2016-02-11 THRIVE

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Kent Ross

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Feb 11, 2016, 6:40:26 AM2/11/16

to THRIVE, Frigge, Doug, Outram, Chuck & Nellie (KI-Sp), Perkins, Dan, Ray, Ron & Thelma, Richard Umbaugh, Russ Stocke, Zook, Jack, Siderius, Jennifer

THRIVE MINISTRIES
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February 11, 2016 – Thursday Morning E-Devotional

"THRIVING Through a Tantrum" - By Jennifer A. Siderius (Maryland)

“The Terrible Twos.” Before having a child, this phrase amused me, as did the stories told by friends with children in the terrible twos. Then I had a child and quickly found the phrase “the terrible twos” to be so appropriate! A two-year-old can go from a loving, happy child to throwing a major, screaming temper tantrum in just seconds.

I’d like to state that my child is perfect and the terrible twos don’t happen in our house. But that would be a bold-faced lie. We’re in them—daily. Lately, I’ve learned that her worst temper tantrums arise when I ask her to stop doing an activity that she enjoys so that we can continue to the next activity. These transitions are rough as she never wants to stop ______ (fill in the blank with coloring, snuggling, reading, whatever the desired activity of the moment is) to move on, even if the next activity is even better than the first!

Two weeks ago, as we struggled together to transition from one activity to the next, it hit me that at times in life, I act as if I’m in “the terrible twos.” Grabbing hold of whatever is going on at the moment, I stubbornly cling to it, reluctant to relinquish control. Perhaps that activity isn’t in God’s will for me, and He has prepared something even better, but I still act like a two-year-old. Watching me fuss, cry and call out, “Why?”, God must surely wonder why I am in the terrible twos of my spiritual life.

Life transitions are difficult. How do we handle them? Do we trust that God has something better in store for us? Or, do we tenaciously cling to the past, not wanting to allow God to work in our lives? When I survey my life, it strikes me that at the moments I put up a fuss, God was working to lead me to something more meaningful and showcasing His grace and mercy to me. Like a watchful parent of a toddler, He knows His plan and His working for our good.

Though God was speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the exiles in Babylon, I feel that the verse Jeremiah 29:11 still speaks to all of His children today. “For I know the plans I have for you, “ declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV) Lord, help me to trust in you today.