“There is protection in obedience”! How many times have I heard myself utter these words? I have said them hundreds of times, especially as I teach my kids about the commandments and the laws of Holy Mother Church, or as I teach them about following the rules of our family, or as I encourage other wives to be submissive to our God given authority figures – our husbands, pastors, etc. always, always, always with the caveat – in all things but sin!
I have strongly believed these words for many years, notice I did not say all my life! I have believed them because I have been protected many times by living them. Protected from my sinful tendencies, my natural, very human tendencies. Obedience protects me from myself, mostly. These words, when lived out, have protected my marriage. These words lived out have no doubt protected me and my children from bodily harm as well.
These words are easy to live by when we understand and agree with the God given authority in our lives, but what if I do not agree? What if I think the decisions made could or should be different? Well – that is when faith and trust are needed! Simple, but not easy, and I have not even mentioned the waiting – waiting to see how it all plays out – how God will show up, because He always does – how will He bless obedience, because He always does! I read a sign the other day that said, “ pray – wait – trust” Praying is a breeze – it is the waiting and trusting that are difficult!
Hubby and I have had to make some very difficult parenting calls lately – remember I have one adult child who is on his own, one adult child who still lives at home, two high schoolers, and two who still need a momma! Because of our different backgrounds and experiences, my husband and I do not always agree on how to make those calls. Even though my hubby is a good, prayerful, discerning man, I still struggle with trusting and obeying. Over the years, I have seen how he models so much more perfectly than I the image of God the Father in his parenting style. That is beautiful, but difficult to comprehend sometimes for me who has come to know God the Father late in life. It is also difficult to balance modeling for our kids God’s love and mercy while still having to teach our children how to live in this world and not be of this world.
Add to that oh how complicated it can all seem as our kids reach that age of majority when they have to make the choice to accept and live all that we have taught them! Talk about trust…
Anyway, God led me to Ephesians 6:4 this week during prayer time. “Father’s do not provoke your children to anger…” He is still comforting me about hubby’s parenting style because I am such a wimp. I trust, then I doubt. I am understanding one minute, then questioning the next.
Lord – thank You – that You are constant and unchanging, because I am not! Praise You that You are God, and I am not! Thank You that there really is protection and blessings in obedience – despite how I feel, or my lack of trust! Thank You for loving me so much as to continue to teach and reteach Your Word and truth!
