Have you ever insisted on getting what you wanted only to find out it wasn’t really what you wanted in the first place? When my daughter was young, she insisted on spending her allowance on a cheap toy watch encrusted with plastic gems and a glamorous Barbie on its face. It didn’t matter how much I tried to explain that it was a waste of money and it wasn’t going to last, she was fixated on getting that watch. To make matters worse, her best friend had one and they had to be “twinkies”.
Her pestering was no match for my reasoning.I finally relented and we went to the store where she emptied her jar of coins at the cash register. Eight weeks of allowance and one day later when her watch broke on the playground, she hyperventilated with sobs. “Can we take it back to the store, Mommy?” Oh, how I wanted to. “I’m sorry, Brittany, refunds are only available for defective merchandise, but yours broke because you were careless.”I wanted to fix the situation for Brittany. My mother’s heart ached for her. I wanted to buy her a good watch with my own money, but I knew she needed to learn from her choices. If I rescued her, I would trade a temporary toy for a priceless life lesson. Even as grown women, we can be whiny babies. Have you ever craved something that wasn’t good for you? Have you ever insisted on getting your own way? I have. I know God tried to warn me, but my persistent stubbornness gave me the opportunity to experience the consequences of my choices and learn some valuable life lessons. Thankfully when things go south, God doesn’t sit on His throne with his arms crossed and say things like, I tried to warn you.Well…you asked for it, didn’t you?You had it coming.We may have to suffer the consequences for awhile, but in the midst of our turmoil, God always has a plan for redemption. In Psalm 106, the Israelites had a huge case of buyer’s remorse. After their deliverance from Egypt, they gave into their craving in the desert and suffered from a wasting disease. Even though their choices were made in stubbornness, God’s love was more stubborn than their whinning and rebellion. His mercy prevailed even when they ignored His warnings:“Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion, and they wasted away in their sin. But he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented” (Psalm 106:43-45). Aren’t you so thankful for God’s grace and goodness? He doesn’t give us what we deserve. His love never fails. It’s like a diamond encrusted Barbie Timex. Even when we insist getting our own way, His love takes a lickin and keeps on tickin.
I guess we had it coming.
Thank you Lord that You lavish Your love on my sister. Even when she’s been annoying and stubborn, You pour out Your grace on her life and relent in mercy. May she accept the gift of Your grace and see herself through Your eyes so she can reflect Your goodness to a hurting world. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Have you ever insisted on getting what you wanted only to find out it wasn’t really what you wanted in the first place?
When my daughter was young, she insisted on spending her allowance on a cheap toy watch encrusted with plastic gems and a glamorous Barbie on its face. It didn’t matter how much I tried to explain that it was a waste of money and it wasn’t going to last, she was fixated on getting that watch. To make matters worse, her best friend had one and they had to be “twinkies”.
Her pestering was no match for my reasoning.
I finally relented and we went to the store where she emptied her jar of coins at the cash register. Eight weeks of allowance and one day later when her watch broke on the playground, she hyperventilated with sobs. “Can we take it back to the store, Mommy?”
Oh, how I wanted to. “I’m sorry, Brittany, refunds are only available for defective merchandise, but yours broke because you were careless.”
I wanted to fix the situation for Brittany. My mother’s heart ached for her. I wanted to buy her a good watch with my own money, but I knew she needed to learn from her choices. If I rescued her, I would trade a temporary toy for a priceless life lesson.
Even as grown women, we can be whiny babies. Have you ever craved something that wasn’t good for you? Have you ever insisted on getting your own way? I have. I know God tried to warn me, but my persistent stubbornness gave me the opportunity to experience the consequences of my choices and learn some valuable life lessons.
Thankfully when things go south, God doesn’t sit on His throne with his arms crossed and say things like,
I tried to warn you.
Well…you asked for it, didn’t you?
You had it coming.
We may have to suffer the consequences for awhile, but in the midst of our turmoil, God always has a plan for redemption.
In Psalm 106, the Israelites had a huge case of buyer’s remorse. After their deliverance from Egypt, they gave into their craving in the desert and suffered from a wasting disease. Even though their choices were made in stubbornness, God’s love was more stubborn than their whinning and rebellion. His mercy prevailed even when they ignored His warnings:
“Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion, and they wasted away in their sin. But he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented” (Psalm 106:43-45).
Aren’t you so thankful for God’s grace and goodness? He doesn’t give us what we deserve.
His love never fails. It’s like a diamond encrusted Barbie Timex. Even when we insist getting our own way, His love takes a lickin and keeps on tickin.
I guess we had it coming.
Thank you Lord that You lavish Your love on my sister. Even when she’s been annoying and stubborn, You pour out Your grace on her life and relent in mercy. May she accept the gift of Your grace and see herself through Your eyes so she can reflect Your goodness to a hurting world. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
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