Good Fa You!

Everything that happens is for a reason. Do I need to know that reason? By no means. BUT, I do need to remember that I can draw lessons from all of life's circumstances. It's just like the Bible: every verse has one interpretation, but can have nearly limitless applications. And that's why I struggle so much with the idea of praying that circumstances change. I know, I know, we can pray about anything. And we're to cast all of our cares on God (1 Peter 5:7). I get all that...really, I do. But I guess I find that it is far easier to pray for a change in circumstance than to pray for a change of heart.

What I am getting at is wrapped up in this: when my oldest was not the best of sleepers (zero-10 months), I urgently pleaded to God for him to START sleeping. And one of the days that I was so desperate and exhausted, my mom pointed out (though she meant no insensitivity) that this was "good for me." I wanted to cry on the spot-- in fact, I think I did. But as I thought about her words-- though again, she meant no ill by them- I realized that she was right. Every circumstance in your life is good for you-- it is meant to bring about growth- for God's glory. I took her thought deeper (than she probably even meant) and recognized that I probably should stop praying for my son to sleep so badly, as it was rapidly growing into an idol (i.e. "if only he would sleep, I would be more patient, kind, loving, _______, etc."). I felt like if he didn't sleep, I would implode. I was not recognizing the TRUTH that "NO (my emphasis) temptation has overtaken [me], but such as is common to man, and He is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation, will provide a way of escape also, so that you are able to endure it" (1 Cor. 10:13). Sleep would have been WONDERFUL. But God's strength was enough. I was not listening to all of scripture that says that the "joy of the Lord is my strength."

Does this mean I can't/shouldn't pray for a change in circumstance? Of course not. I sure can. But praying in the will of God does not always (or even mostly) mean praying for external change. Rather, I think it means praying to glean what you can from the circumstances and learning from those things. Heart change is so much harder because it requires work on our part. We are to examine ourselves via His Word (and other believers and prayer) and actually do the work of repentance for things that seem so shameful. It requires time for the Lord to reveal His truth to us. It was ugly for me to discover that sleep had become my idol- that I was more interested in feeling rested, than in understanding that I can only do things through His strength. It takes His Word to reveal such things- and in this case, the unwitting admonition of an older Christian. So I am very thankful that my mom inadvertently pointed all of that out to me that day on that walk. The reality is, I needed the hard truth that said: buck up! God gives you "EVERYTHING (my emphasis, again) you need for life and godliness"!

So today, as I walked in to take my daughter off of the toilet (she was "all done") and the toilet was literally filled to the brim with pieces of toilet paper (thanks to her un-sanctioned efforts to independently wipe), I have to remember that even THIS is good for me:)!