Previously published at Laced With Grace August 23, 2007.