He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon

a rock, making my steps secure. Psalm 40:2, ESV

Last fall, my students and I were overjoyed to receive permission for a classroom hamster. My teenage daughter cheerfully emptied my checking account to set up our new addition, Hawthorne, with a cage fit for a king. He has a tunnel, ramp, wheel, swing, sand bath, and soft bedding with dried wildflowers. Monday through Friday, I deliver him an assortment of fresh fruit and vegetables from the cafeteria. Daily, he has opportunities to explore the classroom and hallways in his hamster ball.

But all he wants is freedom.

Day in and day out, he rattles the bars of his home and sticks his nose hopefully out. When I open the cage to clean, he begins doing chin-ups to try to get by me. His one-track mind shouts, “Escape! Escape!”

Recently, his wish was granted. Over a long weekend, I accidentally left the cage open after hurriedly dropping in an extra ration on my way out the door. When I came in to work over 24 hours later, I realized my mistake.

I found my furry escapee camping under a heavy wooden bookshelf. He had gathered up the remains of our Valentine’s party—a shiny red Jolly Rancher, a couple of M&Ms, and some pretzels. He had torn up a Hawthorne-size bit of a carpet tile until he hit the concrete. Fur sticking up, cold, thirsty, and unable to burrow anywhere to rest, he reluctantly allowed me to return him to the amenities of his home.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, how similarly our sinful natures long for what we believe is freedom! Too often we trample obliviously on the blessings we’ve been given, rattling the bars of God’s law, sure that it is limiting our adventures. Yet when we pursue our own ways, we eventually find ourselves alone, shivering, wretched, and in need of rescue.

What amazing grace that when we yield our wills to His, our loving Father gently scoops us back into His hands and places us on solid ground.

Dear Lord, please show us the foolishness of pursuing things contrary to Your perfect law. Create in us hearts that are content in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Copyright Kristi Shanenko.

Kristi is a Christian Educators member and a high school English teacher who lives in North Dakota.