His Loving Don’ts
April 2
My son…let thine heart keep my commandments…and peace shall they add to thee.
Proverbs 3:1, 2 KJV
It wasn’t hard to tell Hanna was stressed over the choice she was facing. She really wanted to go on a weekend trip with Reuben. “God’s commandments say, ‘Don’t do this and don’t do that!’ I get sick of His constant control in my life! He proclaims my free will, and all the while He’s forcing me to abide by a set of rules He contrived to retain control of my life!”
In light of Hanna’s frustration, Jen was careful about phrasing her thoughts. “You know, Hanna,” she began, “you can go if you want. God isn’t going to stop you.”
“No, He won’t!” she countered. “But He’ll make me miserable if I do go!”
“Is it really God who would be making you miserable, or is this about you knowing it would be wrong to spend the weekend with Reuben before your wedding?” Jen suggested.
“Spending the weekend in the mountains is not a sin!” Hanna countered, rolling her eyes.
“No,” Jen said, “it’s not. But can you tell me that you haven’t been entertaining certain thoughts about what could happen if you go?” She softly added, “God isn’t trying to control your life, Hanna. He’s trying to save you a bunch of grief.”
“Grief my butt…” Hanna murmured.
“Maybe the reason you’re frustrated is because it is your choice and you want God to make it for you,” Jen volunteered. “That, my friend, is free will at its finest.”
†
God is not a Control Freak, in need of getting His way in our lives. He is, however, loving and considerate, and His Spirit will most certainly quicken within us when harm, through the possibility of wrong choices, threatens us.
When the frustrations of difficult choices arise, He’s asking us to trust His wisdom and omniscience so we can live in peace by submitting to the Spirit’s leading. But…He’s giving us the choice. And believe it or not, that makes some of us angry.
Prayer
“Sometimes free will feels like a sentence rather than freedom, Lord. Help me always yield to Your omniscience in the matters of my life, knowing You would never allow me to make poor choices without Your Spirit suggesting I re-think them. Amen.”
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