by

Pastor B.J. Knefley

The other night, I went into the bedroom of the house I was staying in and found my dog on the bed holding something between her front paws. Upon closer inspection —and to my horror —I realized she had found a glue mouse trap, which was stuck to her feet and the bed. Luckily, it wasn’t stuck to her face too. As I tried to free her, I also got caught up in the sticky mess. Needless to say, I wasn’t happy, but it made me think.

Life presents many traps that can trap us in a mountain of trouble and heartache we never anticipated. Like a glue trap, they can cling to every part of our lives and severely impact everyone we know, including family and friends. That seemingly small mistake, that extra drink, or a simple decision can alter the course of our life forever. Each one can have lasting, profound effects.

In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is heard mumbling, “Out, damn spot, out,” but the problem is she has spilled blood and it won’t come out. Like glue, it sticks to her hands, tormenting and accusing. No amount of washing will change it; the memory and consequences follow her for a lifetime. And so, it goes. A little poor choice here, a little there, and soon we’re caught up in something that we can’t escape from.

I want to say that I’ve lived a perfect life, but I haven’t. I have made many choices that I regret today. I can’t go back and change them, and some, like the glue, are still stuck to me, and I can’t get rid of them. But I have learned that they can be redeemed if you let them. When I read the Scriptures, I find many of God’s people who did terrible things, yet God still used them. Why? Simply because they weren’t defined by what they did, but rather by who God is. Saint Paul said that “all things work together for those who God calls and according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Sometimes, the simple solution to dealing with the glue that’s got you stuck is to lean into God. He has a way of getting us unstuck. Think about it.