Week 2 – Day 12
Dear Friend,
Sometimes I find it so easy to try to work things out on my own. Not intentionally mind you, but rather out of habit I find myself relying on my own resources and abilities while going through life. On those occasions, when life gets bigger than expected, I wish I would recognize it quickly and run straight to the throne and into the arms of God. Unfortunately, I have come to realize that I am a bit hard-headed and stubborn, even going so far as to call it “pride”.
Going around and around a situation, looking at it from all angles hoping that an answer will jump out at me. Or even, pushing it all down deep inside and hoping the pressure will miraculously be removed in the near future. Rarely does this ever prove productive. Instead it only prolongs the stress and brings weight on my shoulders, as I bear a responsibility God never intended me to carry.
You see, God never intended for us to be “adult children”. He spoke to us about coming to Him as “little children”. Many times in the Word we are described as, “Little Children” who can rely on the strength of their Heavenly Father. Somewhere along the way of this fabulous adventure with Christ I fell into the trap of believing I’ve grown up too much to rely on Him so completely.
Wow! Sounds crazy, right? Yet this is a common mistake we all face daily.
You see, I have finally experienced the joy of having adult children. One of the biggest differences we noticed with adult children is that they tell us about their future plans and trips, they don’t ask. One of the biggest reasons they do not “ask” is because they are responsible for their itineraries and financial obligations of their trips. Why would they need to “ask” our permission when they are the ones with all the burden of the decision-making and financing of their trips? They do ask our advice and repeatedly request our input though. This new form of parenting is special and odd at the same time. We get the joys of their experiences, but less of the burden of them. Yet this is the human side of growth, not the supernatural side.
You see, God stopped me in my tracks one day! He told me, “I never asked for adult children.”
I tossed that one around in my spirit for days, thinking about all it could mean.
You see, He does want us to mature and change from glory to glory, reveling in each new success. Yet, He never wants us to take on the human aspect of adulthood; moving away from Him, only coming for visits, bringing only the major situations to Him, or carrying the weight of our future on our own shoulders. He certainly doesn’t desire us to make a life independent of Him.
The Father sent Christ to the cross so He would never have to be separated from us! He desires for us to become so interdependent on Him that He simply needs to gather us into Himself to provide rest from the storms of life. He loves us dearly and is not eager for us to ever consider ourselves too “grown up” to need our Abba Father.
So ask yourself today if you are trying to be a grown up Child of God. Are you trying to please Him by keeping everything together? Carrying the weight of your future on your shoulders? Are you relying on yourself more than on Him today? Do you feel the responsibility to get yourself out of situations before you ask for His intervention? Do you carry the weight of making your dreams come to pass?
I’ve been there… on a pretty regular basis actually.
He loves us, Friend! He’s prepared for our future and isn’t moved by our present. Think about a toddler, who is busy with his life while his mom watches over him carefully. Little ones always know where their parents are in the room, even as they go about their play. As he begins to walk, she moves things out of the path so he can move about with less danger, yet she will leave enough for him to hold onto as he makes his way. When he gets to the end of the objects to hold onto he will reach for her hand, willingly. He doesn’t cross his arms and refuse to consider her help thinking, “I should be able to do this on my own!!!” Instead he concentrates on his steps, as he becomes an extension of her balance and strength to stay upright.
That’s a little child! Grab ahold of God today, always knowing He resides in you strengthening and balancing you along the way!
Here’s to the journey, My Friend, made easier because we are now an extension of God. We are no longer alone. We live this Eternal Life in Him.
Love,
Jen
Meditation:
2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV)
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
1 John 4:4 (KJV)
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Matthew 18:3 (KJV)
And said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Journal:
Finally, you have the freedom to let go of holding it all together. In your exercise today I would encourage you to do more than journal. Today is a day for making your way to His presence.
Begin to worship Him and let the stress, worry and circumstances you have been holding go into His hands. As you spend time in His presence listen to His voice and journal the revelation He reveals to you in worship. You are growing in your relationship with Him because you are beginning to see Him as He truly is.
