You may have read about our experiences in what I fondly refer to as the “Mouse House” (see Of Mice & Men & Skunks & Such), the rodent-infested house that we used to live in. I thank God almost daily (sometimes many times a day) for delivering us out of what I refer to as our own, personal Egypt (not as in the modern-day country, but as in the Israelites’ period of slavery).

There is great freedom in not having to live with a feeling of dread every time I open a kitchen drawer… no longer fearing finding remnants that mice have left behind… no longer opening my front door and getting smacked in the face with a lingering skunk smell… no longer having my heart sink every time we discovered a new burrow entrance under our deck… no longer having to inspect every potato in the pantry to be sure it hasn’t been snacked on… no longer having chills go up my spine from hearing noises in the walls in the wee hours of the night (shudder)…

Freedom is good.

Once you’ve been enslaved by something, you appreciate every facet of life that freedom touches. And it is good to appreciate. It is good to give thanks. It is good to reflect for the purposes of praising God and moving forward.

But we must beware… We must be cautious not to allow one level of freedom to keep us from greater levels of freedom.

Our family now lives in a brand new townhouse in exactly the part of town we had wanted to live in. We love this place. However, I find myself sometimes having to remind myself that even though this home is worlds away from the horror we lived in before, this is not our final destination. My dream home is not a 1400-square-foot townhouse with no front yard and a small back patio. It would be easy for us to sigh a breath of relief, cling to this place with all our might, and say, “At least it’s not the Mouse House…”

We’ve had a problem this summer with tiny black ants in the kitchen. I’ve caught myself thinking at times, “Well, at least it’s not mice!” (Can I get an “Amen!”). But tiny black ants on our counters and food are still not acceptable. No, it is not the degree of problem (or yuck factor) that mice and rats were, but we cannot let the “at least” mindset cause us to lull into mediocrity and refuse to deal with a “minor” issue.

Beware: We must not allow our past obstacles or victories to create complacency in our hearts toward our present and future issues.

The Israelites had been enslaved for so long by Pharaoh and his slave drivers that the wilderness itself offered much freedom. No more beatings. No more oppression. No more unfair, inhumane rulers. But it was still the wilderness! While we often criticize the Israelites for how much they complained (Didn’t God deliver you from the Egyptians? Why are you complaining about manna?!) I think we overlook an equally as dangerous position of their hearts… Not only were they complaining non-stop, but they became content to the point of complacency. You don’t believe me? How could I accuse them of complacency when they were constantly complaining? Don’t be fooled. Just because someone complains constantly doesn’t mean they aren’t complacent. Answer this for me: Just how long did they hang out in the wilderness, knowing God had given them a promise of their dream home? That’s right: 40 years. Forty years. Four. Full. Decades.

The Israelites had a promise of their dream land, but many of them never even got to enter the Promised Land. They got hung up in the wilderness. Hey, but at least it was better than Egypt, right?

“At least” can and will keep you from God’s best for your life.

Have you seen a woman dating a total loser of a guy? Sure, he’s a dead-beat and does nothing to support or affirm her. But “at least he doesn’t beat me.” “At least he’s not like my ex-husband.” “At least he doesn’t cheat on me.” At least will keep her from God’s best. God has so much better for her than any of those men who devalue her.

Have you seen a once-ambitious man settle into a boring, unfulfilling job and lose all motivation for advancing his career? “At least it pays the bills.” “At least nobody bothers me on the job anymore.” “At least I don’t have the stress of competing for any promotions.” What about those dreams and career goals he used to have? At least will keep him in “good” and keep him from “great.”

Have you seen a teenager who wants nothing to do with God, but their parents don’t want to push them too much, because at least they’re not getting in trouble with the law? At least they’re not into any of the really hard drugs? At least they use protection? At least just isn’t good enough. That’s not God’s best. He loves them more than that.

God loves you more than that. He loves you too much to leave you in your at least.

I wonder if God’s heart grieves over our “at least?” I wonder if subconsciously, our hearts mourn over what is lost because of our “at least?” What dreams have we let go of, because it was just easier to settle into where we are now? What desires have we buried, because we just didn’t see how they would ever be fulfilled?

God didn’t call us to settle. He didn’t put you on this earth and give you desires so He could withhold them from you.

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 (NLT)

Dear Child of God, if you desire a godly spouse, then that desire was put in you by God. He gave you that desire, and He will give you (fulfill) that desire. Please don’t settle for “at least,” just because what is in front of you is better than what you dated in the past!

If you desire a successful career, God knows your heart, and if those desires are pure inside of you, then they are from Him. I challenge you not to become complacent in your pursuit of life. Look to your source – God alone – to stir up your ambition, your dreams, your desires… and let Him help you chart the course to achieve all that is in your heart to do to advance His Kingdom in whatever field of work He is leading you toward.

What is your at least? Maybe for you, it’s not ants compared to mice, but what are you are currently tolerating because at least it’s better than it used to be?

My challenge to myself – and to you – is to get on our faces before God and seek His heart. Seek His desire. Pray for His desires to replace our own. Pray that every level of freedom we have experienced will drive us to further levels of freedom, as opposed to lulling us into complacency.

Our challenge is to step out of where we are and pursue something greater.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)