HOLD ON TO YOUR ANIMAL CRACKERS

When my oldest son, Garrett, was just barely two, he and I were having some animal crackers while Isabelle finished her nap. I decided I needed some chocolate chip cookies (back then I ate cookies), and not being a rookie, as I got them out of the pantry also got him one. I asked him to bring me his animal crackers and I would give him something.

He came over excitedly. I motioned for the animal crackers and he pulled away. I asked him for them and he started to throw a fit. I started to explain that I was going to give him a cookie instead.

“A cookie! See!”

He didn’t hear any of that.

All he could hear was I was taking his animal crackers.

I said, “Honey, I’m trying to give you a cookie! Look, I’m giving you a cookie! It’s even better.”

I know I’ve heard God say this to me!

Have you ever sensed God asking you to let something go? Maybe you don’t have to sense it. Maybe it has been ripped from your hands by a crisis of some sort. Are you still begging to have your animal crackers back?

“No, God! You can’t have my… life’s expectations, image, husband, comfort level, children.” In the past, I couldn’t even hear what He was trying to give me in return. All I could hear was Him asking for me to hand Him my will.

I could not see that God was, instead, offering me the fullness of joy (Jn. 15:11). I could not hear He was offering me life (Matt. 16:25), freedom (Gal. 5:1), hope (Rom. 5:5), glory (Rom. 8:18), and heart and life chang (Phil. 1:6).

One of the common threads through humanity, an aspect of our sin nature, is a life long struggle to relinquish control. I think we all know we attempt to control others, but what about God?

Do you attempt to control God?

Doesn’t that sound blasphemous?

Might I suggest that our refusal to relinquish things (our loved ones, our circumstances, our image, our pain, our past) into the hands of God is an effort to control Him, and a lack of knowledge, or refusal to acknowledge who God is?

If we really knew who God is, not only with our heads but also with our hearts, we would withhold nothing from Him.

MEDITATE ON IT

What areas of your life have you refused to release to God? What are you afraid of?

How would meditating on God’s character impact your ability to trust Him?

Even if it is just intellectually, what “cookies” can you imagine God would exchange for your “animal crackers?”

PRAY ABOUT IT

Father God, open our eyes to Your goodness and the love You have for us. We have such a limited view of who You are. Teach us and reveal to us Your glory. Reveal to us that You are trustworthy. Forgive us when we refuse to relinquish control of the very things You have given us. Change our minds. Change our hearts. Thank You for being such a loving and generous God. Thank You for patiently waiting for us to be ready to release our lives and wills over to You. Draw us to Yourself.

LIVE IN IT

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

“And the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.” (Daniel 3:23b)

“The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in His justice and great righteousness, He does not oppress. Therefore, men revere Him, for does He not have regard for all the wise in heart?” (Job 37:23-24)