Mothers seem especially good at worrying. We are designed to look after and care for our families, and so we are easily targeted to become worriers. But the problem with worrying is it is a complete waste of time. It accomplishes nothing good. As Jesus said, we can’t even get one hair to change color by worrying, so what makes us think worrying will keep our kids safe or pay the bills? It’s a futile activity.
But we must take some perverse pleasure in it, or else we wouldn’t do it. My own personal opinion is this: something happens that drives home to us how entirely dependent on God we are for our preservation, and the flesh panics and thinks something like, “You mean I’m not in charge? God is?” When the children are all safely tucked into their beds, we feel satisfied that we have everything under control. But when one of them is off on a skiing trip, or really sick, or driving in bad weather, we feel vulnerable. We can’t see them. We can’t protect them. These times are so very good for a mother’s soul. Realizing that our children and our grandchildren, the born and the unborn, are all completely, totally, absolutely, and perfectly in God’s hands should set us free from worry. If things really were in our hands and not in God’s hands, then we would have a reason to worry. But thanks be to God, that is not the case. We are all in His divine, omnipotent care. He has numbered our days. He orders our steps. The more we believe this with evangelical faith, the more we will be set free from worrying because we will see it for what it is — unbelief. God loves us and He loves our children more than we do. What a great relief and blessing the truth always is. Wisdom doesn’t worry.
Years ago when my three were very small, I remember one day in particular feeling pretty swamped. I felt like I was shoveling all day to get everything done, and then the next day the pile was back again, same size as the day before. But this morning in particular must have been a real doozy because I called my mother-in-law for a little moral support. She did not respond with the pity that I had hoped for, but (something much better) she told me a couple of things that I have never forgotten.
First she pointed out that I didn’t really have it so bad. She told me a story about a missionary who was being persecuted for his faith, arrested, and hung by his feet in a cell. His wife came and fed him and ministered to him in this condition. So, in other words, she told me to quit feeling so sorry for myself, and that I didn’t have near the trouble that I
Continue reading ‘How’s Your Flock Doing?’
But a Christian finds satisfaction in every circumstance by getting strength from another, by going out of himself to Jesus Christ, by his faith acting upon Christ, and bringing the strength of Jesus Christ into his own soul, he is thereby enabled to bear whatever God lays on him, by the strength that he finds from Jesus Christ. Of his fullness do we receive grace for grace; there is strength in Christ not only to sanctify and save us, but strength to support us under all our burdens and afflictions, and Christ expects that when we are under any burden, we should act our faith upon him to draw virtue and strength from him. -Jeremiah Burroughs
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June 4, 2007 in
From Me.
When we had just two small children, one and three years old, we were looking for a house to rent. I envisioned something with a lot of charm: hardwood floors, a fireplace, a nice fenced back yard. But the house simply would not materialize. We searched and looked and prayed and kept driving by one horrible dive after another. Some friends of ours owned a very uncharming duplex on a culdesac. They asked us if we wanted to rent it. No, thanks. We kept looking. And that duplex just stayed open for us, despite my prayers that it would be filled.I think I had an ominous feeling that we were going to have to rent that place. After a summer of this, it seemed clear that we would have to go look at the duplex (I had seen it before because some friends of ours had lived in it). I was not excited. But lo and behold, there was new carpet, new paint, and the place was clean as a whistle. Maybe this would work after all. We had no choice but to rent it. It was while we lived at that duplex that I learned many things. One Continue reading ‘Small and Simple’
Meekness teaches and enables us patiently to bear the anger of others, which property of meekness we have special occasion for in reference to our superiors and equals. Commonly, that which provokes anger is anger, as fire kindles fire; now meekness prevents that violent collision which forces out these sparks, and softens at least one side, and so puts a stop to a great deal of mischief; for it is the second blow that makes a quarrel. – Matthew Henry
The world’s definition of wisdom is the power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action, based on knowledge, experience, understanding, etc.; good judgment; discretion; sagacity.
Though this is a good working definition, the Bible has far more to say about wisdom, and it takes wisdom to understand wisdom. But let’s give it a go. If you just read through the book of Proverbs and take note of every reference to wisdom, you will learn a lot about it. Here are just a few things from Proverbs.
We are to get wisdom, pursue wisdom, seek wisdom, find wisdom, love wisdom, exalt wisdom, take hold of wisdom, and keep wisdom. All those who succeed in finding wisdom find life and grace, for wisdom is precious (better than gold, silver, or rubies), her ways are pleasant and peaceful, and she bestows safety, preservation, long life, promotion, riches, honor, and happiness on those who find her. Proverbs 19:8 sums it up: “He who gets wisdom loves his own soul.”
That sounds pretty appealing to me. What in the world could hinder us in finding such a Continue reading ‘Get Wisdom’
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