Lately, Bekah has taken to whining, pouting, and crying when she doesn’t get her way in the least little thing. For instance . . . today was rainy and cold, yet she was disappointed – no, emotionally devastated may be a more accurate description – that she was not allowed to go up to the church playground so she could swing and slide. You would have thought by all her carrying on that something seriously bad had happened, like they Disney had announced there would be no more High School Musical movies.
But if I am honest about it, the drama thing is not limited by age or gender. We all can go there from time to time if we are not careful. In fact the older we get the more adept we get at making mountains out of mole hills – Rockies out of pebbles. We are amused when children act all grown up, but it is one evermore ugly sight when grownups act childish, but it happens.
When things don’t go “our way,” we have one of two choices. One the one hand, we can act childish, throw a tantrum or a pity party and act as though our world has ended. Unfortunately many of us who call ourselves Christians do this. I know. I have been in church all my life. I have seen it. I have done it. We protest, we picket, we boycott, we act ugly, we accuse, we criticize and malign. Is there anything more hideous than childish attitude in a full grown body?
Yet, there is another choice. We can understand that we have a God who knows what is best for us and He will neither give us something harmful to us nor withhold something beneficial.
Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 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 7:9-11
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. – James 1:17
The drama queen rants and raves when she doesn’t get her way. The childish man takes his ball and goes home when others will not let him win. But the mature believer takes circumstances in stride, realizing all the while that God is in control and He is using the circumstances of our lives to shape us into the man or woman He wants us to be.
God doesn’t hand out Oscars. Let’s can the drama act and trust God to give us what is good and keep us from what will harm us.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." – Jeremiah 29:11
2 comments:
just quite picking on us Jim! 8^)
Jesus does want us child like, just not spoiled. Thanks for the check up.
Amen, Rev!
What is especially sad and even dangerous is what great extremes some "spoiled brats" will go to, to tear down and attempt to destroy an individual, a ministry or an organization when they don't get their way or get what they want. It's pathetic, even sickening to see how some so-called "Christians" will behave. It's beyond my comprehension how some "Christians" seem to take great pride and joy in degradation, devastation and destruction of others...all in the name of Jesus.
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