I have become more at peace with many things that go wrong in my life. I have asked forgiveness from anyone that feels I have done them wrong. I have forgiven those I needed to forgive. I work hard at praising God more than ever. I pray often. I read and study the bible with a renewed fervor.
Guess what? Things still don't go the way I like.
I have started to think more often about what my goal is or was and how it is turning out or turned out. I see how often there is a goodness that comes from many of the things that have happened to me. Potential reasons for the way things may have resulted even though my prayer may have had different intentions. I see how God is still looking out for me even though He is achieving alternate results.
Don't get me wrong. I still get angry. I fume because I don't get what I want.
what I want............
That's the problem.
Our four year old will come up sometimes and ask for a snack. For whatever reason (supper will be ready soon, he just had a snack, etc...), he sometimes gets told no. He asks because he has been taught to and he does it to get the desired response. If he grabs a snack without asking for it, he knows it will be taken away and he will not get one.
He asks so he can get what he wants.
When he is told no, however, he grrrrs and stamps his foot. He will even remind us that he asked. He will remind us that he said please. (sometimes he will even remind us that he is starving to death) He doesn't get the answer he wants and he gets angry. He asks because he expects us to say yes.
He may not get the snack then, but he will at another time. He will get supper that night. He will get fed often the next day and in the days that follow. He will get his cup filled regularly with water or juice. He may even get dessert that night.
But he wanted THAT snack, THAT day, at THAT time. Everything else never crosses his mind.
So he gets angry.
We are perpetually four years old.
Let everyone that has breath praise the Lord.
No matter what your social class is, your health, your financial status, you are provided for. If you are alive, God has provided for you.
Think about it: If you are breathing, you have had enough food, shelter, and water to sustain that - no matter how little that may be. And God has given it.
"So do not worry, saying "what shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:31
We have already been given the most wonderful of feasts in Christ's body and blood. We are fed daily with a bountiful meal in God's grace. We drink ceaselessly in the beauty of God's love.
And we ask for a snack.
