This is not what I asked for

There are two ways that statement comes out of our mouths. Justified and right, when we pay for a service and are given something that does not match what was promised. Or spoiled and senseless, when we are given a generous gift from someone who knows us well.

In my adult life, I have often told God “this is not what I asked for”.  Not so much in that organized and thought-through sentence. More with my attitude. Many times I act this way with God when He does not stop something that upsets me. When He lets things I do not want in my life continue in my life.  But however I understand what He changes and what He allows, I know, I see, that He is always giving me great gifts.

A kid can complain that the gift we gave him is not what he wanted. He can cry and have a tantrum and tell us he is miserable.  But we correct the kid. We tell him why the given gift is special and possibly why we were limited in what we could give him.  

God has no limits, so the decisions He makes about our life - the gifts He gives to us - are perfect and generous.

When our attitudes are telling God He is not giving us what we asked for, we would be wise to act like adults. Adults who know our God is good. 

First we recognize that most of the time God will give us gifts we did not ask for. They are better than what our human knowledge and desires can ask for. Secondly, we can evaluate if we have the freedom and ability to bring a change to what He has given us. God definitely allows us to enact change in many of our experiences.

Next in wise responses we feel and acknowledge our emotions.  We talk to God openly, talk to our wife openly, and talk to ourselves openly.  We label and share our emotions so that they do not erode our well being.

Finally, we act. Each instance of “this is not what I asked for” must conclude with action.  We can thank God sincerely for giving us what we did not ask for, we can seek to change the things we have the freedom and power to change, or we can act with a combination of both responses.

Let’s live out this wise lifestyle instead of following our desires into foolish moping.

Strength and honor to you all.  

This blog is a new project, following on the heels of a much more relaxed style of writing. If you would like to see the precursor to this project you can read the old posts here: Old GrabCourage blog