What If Christmas Doesn't Happen?
She had a nervous look on her face. The look that comes from doubt.
"I'm nervous about Christmas, mommy." she said.
"Nervous? Why?" I asked.
"I'm nervous it won't be what it should be."
I knew right away what she was referring to. She was anxious that the gift she really wanted wouldn't be there on Christmas morning. She was having a hard time trusting that my husband and I were going to remember her request and make it happen on the 25th. It was out of her control to do it herself. She was forced to trust us - and in that she was having much difficulty.
I understand her anxiety. I'm very familiar with this sort of doubt and lack of trust. It's how I can feel in my relationship with God sometimes. What if He doesn't come through? What if all my expectation is for nothing? Will He let me down? Will I be disappointed? Can I fully trust that He will do what He said He will do? Can I trust that He will 'deliver' on 'Christmas'? I find myself saying to God what my daughter said to me: "I'm nervous..."
But then I stop and think. What exactly am I nervous about? Let's list it out and see what God has to say on the matter.
1) Am I nervous He isn't competent?
Well, if God can't do it, no one can.
"...with God everything is possible” (Matthew 19:26 NLT).
"I'm nervous about Christmas, mommy." she said.
"Nervous? Why?" I asked.
"I'm nervous it won't be what it should be."
I knew right away what she was referring to. She was anxious that the gift she really wanted wouldn't be there on Christmas morning. She was having a hard time trusting that my husband and I were going to remember her request and make it happen on the 25th. It was out of her control to do it herself. She was forced to trust us - and in that she was having much difficulty.
***
I understand her anxiety. I'm very familiar with this sort of doubt and lack of trust. It's how I can feel in my relationship with God sometimes. What if He doesn't come through? What if all my expectation is for nothing? Will He let me down? Will I be disappointed? Can I fully trust that He will do what He said He will do? Can I trust that He will 'deliver' on 'Christmas'? I find myself saying to God what my daughter said to me: "I'm nervous..."
But then I stop and think. What exactly am I nervous about? Let's list it out and see what God has to say on the matter.
1) Am I nervous He isn't competent?
Well, if God can't do it, no one can.
"...with God everything is possible” (Matthew 19:26 NLT).
"For no word from God will ever fail” (Luke 1:37 NIV).
2) Am I nervous He doesn't hear me?
"...he hears the prayer of the righteous" (Proverbs 15:29 NIV).
3) Am I nervous He doesn't care?
"Cast all your anxiety on him because HE CARES FOR YOU" (1 Peter 5:7 NIV).
4) Am I nervous He's not really a Good Father?
"The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is GOOD to all; he has compassion on all he has made (Psalm 145:8-9 NIV).
5) Am I nervous He isn't being truthful with me?
"God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" (Number 23:19 NIV)
It's easy for me to let doubt be the voice that rules my thinking. But doubt will always say the opposite of what is really true. Doubt distorts, giving me a false reality. But the Word of God is a sharp sword that can slash through the lies. It always brings me back to my senses and removes the fog so I can clearly see what it really true.
Oh, in case you're wondering... my daughter had a wonderful Christmas. We delivered on our promises to her - each and every one of them.
"...he hears the prayer of the righteous" (Proverbs 15:29 NIV).
3) Am I nervous He doesn't care?
"Cast all your anxiety on him because HE CARES FOR YOU" (1 Peter 5:7 NIV).
4) Am I nervous He's not really a Good Father?
"The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is GOOD to all; he has compassion on all he has made (Psalm 145:8-9 NIV).
5) Am I nervous He isn't being truthful with me?
"God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" (Number 23:19 NIV)
It's easy for me to let doubt be the voice that rules my thinking. But doubt will always say the opposite of what is really true. Doubt distorts, giving me a false reality. But the Word of God is a sharp sword that can slash through the lies. It always brings me back to my senses and removes the fog so I can clearly see what it really true.
Oh, in case you're wondering... my daughter had a wonderful Christmas. We delivered on our promises to her - each and every one of them.
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