Wisdom from a child

 
My young 11-year old friend (emphasis on the old), says that God brings trials into our lives to teach us something. I marvel at the wisdom God gives this girl. I often find her statements coming to mind during life’s fearful events.

For instance, for the past couple of days, my hubby has not felt well. He has a chronic case of CLL, but current symptoms were not related to that. His temperature was up above normal and he complained about his digestive system. For a man who never complains, and because of our ages, this made me think about losing my spouse. It also had me thinking about the purpose of this trial. I knew that it could turn my heart to my own needs and have me selfishly anxious for what would happen to me if he slipped away.

God brought my buddy’s wisdom to mind and prompted me to trust Him and His will. Period. No matter what the future held. No matter what happened to this usually very healthy man. That was what He was teaching me — total trust. At that, the Lord’s peace came. Also, the fever went down, and hubby is feeling better.

Today’s reading is again about finding satisfaction in the Lord. Of course all of us who trust Him enjoy times of prosperity, health, and other blessings, but it is as John Piper writes: “None of us has arrived at perfect satisfaction in God.”

I can be concerned when trials come, but I also “grieve often over the murmuring of my heart at the loss of worldly comforts.” It is in tasting the Lord’s goodness during trials that brings a greater satisfaction. It is in being able to trust Him no matter what. It is being able to say, “Thy will be done” and mean it, even if His will involves loss, pain, and discomfort.

Job comes to mind. After the enemy was allowed to take from him all he had, including his children. . . .  

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. (Job 1:20–22)

This response is rare. In today’s world, even the most devout will cry out “WHY” when such things happen even to others, never mind themselves. However, many Christians know that “It is Well with my Soul” was written by a man who lost everything after the great fire in Chicago in 1871 then lost his daughters when the ship they were on sank. How could he even think all was well? Only by totally trusting the Lord.

Piper writes, “I have tasted that the Lord is good. By God’s grace I now know the fountain of everlasting joy, and so I love to spend my days luring people into joy…” because he wants them to be able to say with him:

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

And the psalmist adds the reason, for he (David) has also tasted and seen God’s goodness. . . . 

For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. (Psalm 27:4–6)

PRAY: Jesus, You have shown me that even a child can understand the reason for trials — and how we need to seek You and welcome Your will to be done, in total trust that Your love is behind everything that happens to us, no matter what. I am a slow learner yet also very thankful that You said that one day the “earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord” and “a little child shall lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6-9)

Nothing to worry about . . .

When the disciples realized that Jesus would soon leave them, He said to them,

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me . . . . I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” (John 14:1; 18–20)

“Let not” tells me that it is possible to be bound up in troubling issues that should be met by faith, not by an anxious and worried heart — and I have a choice in that matter!

Peter wrote, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6–7)

“Humble yourselves” tells me that pride can be the source of a troubled heart. Instead of letting the circumstances of life put me in fear, I’m to trust the Lord. I also have a choice in that issue!

Job is a good example. When the calamities started in his life . . .

“Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.’ In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.” (Job 1:20–22)

Grumbling is a sin. When I whine, I’m showing an attitude that I think God does not know what He is doing; that I know better than God how my world and the world in general should be managed.

Of course unbelief is at the root of worry, anxiety and fear. Jesus points to His Father who cares for me and if I believe what He says, how can I fret?

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:25–33)

That root of unbelief can produce spouts of covetous, envy, and self-pity. It isn’t easy to be content when blessings seem to be withheld, but contentment can be learned. Paul said, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)

I learn how to be content by several methods. One is being thankful for what I have. As someone said, if I don’t know what to be thankful for, I just need to take my pulse.

Another method remembering life is short and ‘more and bigger’ is not necessarily better — for me or anyone else. Letting God renew my mind as I read and study His word. He changes my values. God’s values are eternal and I can focus on that rather than the stuff that does not last.

Another application is self-denial that gets involved doing things for others out of my love for God. This is far more important and helpful than self-pity. Besides, freedom from a fearful and anxious heart is far better than anything I could selfishly desire and do for myself.

Jesus, You have blessed me beyond all expectations. I have all I need here and all I need in order to spend eternity with You. You have taught me how to be content and the value of self-denial. You have also given me many opportunities to deny myself and serve others with joy. Thank You!