Does God take things away? Job 1:21 says that the “…Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord”. In my human reasoning, (not the fruitful way to reason with God) I had trouble relating to a God who takes away. From my personal experiences, I had much taken from me and I did not equate someone who takes away as someone who loves me. See what I mean? Consequently, I had a battle in the background of my mind about the love of God toward me if He takes things away.
Once again, God spoke through my pastor, Asa Dockery, and shed new light on a question that I pondered quietly for a few years. Sometime in February – okay – I forgot to journal the date – but I wrote the expression because it caught my attention. Pastor was quite expressive when he explained what our Lord said. “Jesus said, “You ain’t give up squat. Look at what I’m going to give you when you let it go.” I love our pastor’s southern drawl and speaking style. He pulls no punches. Anyway, I considered what he said and the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart.
He brought to mind the times when all four of our children were infants and toddlers. We had to go through a stage when each one had to give up their pacifier. Our daughter had a favorite bear and one son had a favorite blanket as well as pacifiers. Coaxing each one of them to give up their “security” took some doing. I’m sure many can relate to what I am saying. As their parents, we knew it would be very silly for them as young adults, still getting comfort from a pacifier. Then God said to me, “well, you are still trying to get comfort from “this” and I have something better for you if you will give up your pacifier, Georgia.”
I cried, just like each one of our children did. But not because I did not want to let my pacifier go, but because I realized that I had believed a lie about God’s character. He never takes anything away. We really don’t have to give up “squat”. Just like we coaxed our young children gently into laying down their infant pacifiers so that they could pick up something better, God only asks us to do the same. I think that many of His children are still carrying around their pacifiers. By laying down the thing that was a temporary fix, we can pick up what God has for us.
Do you see it? So, in actuality, God never asks us to give up anything – only to lay down something in order to pick up the next thing that He has waiting for us. If you are holding on to something and are afraid to let it go, ask your Father to help you grow up. Honestly, He has something better that brings much more comfort than an old pacifier.
TheTruthAboutaWoman 