Lessons From Life

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The things that go on in a day with our kids are often perfect pictures of some aspect of walking with God. Oftentimes I have been too busy to notice the spiritual truths that are right under my nose. God wants me to know Him so desperately that He uses every facet of life around me to tell me what is true. On one such day He chose to use a situation with my son.

On this particular day two of my kids were struggling to get along. Thankfully my husband had come home for lunch just in time. Otherwise, I might have reacted out of my frustration. My husband stepped in and began to challenge our teenage son to turn away from his flesh and choose the path of life. He didn’t go after the behavior, he went after his heart.

My son’s defense that day was that his sister wouldn’t stop when asked to so he took matters into his own hands. He decided he would make her stop. It wasn’t good. It never is. If they would just come to me for help, things would be so much better. I began to explain to him that it’s not working because he doesn’t use the authority set up for him.

How many times have I told the kids to ask their sibling one time to stop and then come to me if they don’t? They have access to me all day to fight for their good, but they are too busy trying to make things work on their own terms. Why don’t they come to me? Why do my kids demand things their way? Why do they insist on taking things in their own hands to control? Don’t they see it doesn’t work? They make life much harder than it has to be. Can’t they see?

My son didn’t even consider what I had set in place. He decided he didn’t need me or my protection. He went out on his own. It brought a setback instead of a move forward and life stunk him.

I could feel the frustration mounting and then, I heard God speak. “Go easy on Him Jewel, you understand.” “You’ve done that with me.” “Many of my children have.” “I understand how you feel.” “It’s frustrating, isn’t it?” At that instant the truth became flesh and dwelt among us. In a moment of awakening, God showed me my son’s behavior was a picture of my life.

I am my son. God wants to come and stand in the gap for me. But I am too busy inflicting my own authority to reap the benefit of His. If I would call to Him He would take care of it all. But I stand in the way by taking control of things, trying to manage things on my own. It never really works. It’s never really good. Life becomes hard and I don’t understand why.

Jesus didn’t speak, go, or make a move without the Father. He didn’t take control of situations. He called out to His Father and then waited in total dependence for Him to come. So why don’t I? In this day we think we have to do our part. But Paul tells us we have been crucified and that Christ now lives IN us. And Christ depended on God.

The lights turn on for me in the midst of training up my child. I began to tell him and myself of how desperately we need God. We were made to need. It’s in our weakness that He becomes our strength. God made us for dependence, just like Christ. He didn’t make us to go it on our own.

God’s grace pours out at just the right time. As God seared another revelation of His heart into my mine, I see, not just my son, but me. But more importantly I see the heart of the one who loves me most, my Papa.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

What’s your immediate reaction to life? Do you call to Him or do you go it on your own? How’s that working for you?

God, show us the times when we take matters into our own hands and make life about us. You came to live life through us. Have your way in our lives. We love you.

Julie Todd is a daughter of God who has been ruined for the ordinary. She has been married to her sweetheart for 25 years and is a home schooling mother of 5. She is a writer and speaker who strives to live the extraordinary life that God intended. You can visit her blog at Jewelz Sightings