Meet Pollyanna, our fun-loving, energetic little pup.

She looks so innocent, doesn’t she? She has those beautiful brown eyes and that fluffy teddy bear face. But behind this angelic appearance beats the heart of a tiny rebel.

We are deep in the trenches of training, and Polly has mastered the art of selective hearing. When I say ‘Polly, come here,’ she looks at me with those sweet, soulful eyes, tilts her head, and trots away from me with the determination of a defiant diva.  

They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. ~Psalm 14:3

It may not be a verse found embroidered on a pillow, but it’s the hard truth. A wake-up call. Polly’s not the only one who resists commands. I, too, wander.  

I am a sheep that will choose the familiar route over God’s faithful one because I know the road He wants me on will be one of refinement, and refinement is rarely pleasant. And so, like Polly, I trot off in my own direction when my Shepherd calls.

There is none who does good, not even one.

It is only in recognizing the inability to do what is right on my own that I can fully grasp the incredible grace God extends as He trains me.

When I wander, He follows.  When I make a mess, He cleans me up. And when I ignore His calls, He calls me back again and again with boundless patience. He doesn’t throw His hands up in frustration and leave me to myself. He stoops low, cleans me up, and carries me back to try again.

And so I’ll continue to train Polly, but this time I’ll choose to do it with more patience and grace because that’s what my Father does for me. He works on my stubborn, rebellious heart through His immeasurable love.

When you find yourself getting impatient, dear reader, consider the grace God gives you in your own disobedience. Let His mercy shape you in the way you respond in the frustrations of the day. These inconveniences may just be His training ground for you to practice the kind of grace that looks more like His.

Songs for seasons such as this: