Not by Force

Hosea 1: ⁷ Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the Lord their God, will save them.”

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In a tiny tantrum I said “I will not serve YOU GOD!” At that time things were just not going well at all. The wheels were flying off of school and my car was falling apart. After graduating I remained in my pouting state, meanwhile my loneliness was increasing and the pressures of life were mounting. Finally, I was in a place where I had nowhere to turn. “GOD, please help me I muttered pitifully.”

• Sometimes I do not think GOD is the answer.
• Sometimes I blame GOD for my problems.
• Sometimes I look at GOD as something I do rather than someone to be with.

When I tried to leave GOD it’s as if HE said “Okay” and let me go on my merry way. I did not communicate with HIM nor HE with me. BUT GOD was extremely graceful and merciful and I did not know it.

• GOD watched over me in spite of my tantrum.
• GOD protected me in spite of my pouting.
• GOD delivered me in spite of my lack of service, communication or giving.

I did not manipulate GOD in any way, yet HE chose to deliver me from my trials. HE opened my eyes to how immature I was truly acting and showed me just how full of anger and rage my heart was. HE emptied it and allowed it to dry out for a while, then HE filled it up with HIS HOLY SPIRIT which gives me different eyes.

GOD enables me to see HIM in the middle of situations. HE opens my eyes to allow me to see HE is fighting the battle, not me. HE protects me daily and grows my faith in HIM. I trust HIS plan and get excited for what HE is doing!

• Are you throwing a tantrum right now?
• Do you feel you are drowning with no way out?
• Can you stop squirming and slow down enough to hear GOD’s small still voice?
• Will you open your heart’s mouth and shout to GOD “I need YOU?”

GOD Explain YOURSELF!

Job 40: ⁸ “Would you discredit my justice?
    Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
⁹ Do you have an arm like God’s,
    and can your voice thunder like his?

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“Why?” is usually the question that begins my tantrum with GOD. “Why did this person die or why did I lose the thing that was precious to me?” I ask these questions to GOD as if HE owes me an explanation. It’s alright to question, but sometimes I was actually mad at GOD.

• Sometimes I get mad at GOD for not giving me my way.
• Sometimes I wonder if there is a purpose to serving GOD if I can’t get my way all the time.
• Sometimes I demand that HE explains HIMSELF so I can reconcile what’s going on.

Here I am the created telling the CREATOR to explain HIS plan HE has for me. Even if HE did explain, I probably would not like the explanation. Looking back on the pouting, I can see a better plan has emerged each time. Through many disappointments, toils and snares I can actually see why GOD took me through situations that enabled me to grow.

• GOD does not owe me an explanation but wants me to know HE loves me.
• GOD does not owe me my way but wants me to know HE has a plan to prosper me.
• GOD does not owe me pleasure or comfort yet HE sent the COMFORTER to give me peace when I am frazzled.

GOD does not owe me anything, especially when I am trying to justify myself, yet HE loves me so much that HE threw my sins away and cleaned me up to be acceptable to HIM. GOD loves me.

• Are you trying to justify why you should have something?
• Do you think your righteous acts deserve something from GOD?
• Can you do things for GOD without expecting something in return?
• Will you stop trying to get GOD to explain HIMSELF and start having faith, trust and hope?

On the Edge of Cursing GOD

Job 2: ⁷ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. ⁸ Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.

⁹ His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”

¹⁰ He replied, “You are talking like a foolish^[b] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

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“I’m not going to serve YOU anymore” I said to GOD in a curt fashion. It was the first job I had been passed over for and I really wanted it. I was only eighteen months out of college and one of my friends recommended that I try the executive track. When I did not get the position I threw a tantrum. I mean what good is this GOD stuff anyway if I don’t get my way?

• When I don’t get my way I am ready to give up on GOD.
• When I don’t get my way I am ready to tell GOD to go somewhere else.
• When I don’t get my way I am ready to blame GOD because “I” think HE has the power to give me “my” way but simply refuses to.

Looking back on many situations I see how patient GOD was with me. HE saw the immature baby within me and held on tight anyway. After being passed over for this position, I was passed over for many others at different companies. This made me stronger and wiser. It also taught me to look at GOD and not the positions.

• GOD wants me to continue to praise HIM in the middle of trouble.
• GOD wants me to expect trouble and when I get some, expect more trouble and continue to praise HIM.
• GOD wants me to seek HIM in all that I aspire to do so I can depend on HIM and mature.

Growing up is a difficult thing to do, BUT GOD wants me to mature in HIS ways. This may mean taking on a little more trouble so I can praise HIM through it. People around me may not understand. They may even question my faith, BUT GOD continues to guide me towards growth in HIM.

• Are you pouting at GOD?
• Do you have complaints on your lips?
• Will you focus your words on praise instead of problems?
• Can you seek maturity in GOD and expect problems in life rather than only expecting comfort?
• Can you understand that GOD loves you dearly and has warned you that life will have trouble?

Threatening GOD

Deuteronomy 1: ²⁹ Then I said to you, “Don’t be terrified. Don’t be afraid of them. ³⁰ The Lord your God will go ahead of you. He will fight for you. With your own eyes you saw how he fought for you in Egypt.

³¹ “You also saw how the Lord your God brought you through the desert. He carried you everywhere you went, just as a father carries his son. And now you have arrived here.”

³² In spite of that, you didn’t trust in the Lord your God.

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For months our lives were put on hold.  Every decision was based on the possibility of moving to a new city “if” I got the top position in the company. I felt extremely nervous during the interview and did not get the position. I do remember pouting.

“LORD, what’s the purpose of being ‘good’ if nothing comes out of it? I’m done serving!” I said during my tantrum. Little did I know HE had much better things in mind for me and I was busy making HIM an enemy!

• When I have trials placed in front of me I sometimes pout.
• When I have obstacles placed in front of me I sometimes kick and scream at GOD.
• When I am not getting “my” way I sometimes throw a tantrum, threatening GOD in the process.

Like a four year old who wants to run away from home I looked around and realized, where will I go? I mean everything and everywhere and everyone is HIS. You would think I would become rational at that realization. Instead I thought, “well, YOU are GOD, of course ‘YOU’ would say don’t be terrified and don’t be afraid, but I’m human what can I do?”

• GOD says “TRUST in the LORD with all your heart in all your ways and do not lean to your own understanding.”
• GOD says “Put aside childish things” and “have faith in your GOD for I delivered you.”
• GOD says “the fear of GOD is the beginning of wisdom.”

In other words, why am I yelling at GOD for not getting my way?  GOD has a better plan that I could never dream up.  HIS ways are solid and I can be free to be “me”, not what everyone expects me to be. I don’t have to threaten HIM or coerce HIM into getting something I probably didn’t want in the first place.

GOD knows what’s best. HE wants a solid “trust” from me. I Believe!

• Do you doubt GOD?
• Are you ready to throw in the towel because life is getting difficult?
• Why do you have to be convinced over and over that GOD is faithful?
• Won’t you get rid of you pride of needing GOD to prove HIMSELF and show HIM your trust?

Where does complaining get me?

Numbers 21: ⁴ The people of Israel traveled from Mount Hor along the way to the Red Sea. They wanted to go around Edom. But they grew tired on the way. ⁵ So they spoke against God. They also spoke against Moses. They said to them, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt? Do you want us to die here in the desert? We don’t have any bread! We don’t have any water! And we hate this awful food!”

⁶ Then the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people of Israel. The snakes bit them. Many of the people died.⁷ The others came to Moses. They said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

⁸ The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake. Put it up on a pole. Then anyone who is bitten can look at it and remain alive.” ⁹ So Moses made a bronze snake. He put it up on a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake remained alive.

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“This guy is an idiot” I thought to myself. My boss would frequently sneak into my office to see if I had any new ideas lying around that he could take credit for. I would lock my cabinets and take my laptop with me so he wouldn’t find anything. “I’m tired of this guy, I should complain.” So I did.

Later his boss and his boss’s boss all began to frown at me. What was once pats on the back soon became sneers and curt responses. I needed a higher authority to protect me.

• When I complain I have not considered GOD’s plan
• When I complain I have not looked around to see what GOD is doing.
• When I complain I am only looking at the situation from my eyes.

GOD despises complaints. GOD DESPISES COMPLAINTS! I had to say that twice because GOD despises complaints. I cannot tell who HIS servant is and who isn’t. Yeah, the person may not be acting the way they should at the time but my complaint about them is abysmal to GOD.

• GOD wants me to pray for my leaders and let HIM handle their downfalls.
• GOD wants me to praise HIM for HIS plan no matter how bleak things may seem.
• GOD wants me to be honest when I feel low but wants me to trust HIM rather than blame HIM.

When I have problems all I have to do is look up!

• Are you complaining about your situation?
• Are you complaining about people around you?
• Can you understand that GOD is not pleased with your complaints?
• Won’t you look to HIM for grace?

Throwing a tantrum isn’t a good idea

Numbers 16: ³ They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron. They said to Moses and Aaron, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy. Every one in it is holy. And the Lord is with them. So why do you put yourselves above the Lord’s people?”

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¹² Then Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, “We won’t come! ¹³ You have brought us up out of a land that has plenty of milk and honey. You have brought us here to kill us in this desert. Isn’t that enough? Now do you also want to act as if you were ruling over us?

¹⁴ “Besides, you haven’t brought us into a land that has plenty of milk and honey. You haven’t given us fields and vineyards of our own. Are you going to poke out the eyes of these men? No! We won’t come!”

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³¹ As soon as Moses finished speaking all of those words, what he had said came true. The ground under them broke open. ³² It opened its mouth. It swallowed up those men. In fact, it swallowed up everyone who lived in their houses. It swallowed all of Korah’s men. And it swallowed up everything they owned. ³³ They went down into the grave alive. Everything they owned went down with them. The ground closed over them. They died. And so they disappeared from the community.

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Sometimes I forget that GOD doesn’t like it when I complain and throw tantrums.  When I view situations and people with a critical eye, I must be careful to remain on GOD’s side.

If I barge into circumstances with the wrong attitude, I may find myself facing GOD’s wrath instead of HIS grace.

• Are you grumbling about your situation to the LORD?
• Why do you think HE has you in this situation in the first place?
• Can you see how HE is working HIS marvelous plan in your life to grow you?
• Will you fight GOD?

Complain or Compliment

Numbers 14: ⁹ “But don’t refuse to obey him. And don’t be afraid of the people of the land. We will swallow them up. The Lord is with us. So nothing can save them. Don’t be afraid of them.”

¹⁰ But all of the people talked about killing Joshua and Caleb by throwing stones at them.

Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the Tent of Meeting. All of the people of Israel saw it. ¹¹ The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, “How long will these people make fun of me? How long will they refuse to believe in me? They refuse even though I have done many miraculous signs among them. ¹² So I will strike them down with a plague. I will destroy them. But I will make you into a greater and stronger nation than they are.”

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Slander was the weapon of choice in the corporate environment. I didn’t even think I was using it because I had convinced myself I was right in the situation. We sat in a room and came up with rebuttals and retorts to the other groups’ desires.

When I presented our desires after the other group pitched theirs I knew I had the upper hand. To my dismay Senior Management said, both ideas would not be funded and they were going to merge our fighting departments.

• Complaints are despicable.
• Complaints are low.
• Complaints are excuses wrapped in situations that I want my way and I’m not getting it.

GOD knows when I’m throwing a tantrum.  HE knows my motives and doesn’t take kindly to my complaints especially when I have fooled myself into thinking I am right.  With blind eyes I blurt out a complaint about what someone else is doing and I forget to look at how I am contributing to the situation.

• GOD loves when I accept HIS plan no matter how difficult it may look.
• GOD loves when I listen to HIM and can face difficult tasks without disobeying HIS ways.
• GOD loves when I use compliments instead of conflict to accomplish HIS goals.
• GOD loves when I let HIM do my fighting.

“My ways are not your ways” says the LORD. HE has incredible plans for me because HE has forgiven me, but HE doesn’t like when I treat HIS grace as if I deserve it. HE has blessed me thoroughly and I am eternally grateful!

• Are you complaining about something or someone?
• Have you lost your grace?
• Have you asked GOD to manage the situation no matter how bleak it looks?
• Won’t you let GOD direct the situation?

Am I shining my light?

Exodus 27: ²⁰ “Command the people of Israel to bring you clear oil that is made from pressed olives. Use it to keep the lamps burning and giving light.

²¹ “Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the Tent of Meeting. The lamps will be outside the curtain that is in front of the tablets of the covenant. The lamps must be kept burning in my sight from evening until morning. That is a law for the people of Israel that will last for all time to come.

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“What’s the purpose of serving” I said to myself in a moment of tantrum. I mean GOD doesn’t seem to listen to me anyway. Why do I have to do all this stuff? Maybe I’ll stop serving and then I will get my way.

This came after being rejected for a job that I really wanted. It was going to be my way to move back to the city where I grew up. People saw me pouting and avoided me.

• When I am down because I am not getting what I want I hide my light.
• When I am angry because of what someone else is doing I hide my light.
• When I am judgmental and excluding towards others I hide my light.

Every law is important to GOD. HE made the priests shine light for all the people to see and wants me to do the same. JESUS said “do not hide your light under a bushel” meaning not letting my lust, anger, selfishness or fear get in the way of showing others how GOD loves me. The more I pout, the more I tell people GOD doesn’t care.

• GOD cares about me so I should tell others.
• GOD loves me so I should show this with excitement.
• GOD forgives me so I should forgive others.

There are many ways to show my light. In the face of adversity I can smile. When someone is in need of a drink I can provide a meal too. If I’m facing trouble instead of being pitiful I can serve others with joy. GOD’s light and words will not come back void. In other words the smallest thing I do or say grows HIS kingdom and that’s reward enough!

• Are you pouting right now?
• Are you hiding your light because you are not getting your way?
• Can you share your faith with others by focusing on what is right?
• Won’t you help someone grow today?