Devotions

Getting on God’s Nerves: The Surprising Reason Why We Do

Megan Breedlove December 21, 2015 No Comments

I don’t know exactly how many nerves I have. But I do know when my kids are on my last one.

Usually, when they get on my nerves, it’s because they are bickering, tattling on each other for things that don’t really matter, or leaving behind some mess that they should have picked up because I’ve told them a thousand times to pick up after themselves, and why am I the only one who can SEE these messes, anyway?

Sometimes, I’m sorry to say, they get on my nerves not because of anything they’ve done, really, but because I’m tired or stressed, and they ask for the wrong thing at the wrong time. Or they fail to grasp something I think they should already know, and I’m so. out. of. patience.

Turns out God’s children get on His nerves, too. They try His patience.

Wait, what? Isn’t God infinitely patient?

Of course He is. He always maintains perfect control, even when we try Him.

Yes, you and I can get on His nerves.

But it may not be for the reason you would think.

It’s not because we and God just don’t click, because we make too many mistakes, or because He’s tired of dealing with us. (None of these things is true, by the way!) Nor is it because we ask Him for too much.

Actually, it’s because sometimes we ask Him for too little.

There was a time long ago when Ahaz was king over Judah. God told Ahaz to ask Him for a sign to confirm what was going to happen.

“Ask Me for any sign,” God said. “Anything you want. Nothing is too big.”

“Nope,” Ahaz said. “I’m not going to test You.”

Then Isaiah the prophet steps in. “Hey!” he said. “Isn’t it enough that you already get on mankind’s nerves? Are you going to try God’s patience too???”

Notice that what Ahaz was getting rebuked for was not for worshiping a foreign god or committing murder or adultery. Ahaz was rebuked because God offered him everything, and he asked for nothing.

God offered him the opportunity of a lifetime, and he got all what he probably thought was properly humble and refused the opportunity.

God tells us over and over in Scripture that He wants to pour out spiritual blessings upon us. Maybe sometimes He even has some material blessings in mind.

But we don’t ask.

“Do what is right,” God says, “and see if I won’t pour out so many blessings upon you that you won’t be able to hold them all!” (See Malachi 3:10.)

“But I’m afraid to ask for big things,” we say. “I might make God mad. Or I might get rejected.”

So we ask too small. And in so doing, we try the patience of the God Who longs to shower us with blessings.

We ask for everyone to get along at Christmas, for improved finances, or for our cold to go away quickly.

It’s right and good to ask for all these things. But what about the truly big things? Things like transformation of our character, or the ability to hear and recognize God’s voice, or the opportunity and courage to bear bold witness for Christ?

Or intimacy with God? The ability to trust Him more? The willingness to serve without earthly reward?

As C.S. Lewis said, “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

Ask big. Make God’s heart glad.

Malachi 3:10—Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” (NIV)

Isaiah 7:10-13—Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test.” Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also?” (NIV)

Does God Always Make Things Better?

Megan Breedlove November 30, 2015 No Comments

My 7-year-old daughter, Jessica, possesses one of the most sensitive souls God ever created and put within a little girl. She can always sense when someone’s having a bad day, and, with little fanfare or desire for recognition, she does something to lift the person’s spirits. When a gift is in order, she will give her money, down to her last penny, or her most treasured possessions, in order to ensure that someone else doesn’t go without.

Because she is so sensitive, however, she is also easily wounded by people’s words or actions, or discouraged when something goes wrong. Recently, on a day that just wasn’t going right for her, I had pulled her into my lap so we could talk. It was during that conversation that she immeasurably blessed my mother-heart with these words: “When I’m sad, I usually talk to you. And you always make it better somehow.”

She is well aware that I don’t or can’t always change her circumstances. But she also knows that I always care, and that I can be counted on to offer not only love, but also support or sympathy or encouragement (or all three).

You and I are blessed with a similar relationship with God. Any love we offer our children is but a dim reflection of the perfect, all-encompassing love He pours out on us. He can always be counted on to offer not only that love, but also support, sympathy, encouragement, or anything else that He, with His complete and perfect knowledge, knows we need.

That, my friend, is what makes things better. Sometimes God does indeed change our circumstances as we beg Him to, and that, of course, helps. But it is a lesser help. The far greater help is when He gives us Himself.

If I were to ask which you would rather have, changed circumstances or more of God, how would you answer?

Often you and I both would answer that what we really want is the changed circumstances, not God’s presence.

It’s okay to want your circumstances to be different. There’s nothing wrong with wanting that, or with asking God to perform that.

The problem comes when God offers us what He knew was the greater help (Himself), and we complain because He didn’t offer us what we thought was greater, which was really the lesser (changed circumstances).

Jessica told me that somehow, I always make things better, even though I don’t always change things for her. In other words, she knows this fundamental but often unrealized truth: even when circumstances don’t change, the love, support, and encouragement of a mother always makes things better.

The same can be said for the love, support, and encouragement of a Father.

I pray we believe that He is truly the greater.

Lamentations 3:24—The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. (KJV)

When You Don’t Win

Megan Breedlove November 2, 2015 No Comments

Ahhhhh, cake walks. The anticipation of maybe, just maybe, hearing your number called and getting to choose the cake of your dreams.

I actually remember one particular cake walk from sometime when I was in elementary school. I won! I walked over to the table and chose the cake I had had my eye on all night: a sheet cake decorated in myriad colors with the word “Mexico” and all kinds of squiggles and designs. That. cake. was. beautiful!

Recently, my children participated in a cake walk at a party. Timmy became discouraged the first few times he didn’t hear his number called, so I picked him up and walked around with him. I held him for several rounds, and as time went by, and most of the other kids won cakes, Timmy began quietly fussing (read: whining). I reminded him that it’s not possible to win all the time and reassured him that he still had a chance.

And then……victory on number 19!

By this point, Timmy was hanging his head and fussing continuously. “You won, Timmy!” I exclaimed. He continued to whine. “Timmy, you won!” I repeated. More whining.

I began to walk away from the game, toward the prize table, because I was embarrassed. Did he not understand that he had won? What was the problem?

“Timmy, why are you fussing?” I asked quietly. “You won!”

“I wanted to win lots of times,” Timmy said, disappointed.

My first thought was: Be grateful you won at all!

My second thought was: Yeah, I understand, buddy. I hate it when I don’t win as often as I’d like.

Like in life. I know it’s not realistic to expect to get what I want all the time. But I’d like to. And sometimes, when I don’t, I get disappointed.

Here are some recent times I can remember not getting what I wanted:

• My child embarrassed me in public.
• I tried to learn a particular skill, and it didn’t turn out well at all.
• I didn’t receive an invitation I was hoping for.
• Someone assumed the worst about my character.

These are not the only unpleasant things I’ve faced in the past few weeks; there have also been some that were traumatic.

But in the same time period, I’ve also encountered these circumstances:

• My child spent time drawing a sweet picture for me and telling me how much she loved me.
• I received a compliment from a student who enjoys my teaching style.
• I was invited to have lunch with a friend.
• Several family members went out of their way to verbally affirm their confidence in my character and their love for me.

So, I have a choice. I can complain that I had to face the first set of circumstances, or I can rejoice that I experienced the second.

It’s the same choice you have when you’re disappointed.

Grieve if you need to; it’s okay!

But don’t forget the good things.

Job 1:21—Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (KJV)