So what does my son do?
He continues to refuse my help. He screams, cries, kicks, falls on the floor and pleads for help with all the drama his six year old brain can conjure. Then he starts acting out by scratching the kitchen table with a sharp object. Startled at his behavior, I yell, "Stop scratching the table!"; which sends him into another crying jag where he hangs on me, telling me over and over how much he itches and how miserable he is ... yes, still refusing my help.
Then it dawns on me ... this must be what it feels like to God. He sees us, His children, suffering; He loves us so much and wants to comfort us, draw near to us, and ease our pain. But what do we do? We refuse His help, like six year old children, we kick, scream, cry, and find new ways to sin, all the while pleading for Him to take away our pain.
We so often ask for God's help then refuse to listen to Him and let Him help us by submitting to what He knows is best for us. Oh sure, we think we're spiritual because "we prayed about it"; but do we really want to know God's answer or do we just want Him to make it all better on our terms?
Our answer is in how we respond.
Do we go to other members of the body, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and ask for their prayers and insights into our lives that we are too blind to see? Yes, I mean, do we ask them? Saying, "Well God tells them to speak truth to me if they see I'm doing something wrong", is a total cop out. We have to take an active part in discerning God's will for our lives; we have to take responsibility, put aside our pride, and ask. I know, the thought makes me feel nauseated as well.
We're blind to so much that's going on in our lives because we're right in the middle of it; most often we don't have the perspective needed to see the bigger picture. That's why it's not an option, but an imperative to have strong relationships with other believers who are able to discern our blind spots and brave enough to share them with us. I love what Joyce Meyer said in one of her sermons, "Are we going to be like the Israelites and take 40 years to complete a 12 day journey?" Oh hell, I hope not.
Do we dig into God's word seeking answers while spending time in communion with Him? Are we still; the kind of "still" referred to in Psalms 46:10 where He tells us to, "Be still and know that I am God"? Or is our communion with God a one way conversation where we give Him a list of our needs and wants like He's a genie in a lamp?
You know, God is so cool.
I love how God gives us such vivid glimpses into how He views us through the children He loans us while on Earth. When will we learn that God ALWAYS has the answer, and that He is the ONLY One who can truly soothe our hurts and bring true, lasting comfort? Why don't we immediately turn to God each and every time we are hurting? I regularly turn to Galatians 5:17 to understand my resistant behavior; "The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions." There are many times I feel like the path of least resistance is the way to go, who wants to "feel" things anyway (shudder)? I often stuff my feelings with food, sleep, and a myriad of all too easy to access distractions, while remaining in a state of numb limbo.
We all are stubborn, resistant creatures who like to think we have everything in control and put on a facade of what others view as "success". But guess what? Even if we think we have things in control; we're just fooling ourselves. God wants us to depend on Him and know that we can't do it alone, nor do we have to! Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that God tells us His grace is sufficient for us and that His power is made perfect in our weakness. Paul then says, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." Will someone please call me every day to remind me of this? My self-inflicted expectations and comparison to others tend to push this verse right out of my head.
You see, we're not unique, God gave all humans self will, and we're all stubborn and imperfect. Let's just admit it and do things God's way, ok? See, we have to remind each other, we're easily deceived! Even the people who saw God perform miracles right in front of their eyes were stubborn and easily deceived.
Now do you want that cool towel and Calamine lotion or do you want to itch and cry all damn day?
