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The Devotional Diva - Don’t Mess With God’s Kids!
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The Devotional Diva - Don’t Mess With God’s Kids!
By Barbara Gobbs
Executive Assistant and Ministry Partner - Pocket Full of Change Ministries
“The LORD is a warrior. The LORD is His name.” Exodus 15:3 (NASB)
“The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.” Exodus 14:14 (NASB)
“I can take you over here.” Those were welcome words to this weary shopper. I gazed in the direction of the voice and noticed that it came from the checkout line next to me. Yet, the sign over her register clearly stated “CASH ONLY.”
I frowned and waved my checkbook at the friendly face but she motioned for me to come anyway. My purchases were few and there was no one else in sight. Gladly, I hopped over to her lane. I was there all by myself for at least an entire 30 seconds!
As she rang up the last item and pronounced my total, I swiftly began to write my check. I didn’t want to delay any of the folks now gathered in line behind me. Fortunately, everyone appeared patient as I wrote for what seemed like hours, except for the woman directly behind me.
Apparently, she derived great joy in loudly announcing my serious social faux pas by writing a check in a cash-only line. Her eyes rolled and her head tossed back in utter disgust. It didn’t help she was about a foot taller and a foot wider than me. I was mortified and stood silent. My once smiling cashier also stood silent without offering up a word in my defense. After all, I was invited to be there. Burning with embarrassment, I couldn’t flee fast enough from the store that day.
Then during another time in life my life, I was publicly offended and someone did rise to my defense. Unfortunately, it wasn’t in the most positive way and only escalated the situation. There was no satisfaction in the defense presented only a large amount of fear! Again, I couldn’t run fast enough from that event.
Perhaps you have experienced something similar. You’ve been injured by the words (or even actions) of others. No one came running to your defense. No one spoke up to set the records straight. You’ve been embarrassed, hurt, rejected, even humiliated. You went home and hid, alone and broken.
Then again, maybe someone did try to help and even with good intentions, only made things worse. Well, I wish I could tell you it would never happen again. I wish I could tell me it would never happen again. But I can’t because it probably will. That is the nature of this life on earth.
However, there is great comfort to be found in that knowledge that we don’t need anyone to fight life’s crucial battles for us, except God Himself. I get the feeling that the Father doesn’t like folks messing around with His kids!
I am not always certain how the Lord will choose to fight for me or even when! But I know that ultimately His way will be best. There is no fear or shame in His methods. Naturally, I know the Bible gives us guidelines to resolve daily conflicts that arise in relationships. We are empowered by His Spirit to make good use of them. However, there are times when we stand innocent against person or persons who simply resolve to not “cut us any slack.” They leave us no room for defense. They cause us fear and pain. Truthfully, even if we could muster up the words, it’s likely they’d fall on deaf ears. Those are the times to be silent and let Daddy handle it.
In life, we’ll face two kinds of battles. One kind will require the wisdom and power of Christ to approach. The other kind requires a silent tongue and humble Spirit turning it all over our Father in Heaven. Which battle are you facing today?
Love, Barbara
Barbara Gobbs is a ministry partner with and the Executive Assistant of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information, to schedule a speaker for an event, or to request a newsletter, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden, Publicist at 904 316-5462. This ministry is supported by donations. If this ministry helps you or others, and God calls you to help support this work, you can make a donation to Pocket Full of Change Ministry at POB 51205, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32240.
© Pocket Full of Change Ministries
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