Lessons Learned from Rope and a Fence

Key Verse: “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.” Matthew 21:2 (ESV)

I sat with tears in my eyes at trying to reason how did I get here again? I thought I had finally won the dreaded battle with comparison.  Unfortunately, I fell for it again.  Her calling looks carefree and glamorous while my calling requires lots of hard work. Her assignment looks fun and exciting. Mine is painful and anything but fun. It looks like she got the high heels while I got the muddy work boots yet again. 

 We all have those times we question what we get in life?  Even God’s word teaches me that I am not the only one. Moses struggled with his speaking assignment. Sarah laughed at the sight of hers. Jonah tried to outrun his. 

I imagine if I could have asked even the donkey minutes before Jesus sent for him, he would have had a few things to say about his assignment.  Before the waving palm branches and sounds of Hosanna, the donkey was tied up waiting. Matthew 21:2-7 describes the donkey assignment like this: “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 

Matthew then goes further to explain the importance of the assignment by saying, “This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

Say to the daughter of Zion,

‘Behold, your king is coming to you,

  humble, and mounted on a donkey,

  on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and He sat on him. But before carrying the King of Kings through town, it required being unpleasantly all tied up with some ropes that were less than glamorous. Hours before he was to step into his calling for the fullness of prophecy, the donkey probably would have told us that his life was without a purpose at all. What good could come from a life of being left all tied up? Life was unfair. After all, other donkeys spent their time grazing pastureland or being used to haul loads of cargo from town. He probably had those moments he longed to be loose and carefree too. 

There have been many times in my life when I have questioned the plans God had for me. Times when my life seemed unfair. Times when I have struggled to understand why God allows me to be bound to unpleasant circumstances.  Times when I looked at the IG feed of her life and thought it looked anything but like mine. Times when honestly I so questioned the goodness of God in the assignments He had given me. 

 I am learning that God puts us all in seasons of confinement.  Times when our hopes and dreams seem tied to the ground. Unexpected situations that paralyze us to be able to move forward. Times where we are temporarily bound to circumstances that keep us from the life we want for ourselves. All because God has something more in mind for us than just what our eyes can see or what we can temporarily feel.  

Confinement seasons are preparation seasons. Seasons purposefully planned to get us ready for what is coming later down the road. God has something better for us than just the everyday ordinary. When the life He has planned for us becomes more than just about the carefree stuff, but more about the deep spiritual joy-filled things God has in mind for us to bring Him glory. Times when God refines our character to go along with our callings. 

Perhaps the reason the donkey had been tied was not for the sole purpose that the donkey could be found by John that night that Jesus sent for him. Perhaps the ropes were there instead for the donkey to be trained and prepared for what was coming. Those ropes were in place to prepare him for the use. The master was teaching him patience and obedience. Training necessary that would keep the rider and donkey safe while being mounted and ridden.  Training to teach him to be still instead of running away. Training that would discipline him not to kick and throw a fit when the master had a job for him to do.  And also helping Him learn to be content within his pasture instead of always wanting to graze in “hers”. 

Donkeys are a lot like I have been in my life. Stubborn and slow to accept assignments that seem troublesome and uncomfortable.  They want to run away before situations become unpleasant. They would rather avoid the unpleasant ropes that teach obedience and to stand still, waiting to be mounted. Donkeys are much more interested in frolicking in the meadows than learning patience and stamina.  Discipline is taught by temporarily being bound to ropes. Necessary to teach them to be burden bearers or how to provide transportation for wives and small children. 

Can I encourage you that things may not always be as they appear to be? There are times in our lives it will seem we are not being used by God at all.  God places us in situations where we stand still and find it impossible to move or break free.  No matter how hard we pray our circumstances are not going to change. Those unpleasant places are often the places where God is preparing us for our most memorable assignments of all. God is training us to carry the weight of the gospel. He is instructing us to be burden bearers for others. Teaching us stamina and patience for the laborious work he has called us to do. The hard circumstance that God uses as spiritual ropes to prepare us for Kingdom work. 

The night Jesus sent for the donkey, the training was over. It was time to discover his purpose.  It was time for him to step into his calling and God assignment. 

Yes, if the donkey could have talked,  I am sure he would have told you how honored he was for such a glorious purpose. I am sure he forgot all about those ropes of confinement when he realized what his assignment was. He forgot all about what the other donkeys were doing as he carried Jesus into town that day. I am sure he felt honored to be selected to carry on his back the greatest burden-bearer of all. 

Lord, I humbly pray to give me strength in my waits. Prepare me for the kingdom work you have planned for me. Teach me not to get caught in the comparison trap again. And help me trust you and be ready for my assignment when it comes. Thank you for the lessons I am learning from the fence and the ropes.  In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

See you in the field and at the fence,

Susan