Recently, we were spending an evening at home while my wife was out of town. Being the helpful child he is, my son asked to assist me in the chores I was doing around the house. I agreed but limited his interaction with the cleaning supplies while promising he could do more in the future. After we finished I went to rest in my recliner while (I thought) the kids played. The moment I considered the need to check in on little man (because he was a little too quiet), I heard him cry out as if he’d been hurt. I ran towards the sound of his voice coming from our downstairs bathroom. I opened the door where he stood sobbing while frozen in an inch of free standing water. There was definitive evidence of an over usage of soap that left copies amounts of bubbles in the sink, the commode was still overflowing with water, and wet toilet paper was all over the floor. Aside from the apparent mess, everything looked clean (if you catch my drift). My helpful child decided he would re-clean the bathroom.  After using an entire roll of toilet paper wiping things down, logic dictated he flush the evidence. His well-meaning actions left him in a mess with the need to be rescued. His impatience simply got the best of him. As I dried him off and calmed him I said, “Baby, if you would have waited I would have allowed you to do more next time like I promised. But now you’re in a mess.”

I couldn’t be mad at him because I began reflecting on my own behavior in regards to my walk with Christ. Isn’t that how we all are from time to time? And we’re not alone. I’ve been reading in Genesis this week about Abram (Abraham before the name change). I read four separate occasions where God promised him something of great value to the men of that time– a family and, ultimately, a lineage. In Genesis 12:2 God tells him, “…I will make you a great nation…” In Genesis 13:16, “…I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth…” In a separate conversation God makes the promise again (Genesis 15:4). By this time, Abram is in his mid-eighties and he’s heard it all before. Respectfully, He calls God on His promise by referencing his heir, Eliezer of Damascus (his right-hand man) since he has no legitimate heir. God tells him, “This one shall not be your heir (Eliezer), but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” (now we’re getting a little more specific) Sometime later, he and Sarai (his wife) attempt to help God fulfill this promise by offering her maidservant to him. Abram’s firstborn son, Ishmael, eventually comes into the picture but not without his fair share of baby-momma drama. No doubt Abram was excited by his new bundle of joy as he assumed the promise has been fulfilled via Ishmael. God makes the promise again but with specificity in Genesis 17 to Abraham and Sarah (who have both now undergone a name change) stating Abraham will be the “…father of many nations..” and Sarah will birth the child that will be fulfillment of that promise. They both view it as somewhat comical as her age has rendered it a biological impossibility. We all know how the story ends. Though he had to wait 100 years to receive his promise (and fourteen years after his ignorant attempt at doing things his way – Ishmael), but Isaac was finally born.

Closing remarks and encouragement:  We go to the Father about certain aspects of our lives and, being the wonderful Daddy He is, He promises and assure us He will see us through our struggles, hurts, and more. We get so excited about the promise but frustrated with the waiting period. Our ignorant and mildly manipulative intentions prove we assume He needs our help. There’s a big difference in believing in God and actually believing God will do what He said He would do. Even the demons of hell believe in God — so we shouldn’t get too impressed with ourselves.  If you haven’t noticed, God likes to orchestrate the seemingly impossible so that only He can receive the glory. Sometimes we may misunderstand or misinterpret God’s meaning on certain issues but, make no mistake, He is true to His promises. Sometimes the best things to do is nothing at all. You’ll want to side-step or help Him along, but just wait.  Otherwise, you’ll make a big mess of things.

Have a blessed week, my friends!