Learnable Moments For Moms: Devotions To Discover God In The EverydayНамуна

My toddler’s deepest surge of feeling injustice comes out when I take something away from her. It doesn’t matter if I warn her ahead of time that I’m going to have to take it. She doesn’t care if I am taking it as a consequence of an action. Sometimes the thing I am taking isn’t even hers and I have to give it back to someone else that she took it from. The specific scenario doesn’t matter, if I take something away, she is indignant. 

“Not just take that away!” she yells. Sometimes she evens holds something out to give to me, and when I reach to take it, she yanks it back in disbelief that I would even consider doing such a thing! The sense of something belonging to her apparently started early and strong. 

READ

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 

James 1:2-5

APPLY

Most of the trials that we face in life involve a loss. It could be the loss of someone we love. It could be the loss of something, such as a physical possession. It could be an ability or our health. Maybe it is the loss of a position, within our family, job, or church. We can even lose a perception such as our identity or reputation. How many times do we get angry with God when He takes something away from us? Rather than thanking Him for being the One who gave it to us in the first place, we tend to only focus on the fact that we no longer have it. While it is difficult to have a perspective of gratitude in the midst of releasing something, we must remember that God uses these seasons of receiving and releasing to grow us into the likeness of Christ. The only way to become mature is to grow through these seasons of loss and allow ourselves to let go of the good in order to receive the best, trusting in God's enduring love for us.

PRAY

Father, I am sorry if I have allowed myself to blame you for a loss rather than thanking you for the many blessings in my life. Help me to see how I can grow in each loss as it comes and to trust that you have my best interests in mind.

REFLECT

What am I holding on to that I need to release today?