I got ten of the cutest one-day-old chicks three weeks ago. There is such a noticeable difference in them each morning! It’s amazing how much they grow each night – except for one chick my granddaughter named Irene. (I actually suspect she is a rooster, but we will let that go for now.) Poor Irene is not growing. The other chicks are now literally twice her size.
Like any good mom, I did some research and found out she has digestion issues. And thanks to Dr. Google, I now have the remedy! There’s a process I perform with her three times a day involving giving her food from a small dropper and then massaging her. And you know what? She resists this process THREE TIMES A DAY! I know what she needs, but she doesn’t know I know. So, she fights me and doesn’t trust me.
Hmmm…boy, does that sound familiar to me!
“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it’” (Isaiah 30:15).
As I thought of little Irene, God brought to my mind very specific circumstances in my life when I have acted just like her. I knew I should go to Him (Matt. 11:28), allow Him to heal me (Jer. 17:14), to encourage me (John 16:33), to comfort me (Deut. 31:8), and to hold me in the palm of His hand (Isaiah 41:10).
But you know what some of my actual thoughts were?
- This grief is too heavy; I can’t even talk to You right now about it.
- I want to stay mad a little longer; I’m not ready to let this go. I deserve to be mad.
- I am hurt that she said that, and I don’t care to talk about it.
- I am overwhelmed in this season and don’t have time to pray right now.
- I’m worried about a family member right now, and (without making a conscious decision), I’m going to allow that worry to consume my thoughts and my time and distract me from You.
God had the answers for ALL of these troubles and emotions. But I have a pattern:
- I want to be “better” when I come to Him.
- I want to be “stronger” when I come to Him.
- I want to come to Him on my own terms (when I’m ready to change).
So, what am I learning from little Irene? I am learning that resisting the One who knows what’s best for me only prolongs the struggle. That even when I don’t understand the process, I can trust the hands that are holding me. That coming to God as I am – weak, hurt, or stubborn – is always better than staying away.
I don’t want to be like Irene, fighting the very help that’s meant to save me. Instead, I want to rest in God’s care, even when I don’t understand it. Jesus has the power and love and grace and strength and wisdom that I need DAILY – even THREE TIMES A DAY!
How about you? Is there something you’ve been holding back from Him? Is there something right now that you are not talking to God about? He already knows about your situation and is waiting for you to share it, for you to trust Him with your heart, and for you to look to Him for the answer. Maybe today is the day to stop resisting and start resting in His love.
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