A Father's Love

Sometimes, well maybe most times, I believe that God patiently waits for us to finish our temper tantrums. We kick and scream and cry about our heartbreaks while God sits and waits for us, usually out of sight, but never far away, until we're finished. While we are breathless and exhausted, He gently approaches, brushes the hair from our faces, then drying our eyes, He whispers "Come with me." And I love how He always, without fail, always shows us something beautiful!

I'm reading The Shack right now and without telling much of anything I'll admit there is one such (and I expect several other) moments just like this. It occurred to me that there are so many examples of this tantrum and release in the bible. I think of David being pursued by Saul, Abraham and Sarah waiting on their promised son, and even one my favorite stories Elijah on mount Horeb.

Exhausted, frustrated, and alone Elijah heads to mount Horeb to get clarity from God on just what is going on. 1 Kings 19 opens with Elijah being threatened by the king's wife Jezebel. Afraid, he flees to the mountain where he weeps himself to sleep to be awakened by an angel who gives him food and drink, and tells him to go back to sleep, twice. I love this story because it is a clear picture of His heart for us, not as a scary an ominous God, but as a tender and patient Father. In fact I think that is what most of these stories have in common.

So then I began to think about all of the stories that weren't in the bible but I sense were there. I thought about women like Sarah and Elizabeth who were well past the age of menopause believing that God was going to keep His promise to them and make them mothers. I thought about Joseph in that prison, wondering if this cell meant that God had forgotten about him and His promise for him.

We have this image in our mind of faith as this stoic or maybe even Stepford-esque joy, complete with plastered on smiles and well prepared religious responses, but what if God is saying "I am a big enough Father to handle your temper tantrums. I don't stop loving you when you get frustrated, I don't take my promises back when you collapse in anger or weariness or fear. Tell me your troubles I want to hear everything. I only ask that when you bring them, you leave them."

Have you ever finished a really good cry and felt empty like "That's it, there's nothing else, I literally cried my guts out." I think that those are the moments that God says "Great! Now I can pour into you." Isn't that tremendous! That He takes all that sorrow pain and anguish and reveals something greater through all of it. I love Him!

Dear Abba,

Thank you for Your patience with us. Thank you for never leaving us alone, for crying with us, and when we're done, picking us up. Give us the courage to cry and surrender to You because we understand that You desire a broken and contrite heart more than sacrifice. We love you, honor and praise You even (and especially) through tears. In Jesus' name we pray,

Amen