Humility and Surrender: Learning from the Stubborn Mule

There is a farmyard full of animals, each with its own unique characteristics and behaviors. God, as the caretaker of this farm, provides for the animals and guides them to safety in the barn. However, there is one particular animal on this farm that gives God a hard time - the mule. This creature is known for its stubbornness and lack of understanding.

Imagine God calling out to his animals by name, instructing them to come into the barn for protection and nourishment. All the animals respond except for the mule. It stands there, oblivious to God's call, stubbornly refusing to move. The mule lacks understanding, and it frustrates God to no end.

So what does God do? He doesn't give up on the mule. Instead, he takes matters into his own hands. He gets in his pick-up truck, puts a bit and bridle in the mule's mouth, and drags it forcefully into the barn. This may not be the ideal way for God to bring the mule to safety, but it is the only way to get through to the stubborn beast.

But here's the problem - if the mule continues to ignore God's call and resists his guidance, it will eventually be too late. When the storms come, when the hail falls and the lightning strikes, the mule will be left outside, unprotected and vulnerable.

God doesn't want us to be like the mule. He desires for us to respond to his call, to come to him willingly and eagerly. He wants us to understand his guidance and willingly follow it. That is why the psalmist admonishes us, saying, "Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle."

So how do we avoid being like the mule? The answer lies in humility and surrender. We must come to God in prayer, confessing our sins and acknowledging our need for his guidance. We must approach him with a child-like faith, accepting his direction and seeking his protection and provision.

In the Bible, there are countless examples of individuals who humbled themselves before God and found refuge in his care. One such example is King David. In Psalm 32, David speaks of the blessedness of forgiveness and the joy of being reconciled with God. He writes, "Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered" (Psalm 32:1).

David acknowledges his own sinfulness and the consequences of trying to hide from God. He writes, "For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long" (Psalm 32:3). But then he describes the moment of confession and surrender, saying, "I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' and you forgave the iniquity of my sin" (Psalm 32:5).

David understood the importance of coming to God with a repentant heart, acknowledging his need for forgiveness and guidance. And in doing so, he found the joy of being in God's presence, protected and provided for.

We can learn from David's example. We must humble ourselves before God, confess our sins, and accept his forgiveness and direction. We must trust that he knows what is best for us and willingly follow his lead. In doing so, we will find ourselves in the safety and provision of his loving care.

So let us not be like the mule, stubborn and without understanding. Instead, let us be like the humble farmyard chicks, eagerly seeking the guidance and protection of our Heavenly Father. Let us come to him in prayer, confessing our sins and surrendering our will to his. And in doing so, we will experience the joy and peace that comes from being in his presence.

In conclusion, the mule serves as a reminder to us of the importance of humility and surrender in our relationship with God. We must not resist his guidance or ignore his call. Instead, let us come to him with open hearts, ready to receive his forgiveness, protection, and provision. May we be like the farmyard chicks, eagerly following our Heavenly Father into the safety of his care.