I'm So Mad!!

As I loaded little Z in to the van, I went over the to do list with him. The first store on the list had bouncy balls that Zach loves, so I gave him two quarters and said we would get the bouncy balls first, then I would do my shopping. We entered the store and headed to the bouncy balls, but they were not in there usual spot. We tracked down a sales associate who explained they had run out of bouncy balls, but she had ordered a new shipment. Little Z was devastated. His head went down and his lower lip came out; there was no hiding his disappointment. His disappointment soon turned to a different emotion, as he exclaimed out loud, "I am so mad!" I tried to console him and tell him that we might find something even better at the other stores, but nothing worked. Plain and simple, he was mad!

At our last store, we happend to spot a toy hammerhead shark (Z's facorite animal) with no price tag anywhere to be found. I tracked down a sales associate who told me the toy had been on clearance for quite awhile. His response was, "How does nineteen cents sound?" I looked at Zach and said, "See? You can buy this toy and still have money left!" He didn't have to say anything, his huge smile gave it away. As we got back into the van, he exclaimed, "I'm so happy, mom. I can't wait to put him in the water!"

Aren't we like little Z when it comes to God? We read His promises and are eager to start receiving them. We pray for blessing, healing, prosperity, ect...and when we don't get what we want, there's no hiding our disappointment. Infact, we get mad and nothing can console us. I love the Scripture in Jeremiah where God says (this is from the Message)

"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."

God knows us and He loves us. He has it all figured out and knows what lies ahead. He declares in Isaiah 55:8-9
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Just like Z finding the bigger and better toy at the other store, God has something bigger and better for us at another time. Its hard waiting and its hard thinking anything could be better than what we want or long for right now, but God has plans for us and He promises to "give us the future we hope for."