Parent Relationship

I was thinking the other day about how basically I have been without meaningful employment for the last couple years and that others may be able to relate.   This has been a time where my faith has been challenged and I have had to sort things out.

In the Bible Jesus told me not to worry about what I will wear, what I will eat or where I will live.  But when I still have a stack of bills and no money to pay them, it can make you think that this Bible stuff may be bogus.

For me, that’s when I start to think, that’s when I begin to pray for clarity, for some kind of answer.  We are told in the Bible that God disciplines us as a father disciplines his son.

So how do fathers and children relate?  First and foremost they love each other.  The parent counts on this love being present in the child when they continue to strive with the most disobedient child long after everyone else has given up. If they can just fan that love into a flame, the child can be saved.

The child relies on that love to believe the parent will always be there, even when the child has rebelled and caused the parent great pain the child still expects the parent to be there for them.

Unfortunately many children and parents fall short of this standard but never the less, most of us would acknowledge that this is part of the ideal in a parent/child relationship.

So back to where we find ourselves.  I believe because I am a child of God John 1:12 said to those who received Him and believed on His name, He gave the right to become God’s children.  As God’s child I will be disciplined.  As with my parents, the discipline is given based on love.  As parents we don’t discipline our children because we enjoy inflicting pain.  (If we do there’s something wrong with us).   We do it so they can learn and grow. Remember, the love that our parents have for us and ours for them is based solely on our relationship and so it is with God.

In Romans Chapter 8 vs. 28 it says God will work “ALL” things for good for those who love Him and are called (hear the voice and follow) by His Spirit.  God is not our parent unless he is our father.   Once he is our father we can live our life knowing that, even though things are tough, He will finish what He started.

Now for me to always believe this can be difficult.  Don’t forget about the pile of bills.   But what else could possibly build faith?  When things are going great and we have plenty of cash and no worries, will that build our faith and trust, not so much?  It is during the difficult times that we learn whether what God says is true or not.  Unfortunately many never get to find out because they never become God’s child.

Even while writing this I still admit that I wonder, what other options have I?  When I look at them all I am convinced that my best bet is Jesus Christ.  My most consistent relationship is with God.  How does God become my parent?  By adoption, we ask and He receives.  Just ask Him.