What are you doing?

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

I feel like if you want something from somebody, you should start by being nice to them. And my children can attest to the fact that, in my eyes, pitching a fit does NOT get you what you want. 

How many times have you been in a store and heard a small child raising a ruckus? (I think they put candy at the checkout counter so that when a child sees it and insists on having it, the parent caves and buys it for them just so they won't cause a scene.) 

Or have you ever been so perturbed with someone that you felt it appropriate to punish them by not speaking to them?

Have you ever been in the middle of a yelling match or a door-slamming-fest?

Are we as parents too busy to hear our children? Do they feel like acting out is the only way to get our attention?

Now let me make it clear that I'm only bringing this up because I've been thinking about it lately. I'm not trying to call out any of my friends or family. 

And here's the actual question I'd like to ask: What do we do when we feel like God isn't paying attention to us -- when we want something from Him and He's not delivering? 

Do we pout?

Do we scream and shout?

Do we give Him the cold shoulder and stop talking to Him?

Do we make life miserable for everybody else because we're unhappy with God?

Do we pitch a fit?

Do we call Him names?

Do we insult those who claim to be His?

Do we try to manipulate Him?

Well, first of all we should understand that God DOES hear us. 

You will pray to Him and He will hear you....
Job 22:27

He's never too busy for us. And He loves us more than we can imagine.  (see John 3:16)

Secondly, like any good parent, God has our best interest in mind when He responds to our requests. Just like I'm not going to give a child three donuts right before supper, He's not going to indulge us when it's not for our good. 

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:11

Thirdly, God doesn't have to make sense to us. He is God. He is Love. He is Truth. He is perfect. We are -- none of those things. And we do need to trust Him. I mean wholly trust Him. 

So the next time you get frustrated with God, just remember that He knows better than you do. Avoid the temptation to act out. Trust Him with everything. 

Lord, we are so limited by our human nature and so influenced by our culture. Thank you for your grace. Help us to see what we are doing so that we can stop acting out and start trusting You.