I Got It

Titus was two years old at the time, but wanted to be four like his sister Sadie. On this particular day, he wanted his chair at the kitchen counter right beside Sadie, to help Nana cook. There was only one problem. The chair was much bigger than him but he was convinced that he could move it all by himself.

I heard him grunting and groaning as he struggled to get the chair from underneath the table. I quickly ran over to help him, but he snapped, “I got it, Nana!” He refused any help, so Sadie and I went on about the cooking business. Cookie dough mixed and flour spread everywhere, the kitchen was filled with laughter and fun. Well, most of the kitchen that is. There was one little corner where the chair was now pushed and shoved against the wall. He pulled and prodded and groaned a little louder in frustration. After numerous attempts to help him, I tired to ignore his rants of, “I got it! I do it!” All the time the cooking project was coming to an end. Finally in exhaustion, he cried out, “Help me Nana, Help me!” I ran over and with one hand quickly moved the chair into position, lifting his exhausted little body to the counter.

There was a slight problem! The project was now complete. Cookies ready for the oven and no fun helping left for Titus. Of course I gave him a bowl and spoon to pretend; a dishrag and some water, but he quickly lost interest because sister was on to something new and exciting in the other room and he had missed out on the fun.

How many times do we hold on to our stubborn self and miss God’s best? We want to be so strong, mature and independent and do it all by ourselves. We grunt and groan through life that is bigger than us, only to miss God’s best. Others even come alongside to help us, but in our pride, we refuse any help.

“Help? Who needs help? I’ve got this all by myself.”

“Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward.” Jeremiah 7:24

We all entered the world with this two-year-old stubborn spirit that strongly demands to be independent. We often move backward instead of forward. Oh, He will let you do it your own way. He will let you push and shove, grunt and groan. He will reach out to help you, but all the time, the clock is ticking and you are missing God’s best.

Where are you pushing the chair into the wall, while your Good Good Father waits to help you? Whatever wall you are staring at I can promise you He is near. Turn your head and look. Lay down your pride like dough on a floured board and let Him move you into position. I can promise you that His way and His timing are always best.

I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief. You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.” You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life. Lamentations 3:55-58

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.”As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Is. 55:8-9