What Were You Thinking?

Amazing how one phrase can be spoken from a position of authority, self-criticism and conviction.

What were you thinking?

We hope and pray that we are teaching and instilling good values and principles in our kids. Then something happens.
We hope and pray that we are hearing the voice of God and the moving of the Spirit... but then.
Then there are times you know you have missed God and you envision Him sitting on the throne, as if shaking His head.

To the kid... what were you thinking?
In frustration to ourselves... boy, it sure feels as though you did something stupid.
And conviction, that results in a heart to heart conversation with God.

Somewhere between childhood and adulthood and over the course of the journey of our faith, we seemingly lose our resilience to recover when you would think that the muscle would be in good shape to continually press in and press on. It seems that with bigger problems, obstacles and mistakes that we hang on to them longer, allow them to bother us deeper and give them greater power to rob more of our joy than they should.

But whatever is that we face and now, must overcome, it's imperative to recall and remember that God is still in control. Wherever we find ourselves while it is called today, God is with us. Is the conversation difficult? Yes. The consequence uncomfortable? Yes. The correction worthwhile? Yes.

Even in our lives though, I think all too often we are harder on ourselves than even God is with us at times. Does God deal just and harsh? Yes. But also He works everything for His good and does not waste any of our experiences. Which means that at some point, God is ready to be glorified through the problem and the pain But He can't do that, if we are still kicking ourselves trying to figure out what we were thinking regarding whatever circumstance has seemingly stopped us cold in our tracks.

God is ready to move. Again. In the lives of those who will allow Him to do so. As much as you wouldn't want your kid to wallow in self-pity and defeat, neither is that what God desires to happen in our lives and faith.

So, let's pray this #youthPastorWednesday that God would help those struggling to overcome the problems, obstacles and mistakes that currently weigh them done. May God bring healing to those who need to put the past where it belongs. Pray that God would grant wisdom to those in the midst of it all and are seeking and searching for a solution. Pray that depression and discouragement would be far from them and that they would focus on what and how God would seek to use what was meant to destroy us to instead, bring glory and honor to His name.

For whatever we were thinking
That led to problems
God is thinking about amazing solutions
And the testimonies that will result.
For His glory alone.

- PNC