This morning I was teaching my five year old son something. He said, “Mommy, I don’t want to do that. I want you to do it for me.” “Sammy, there are certain things you need to learn to do yourself. Next year when you go to school I won’t always be there.” “But mom, I want you to do it because you are the one who takes care of me.”
At that moment I was hit with the reality of how my relationship with God must seem to Him at times. He wants to teach me, give me wisdom, and provide strength for me to do what I need to do. And, instead, I expect Him to wave the magic wand because after all, isn’t He supposed to take care of me?
That is not the way it works. Yes, He wants to equip us with exactly what we need to perform the task at hand and fight the battle, but we need to make the choice to follow through.
This isn’t always an easy lesson for me. I am a child of God, but I must tell you, there is a strong emphasis on the word child. Just like my little son, I don’t really want to learn, because I know Christ has the power. But He knows that isn’t what is best for my life, so He teaches and guides, even when it’s hard. Even when it hurts…
I know this is a difficult lesson, but I can provide some hope: unlike my ability to have my son in my sight at all times, God will always be there to watch over and guide. He will never be apart from us.
When we surrender, we give our hardships to Him, and He provides help and comfort. However, sometimes help and comfort comes through dying to ourselves, choosing to trust, and stepping out of our boxes to do what we do not want to do.
Maybe it’s giving an apology, praying for an enemy, loving the unlovable, spending less, or giving more. Whatever it is, if He is teaching you something, listen. And if you are having a rough time with this concept, then think of me. I’m working at it also and learning right along with you.
Love,
Jennifer
