—————————————————————————–

Dear Friends:

This is the eighth in a series of messages on fretting and worry. Thank you for all the responses. Clearly these are problems that most of us grapple with in one way or another. God is gracious and is quite willing to grapple with us.

There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.”

– C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce, Chapter 9

We turn now to a common problem of fretting–bargaining with God for the result that we want which generally speaking is the coincidence of his will with ours.

Jacob’s ambition and impatient pursuit of his destiny broke his most intimate relationships and drove him to a dark and empty place. There he lay in a hard and unyielding position because he couldn’t see any more to go on. In that night, God sent Jacob a dream of connection and blessing:

“‘Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’”Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place–and I did not know it!’And he was afraid, and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven” (Gen.28:10-17).

The morning light with its promise of a new day and improved security brought back the old spirit of selfishness. It was just so hard to give up on his way even when God told him that he would give him everything. Why trust God when you can do it for yourself? Doesn’t the Lord help them who help themselves? GRACE? Who needs grace when you are young, quick, and clever? So Jacob played the angles and bargained with God on the terms and conditions of his future even after God promised him unconditional love and grace. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: A Word of Grace, Kent Hansen, worry