Coconut
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Did You Know I Was Here?
It's easy to assume that God is too busy for the little bumps and scrapes of life we experience every day. Should we bother Him with such mundane problems?
by Rick Cogbill
Switching from my former career as a mechanic and shop owner to a freelance writer has been a learning experience not only for me, but for my family as well. This is especially true for my young son, who wasn't used to seeing Daddy at home during the day.
An energetic five-year-old, Steven was thrilled at the prospect of having me around for a playmate. "Dad, can we play Hot Wheels?"
"No, Stevie," I'd reply. "Even though Daddy's home, he's still working."
He glanced doubtfully at the computer at which I laboured. "Well, can we play computer games then?"
Eventually he began to learn that during the day I had to spend my time writing and didn't wish to be disturbed.
One morning, however, as I was totally engrossed in a story I was working on, I noticed a small shadow fall across my chair. I listened, expecting an interruption, but nothing came. After finishing the paragraph, I leaned over to see my son standing very still, looking very sad as he fought back tears.
"Did you know I was here?" he asked in a shaky voice.
"Yes, I did," I replied, wondering what was wrong.
He sniffed. "Did you know I was sad?"
I opened my arms and listened as he told me how he'd hurt himself while playing. After a hug and a kiss on the "owie," life moved on.
But though Steven left, his questions remained. Isn't this how we sometimes feel toward God?
I don't know about you, but it's easy for me to assume that God, my heavenly Father, is very busy, perhaps even too busy for the little problems that I run into every day. With so much on His plate, should I really be bothering Him with the bumps and scrapes that are just a part of everyday life? Injuries like rejection, personal failure, loneliness, or confusion?
But there is a danger here. By assuming that He doesn't have time for the "small" things, we begin to leave Him out of the big things as well. Such as when a child is deathly ill or a spouse dies, or if the family fortune is wiped out and the next meal becomes the main priority.
Having left God out of the everyday experiences of our lives, we now don't know how to view Him in the crisis, and we flounder. By so doing, we may become bitter and compound our loss.
If the truth were known, God isn't at all like us earthly fathers; He is much more. Yes, He has a lot on His plate, but it's a big plate. And if He cares about sparrows or flowers of the field, He most certainly has time to hear whatever little things you or I want to talk about.
In fact, He would be delighted to take you on His knee right now and hold you. And listen. It might be all you need.
"God, did you know I was here?" Yes, He knows. His thoughts never left you.
"God, did you know I was sad?" Go ahead, tell Him about it. He has all the time in the world. The rest of your life is waiting.
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
It's easy to assume that God is too busy for the little bumps and scrapes of life we experience every day. Should we bother Him with such mundane problems?
by Rick Cogbill
Switching from my former career as a mechanic and shop owner to a freelance writer has been a learning experience not only for me, but for my family as well. This is especially true for my young son, who wasn't used to seeing Daddy at home during the day.
An energetic five-year-old, Steven was thrilled at the prospect of having me around for a playmate. "Dad, can we play Hot Wheels?"
"No, Stevie," I'd reply. "Even though Daddy's home, he's still working."
He glanced doubtfully at the computer at which I laboured. "Well, can we play computer games then?"
Eventually he began to learn that during the day I had to spend my time writing and didn't wish to be disturbed.
One morning, however, as I was totally engrossed in a story I was working on, I noticed a small shadow fall across my chair. I listened, expecting an interruption, but nothing came. After finishing the paragraph, I leaned over to see my son standing very still, looking very sad as he fought back tears.
"Did you know I was here?" he asked in a shaky voice.
"Yes, I did," I replied, wondering what was wrong.
He sniffed. "Did you know I was sad?"
I opened my arms and listened as he told me how he'd hurt himself while playing. After a hug and a kiss on the "owie," life moved on.
But though Steven left, his questions remained. Isn't this how we sometimes feel toward God?
I don't know about you, but it's easy for me to assume that God, my heavenly Father, is very busy, perhaps even too busy for the little problems that I run into every day. With so much on His plate, should I really be bothering Him with the bumps and scrapes that are just a part of everyday life? Injuries like rejection, personal failure, loneliness, or confusion?
But there is a danger here. By assuming that He doesn't have time for the "small" things, we begin to leave Him out of the big things as well. Such as when a child is deathly ill or a spouse dies, or if the family fortune is wiped out and the next meal becomes the main priority.
Having left God out of the everyday experiences of our lives, we now don't know how to view Him in the crisis, and we flounder. By so doing, we may become bitter and compound our loss.
If the truth were known, God isn't at all like us earthly fathers; He is much more. Yes, He has a lot on His plate, but it's a big plate. And if He cares about sparrows or flowers of the field, He most certainly has time to hear whatever little things you or I want to talk about.
In fact, He would be delighted to take you on His knee right now and hold you. And listen. It might be all you need.
"God, did you know I was here?" Yes, He knows. His thoughts never left you.
"God, did you know I was sad?" Go ahead, tell Him about it. He has all the time in the world. The rest of your life is waiting.
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
