When did it become taboo to counsel people to trust God? Every time I read the Bible I am confronted with the same words, "Trust ME." God knows that I don't trust Him as I ought, so He has jam-packed His love letter to me with reminders of His faithfulness. Yet, when I talk to people about the things I'm wrestling with (Jacob style) they rarely counsel me to trust God. This is not a judgment on my friends, I do the same thing. So why do we not encourage each other to trust God? Are we too scientific for that, or is it that we are control freaks?
When I talk to people about our inability to get pregnant I hear all kinds of things. Some have suggested that I talk to their friends or family members who have had infertility issues. As if somehow a bunch of frustrated, depressed, confused, angry women in a room together is a good idea! Some have asked me why we haven't just done any number of fertility treatments that worked for some distant relative or friend of theirs. Right, because I'm made of money, and would love to spend everything I have on something that is a maybe, and for many women is a no. Some have laughed it off like, why would you want kids (while they are holding a screaming toddler who just doesn't want to obey mommy.) I admit, other people's children have the capacity to make me want to get a hysterectomy, and yet I know from talking to these same stressed out mommies that when it is good it is better-than-amazing good. And then there are the times where I just have to walk away while people are telling me that acupuncture, special foods, and adopting will magically open up my womb.
It is a rare friend who will tell me that they don't understand why this is happening, but they do understand that I need to trust God. I can't tell you how valuable that is to a person in the depths of despair. Reaffirming truth that the person already knows, not in a "please stop crying, this is awkward" way, but in a "I love you too much to let you deny the truth" way, can help them remember who is in control of this mess called life. Even in the times where it aggrivates me to hear AGAIN that I need to fully rely on God, I am eventually thankful for the reminder that I have to submit all things to Him, not just the things that I'm joyful about.
But how do I break the taboo around the truth? I guess that is where genuine fellowship comes in. If I am in someone's life, and we are holding each other accountable, then I should be bold enough to remind my friend to trust God, even when it hurts. I should be humble enough to hear it from someone who loves me enough to say it.
Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours be done.
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