“Tommy, it's time for bed.”
“I want a popsicle,” Tommy replies.
“No, it's too late. Go put on your pj's.”
“I WANT A POPSICLE!” Tommy screams.
“Tommy, I said 'no'. It's time for bed. You're tired and need your rest,” Mother calmly replies.
“NOOOO,” Tommy cries as a full temper tantrum erupts. He cries and falls onto the floor. “I WANT A POPSICLE!!!”
Dad has heard the screaming and asks what's going on. Before Mom can reply, Tommy once again screams while thrashing on the floor, his face red with anger, “I WANT A POPSICLE.”
Dad, in his stern authoritative voice replies, “No, Tommy. It's late and past your bedtime.”
Tommy just doesn't understand why he cannot have a popsicle. He knows he will be punished, but continues his temper tantrum hoping he will get his own way. Instead, Dad picks him up. “You're going to bed. Lights off, no TV, no games … You will not act like this.” Tommy continues his tantrum; now fully aware of how tired he is which only makes him angrier because he knows Mom and Dad are right.
We usually think of only children having temper tantrums such as Tommy's. But how often do we, as adults, have temper tantrums with God.
“Lord, I really want this in my life.”
“No,” He replies. “This is not what is best for you nor is it in My plan for your life.”
“But I WANT it, Lord!”
“No.”
“LORD, I WANT IT!” and, unknowingly, our spirit falls to the floor in a full fit of rage. We don't stop to consider His words, that what we want is not in our best interest. We only know we want it, whether it is a material possession or a relationship.
God answers every prayer. Sometimes, however, the answer is a simple ‘no’. In our stubborn human hearts, we really hate that word ‘no.’ We think we know what will make us happy. We feel we are in charge of our own lives. But what happens when God tells us 'no' and we do it anyway? We find that God was right; what we thought we needed in our life only makes us miserable. Then to whom do we appeal to make things right? … God.
Our lives would be so much less complicated if we listened to our Father instead of throwing a 'fit'; if we completed trusted His word and realized He only wants the best for us. “For I know the thought that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope,” (Jer 29:11).
Trust Him; God never fails.