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As a young mother, I endeavored to “train a child in the way he should go,” so that “when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). A decade later, however, I wasn’t reaping the results I had expected. Angrily, I said to God, “But this isn’t the way it was supposed to be! This isn’t the way it went for this family here or that family over there. And this isn’t the way it was supposed to be for my family!”
Like a little girl who doesn’t get what she wants, I threw a spiritual tantrum. I used all my time and energy to battle God. Then one day, I finally took a breath during my rantings to listen, and God seemed to say, “But, Elizabeth, this is the way it is. Now what are you going to do about the way it really is?” I realized I had to quit fussing, get up, and go on. I needed to embrace God’s presence for my present rather than denying the reality that was before me. After all, my denial wasn’t helping anything.
Because of my unmet expectations, and my longing for other results for my family, I was postponing any action. Because I didn’t like what was on my plate, I was failing to do anything to try to improve my actual situation and the circumstances surrounding my family. And as long as I had that attitude—as long as I didn’t accept reality—no progress or solution was possible.
I know now that I was not alone in the reality of these difficulties. Other people struggle—I know many women who refuse to face reality when it comes to their marriages or their children. It seems that our fantasies, expectations, and dreams about what family life will be are usually quite different from the truth.
We are faced with a question. What does God want me to pursue as a solution, a remedy, a plan? Once we accept reality—the reality of the struggles with our children, the condition of our marriage, our family, our job, whatever—we can then use our time and energy to make that reality better.
The challenge is to accept what is real and acknowledge that God oversees every detail of your life (2 Timothy 1:9)—your marriage, your family, your relationships, your job, every situation and every circumstance. This knowledge will help you to act on what is true and real today (Philippians 4:8), rather than resent reality and idly wait for fantasies to magically materialize.
Beloved, with a heart full of faith and hope, with God by your side, and by His great grace, you can love Him…no matter what has—or is—happening to you.
Lord, help me to face the trials in my life, taking action and relying on Your Presence to guide me. Amen.
This printable is a great reminder for any adult or teen to cover every decision in prayer.
What action are you postponing by denying the reality of a specific circumstance in your life?
God oversees every detail of your life—your marriage, your family, your relationships, your job, every situation and every circumstance.
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Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
How did men and women in the Bible accomplish great things for God? There wasn’t any secret formula or bestselling book on success for them. In fact, they were ordinary people like you and me. What made them effective was their willingness to obey God—one decision at a time.
