I'm not an expert on children (that's my wife), but I do have twin 3 and 1/2 year old boys. So I feel like I'm an expert in whining. We are working hard on teaching our boys about whining and using their, "big boy" voice when asking for things or when describing how they feel when they don't get their way. I'll just say it's a process or staying in synch with this blog, it's a journey.
The other day I was working with one of our boys who was whining and the thought occurred to me that I shouldn't be too hard on him, since I'm pretty sure I do my fair share of whining to God. I whine about how things don't always turn out perfectly for me. I whine about what I want. I whine about what I don't want. I whine about what I get and what I don't get. I wish there was someone there to tell me to quit whining, use my "big boy" voice and describe with words my feelings.
There is nothing wrong with asking God for something. There is nothing wrong with a feeling of disappointment when things don't go the expected way. God is big enough for those feelings and those conversations. But what are we really saying when we whine to God?
We are saying we don't believe him enough to wait. We say we are going to trust him for what is best, rather than what we think is best. In some ways we are putting the power and glory into our own hands and not into God's.
God's ears are hearing our voice, but when we whine we are a little out of tune. We need to tune our voice to ask, even if persistent, with a faith that whether it goes our way or not we still would rather it be in God's hands. He appreciates our petitions and revels in our faithfulness.
The other day I was working with one of our boys who was whining and the thought occurred to me that I shouldn't be too hard on him, since I'm pretty sure I do my fair share of whining to God. I whine about how things don't always turn out perfectly for me. I whine about what I want. I whine about what I don't want. I whine about what I get and what I don't get. I wish there was someone there to tell me to quit whining, use my "big boy" voice and describe with words my feelings.
There is nothing wrong with asking God for something. There is nothing wrong with a feeling of disappointment when things don't go the expected way. God is big enough for those feelings and those conversations. But what are we really saying when we whine to God?
We are saying we don't believe him enough to wait. We say we are going to trust him for what is best, rather than what we think is best. In some ways we are putting the power and glory into our own hands and not into God's.
God's ears are hearing our voice, but when we whine we are a little out of tune. We need to tune our voice to ask, even if persistent, with a faith that whether it goes our way or not we still would rather it be in God's hands. He appreciates our petitions and revels in our faithfulness.
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