Go With the Flow, August 19, 2026

Todays podcast has been written and read by Bill Green

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;

don’t try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; God’s the one who will keep you on track.

Don’t assume that you know it all.

Run to God!

Proverbs 3:5-7 Message Version

When life feels easy and seems to present us with just what we need when we need it we are experiencing the energy called flow. We float along the path of least resistance. We are aware of all the blessings of life and we are joyful. We have all had these times and we wish that they might last forever. We have few concerns, our faith is solid and it feels like all creation is conspiring to help us along through life. It is as if we are floating down a lazy river on a sunny afternoon without a care in the world.

In my experience, life does not alway flow. Obstacles and losses naturally cross our paths. We struggle to know what to do. At these times it feels as if we have moved out of the slow waters and entered rapids. If you go on a raft trip where there are rapids the guide will give you many directions about how to maneuver the raft through these tricky waters. They will usually end their instruction by telling you what to do if you should end up in the water. You are told to point your feet down river, and with your face up go with the flow of the current until you come to a quiet place in the river where you can then swim to the bank and wait for help.

These instructions are helpful for us even if we never get near white water. When we have entered a stretch of white water in our life where we feel stuck or stymied, events and loss make us feel like every one and everything in life is against us and we know that we are no longer in the raft but have been tossed into the water it is a good idea to remember to go with the flow.

The writer of Proverbs tells us how. First of all we are reminded to put our trust in God. That is easier said than done so in Proverbs we are given further advice on how to trust and go with the flow.

We are told to not try and figure out everything on our own. This, for me, is probably one of the hardest things to hear. My comfort zone is to be in control, to think things through and come up with a plan. To admit I am not in control and I don’t have all the tools needed to get through this rough time is hard. It is becoming vulnerable as I place my trust in God.

This word of advice is followed with: listen for guidance. It has been my experience that when I move forward assuming I know what to do things rarely turn out well. But when I stop and listen and even more importantly ask for help I am always amazed at how many more possibilities are presented for what to do. Usually some of them are much better than anything I would have come up with on my own. Learning to trust the wisdom of others is part of what it means to trust God.

To be told to step back, ask for help and trust is hard but it is how we go with the flow of life. . It has been my experience that when I don’t let go and try figure it all out myself I am struggling against the current of life. We are reminded that there is a better way.

If you are dumped into the rapids of life, lie back and float a while. Try to not worry about what has happened or might happen. Live in the moment. Rely on others for help and wisdom. Relinquish control and just go along with what today brings you. Do this for a while and with God help and the care of others things will get better. Trusting in God you will be carried to calm waters.

Will you join with me in prayer

Creator God when we feel like we are drowning in the rapids of life remind us to relax, to put our trust in you, to go with the flow knowing you are supporting us. And when we have passed through these rough waters and have again come to a calm and pleasant place remind us to continue to thank you, trust you and listen to your guidance. AMEN.

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