Monday Manna: Better Than Crying Uncle

Monday Manna

"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. Isaiah 55:8-9

Do you know what my favorite stories are about? They’re about people (women) who aren’t patient enough to wait for God, so they interfere, and get into a whole mess of trouble. Then, via the expert life knot-untangler, God, something good comes, grace wins, and there is redemption in the end. Think about Rebecca, think about Rachel, think about Sarah. These were women who desperately wanted a very wantable thing. (Yes, I made that word up.) There is nothing wrong with wanting a child, wanting a spouse, or wanting your child to be blessed. There isn’t. But there is something wrong in forcing it to happen.

I think we love the stories that we best relate to, at least I do. How many times in my own life have I decided God wasn’t acting fast enough or doing things like I would? How many times have I taken back a surrendered item from God’s palms and run with it? How many times have I sat stunned, on the ground, from a tumble that resulted from my own need for control of a situation? The answer to all of these--- far, far too many times.

After each of these tumbles, God sits with open lap, and bids me with arms open. Grace spills from holy eyes, and forgiveness wraps its arms around me, fingers of love clasped tightly. “It’s going to be okay,” God says. “I will make it better again.”

Through jagged breaths I cry *uncle*. “I don’t get it. I don’t get why you help me when I’ve screwed up again. I don’t understand why you didn’t do the things I asked. I just don’t get it.”

“My ways are not your ways, dear one,” Love whispers. There is no condescension in this voice. "Just trust me, next time.”

And we hold each other and rock for a very long time.

Thank you to Joanne, for the invitation.