When my boys were little — Steve and Charles — they loved nothing more than heading out to the Davis farm. The Davises were one of our church families, and those two couldn’t wait to get out of town and “help” Brother Davis with his cows. I use the word “help” loosely, of course, seeing as they were about five and six at the time.
And Sis Davis’ country breakfasts would put any nearby Cracker Barrel out of business. I must confess that I looked forward to opportunities to go out early in the morning and pick them up so that Sis Davis would invite me to breakfast.
This simple couple became substitute grandparents for our boys (just like Sis Edwards did for our daughter Christi). Bro and Sis Davis would ask the boys, “Whose boy are you?” Steve was Sis Davis’ boy and Charles was Bro Davis’ boy. Each of the boys milked his preferred position to the hilt.
Charles took it a step further when Bro Davis wasn’t around and declared that he was my boy. “Daddy, help your boy. Daddy, get this for your boy.” And on and on.
The youngster played his “golden child” status to the hilt until the day I was talking with Bro Davis and Charles was there. “Whose boy are you now?” the old farmer asked him, knowing full well that Charles had tried to work both of us with his “your boy” theme.
The little guy was speechless because he didn’t want to lose his perceived inside track with either of us.
Are You God’s Boy or Girl?
I think we’re all thrilled to learn from God’s Word that we’re “His boy” (or “His girl”): “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are!” (1 John 3:1)
Hey, that’s a favored spot, isn’t it? But what do you do on the day when God doesn’t show up and help “his boy” or “his girl” when you thought He should have?
Where Are You, Lord?
Life being what it is, we sometimes end up in situations we don’t like, or we have dreams that aren’t fulfilled. We hurt.
Sickness, lost jobs, lies, failure, broken relationships, personal goof-ups and on and on punch hurt deep into us. What’s up with that when it seems God doesn’t show up for His child? You’d show up for your little one, wouldn’t you?
If God could do something, why didn’t He? “Lord, you could have kept this from happening. Lord, you can get me out of this. Hurry up! Have you lost your girl? Am I still your child?”
Some days “God’s boy” finds himself whimpering, “Why me?”
What To Do?
The question isn’t: are we going to have days like this? The question is: what are we going to do when it happens?
Some turn away. What advantage is it to serve God if He’s not there when you need Him? Maybe you’re like Adam and Eve when they sinned — you run away and hide. How silly to think we can hide from the One who sees and knows everything.
We may be hurting, we may be pouting, or we may be mad at God, but a good place to go when those questions tear at our gut is into the presence of God.
Tough To Spank
I heard a pastor tell the story of trying to spank his son. When the little one realized that Judgment Day had sounded, instead of running from his dad, he ran to him and latched onto his leg with all his strength.
The father confessed that it was awkward to spank the little guy as long as he held his leg, but more than that, his heart went out to the child, and the spanking was probably much milder than if the kid had run away.
Questions come, and I wish I could spare you the pain — wish I could spare myself the pain. Recently, I struggled as I prayed for someone I love going through a tough trial. And God gave a good conclusion to our prayers. I was joyful, but in my heart I still would have loved and trusted the Lord even if the result had been different.
He promised to make ALL things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. My faith is not based on my understanding of the situation but on my knowledge of God. My trust in Him is based on relationship, not on feeling.
The result?
For those who turn away from God because of pain — spiritual shipwreck.
For those who go to Him, even though the pain weighs them down for a while — strength. And we usually end up seeing God’s deliverance or receiving God’s strength and assurance.
Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Ps. 30:4–5, ESV)
Wait for it. Look for it.
If I were a weapons inventor, I would create the ultimate weapon. Here’s how it would work.
Back in the dawn of time, when television images were still black and white, a strange comedy team tickled people’s funny bone. The called themselves the “Three Stooges.” But that was an exaggeration. They weren’t even that smart.
Some days your best bet is to snuggle back under the covers, and never put your delicate little foot on the floor. It’s safer there.