Did my Kids Really Say that?
It is seven o'clock in the evening and all is unusually quite. My wife is still
at work and my kids are… Uh, where ARE my kids?
I look to my dying neurons for the answer, desperately struggling to recall what
my boys might have told me about this evening . . . "Cleaning stalls!" I tell
myself. Yes, that had to be it! It's Tuesday, and they are at the stable
cleaning stalls! "Wait a minute," cries out my inner voice. "That means I need
to pick them up! What time do they usually finish? 6:30?" As I glance at the
clock, panic begins to rise: It's already 7:00! "Relax Rob," whispers another
voice. "They ALWAYS call when they are finished and NO ONE has called . . ."
"No!" Screams out the panic again. "I'm STILL on the INTERNET! They couldn't
reach me if they tried! I forgot about my own kids!"
Rushing to put my shoes on, I storm for the door; but something in the family
room catches my eye. I stop in my tracks. Isn't that my youngest son reading on
the couch? But how can it be? He's at the stable! Or . . . Could it be my
imagination??? But no, there he is . . . Then it comes to me: It isn't Tuesday,
it's Monday! They never clean stalls on Monday!
Have you ever had a day like that? You doubt what you remember hearing, what you
remember your spouse saying, what you say yourself. You go through the day
thinking that surely you have forgotten something . . .
And why not? When we run on adrenaline all the time, it's more than easy to
overlook important details. In our world today, stress and more stress are our
constant companions; but in addition to the stress, we have also learned not to
trust people. Commercials make empty promises, your colleagues disappoint you
constantly, your own family members seem sometimes to be so distant. What has
gone wrong?
Often these disappointments lead us to doubt the intentions of others. The
danger in this is that when we lose faith in humanity, it often leads us to lose
faith in God. The cares and disillusionments of this world can lead us to forget
how different our Heavenly Father really is, and may even cause us to forget
that God has NEVER gone back on His word. He has ALWAYS come through for us.
Even Jesus' disciples faced moments like these: "'Don't you remember? When I
broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did
you pick up?' 'Twelve,' they replied. 'And when I broke the seven loaves for the
four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?' They answered,
'Seven.' He said to them, 'Do you still not understand?'" (Mark 8:18-21 NIV)
How easy it is to forget those intimate moments with God, to pursue our
wanderings in the labyrinth of this confusing life! Even though God is always
with us, at moments like these, God may seem distant. We risk becoming deceived
by the circumstances of life, and we tend to forget His promises.
It doesn't hit us hard until God reminds us that faith in Him is what the true
eternal battle is about. We have been led into grave deception without even
realizing it, and we risk letting that deception pit us against trusting God.
When we start doubting God's promises, we are heading towards dangerous grounds!
"But I never doubt God!" You say. "What do you mean?"
I have no doubt that you do believe in the existence of God and of His eternal
love for you. However let me ask the following questions:
How do you react when you feel abandoned by everyone, even God? Do you take to
heart the following promise? "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of
the age." (Matt 28:20 NIV)
How do you react in the face of temptation, especially the attractive ones? Do
you rely on this promise? "If you think you are standing firm, be careful that
you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And
God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But
when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up
under it." (1 Cor 10:12-13 NIV)
How do you react when you feel the pressures of work, life and family
obligations? Do you take comfort in the following promise? "Come to me, all you
who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and
learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for
your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt 11:28-30 NIV)
How do you face your numerous and annoying sleepless nights? Do you believe in
the following promise? "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest
in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my
fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'" (Ps 91:1-2 NIV)
How do you deal with people who are vehemently looking for ways to destroy you?
Do you rest on this promise? "If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the
LORD, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come
near your tent." (Ps 91:9-10 NIV)
Friends, do we REALLY believe these promises? Do they come to mind when we face
such desperate situations? If the answer is truly "yes", then there is NO NEED
to worry! "I tell you, do not worry about your life." (Matt 6:25 NIV); and
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matt 6:34 NIV)
We may forget what friends and family may have asked us to do, but may we NEVER
forget God's faithfulness towards us. He always keeps His promises! Let us stand
on them and live a victorious life!
"This is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith." (1 John 5:4 NASU)
Where did my kids say they would be again? In the family room?
May we never forget God's promises!
Rob Chaffart