When You Don't Get What You Want

"A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." - Proverbs 16:9

Have you ever been upset because you did not get your way? I am thinking about raising children.  They want to do something and for whatever reason - hopefully a good one - you step in and make a decision that is counter to what they had planned.  What is at the root of the response by your child? It's respect for and submission to authority, or lack of it. Not always getting your way is a lesson that we all must learn to succeed in life. Children do not have the experience to properly make many decisions and so as parents, we help them. Although they may not consider it to be helpful at the time. Emotions and logic are very often at odds with each other. In the Christian context so are emotions and faith. 

"For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world." - 1 John 2:16

The "flesh" is all about emotions. If the flesh relied on logic, then nearly all of the problems caused by yielding to what the flesh wants would be avoided. Wouldn't that be nice? But that is not reality, is it? Emotions will cloud our spiritual vision and mute the voice of the Spirit. We will yield to our plans and devices to our emotions, what we want, resisting the Lord's direction. Why?

"All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." - Isaiah 53:6

Getting what you want when you want it is the nature of fallen man. It started in the Garden. God has an eternal plan - man thinks he knows better. Choosing our own way has not gone well and that will not change. What is lacking is respect and submission to God's authority. Apart from spiritual conversion that will never happen. That is why God sent His Son. 

God will not tell you whether to tie your shoestrings in a single or double knot, but He has revealed His will and makes it plain through His Spirit the way we should go. It all gets down to a submitted heart and willingness to walk by faith and not by sight, or emotions.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone