CoffeeTime: "Throw a huge tantrum"

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Simply kick and scream and pout until God makes everything good for you again.

Maybe that way of dealing with your problems seems like a good idea to you. After all, you have been told repeatedly all your life that He is a good and loving God, who always wants the best for you. So, it must stand to reason that if you let Him know in clear unmistakable terms that you are unhappy, He will have to fix what’s wrong. Right?

You can’t possibly win that showdown. In fact, it simply guarantees that He will be standing firmer on His position. Here’s why.

Yes, He is good and loving. But He is also wise and all-knowing. And He knows that if you continue living life as you have – self-centered, angry and hateful, or any other hurtful way, you will cause yourself to suffer all your life. And everyone who has to interact with you. Angry hurting people are blind and uncaring when it comes to everybody else. 

I don’t know of anyone, including this writer, who realizes they need to change when everything is rosy in their life. That is why He allows us to hurt. That is why many times He will allow you to live in pain until you realize the changes He is trying to make in you. For your sake.

Kinda like the wise parents who refuse to give in to their toddler’s kicking and screaming tantrum on the floor at Walmart. Sure, it’s pretty embarrassing to be the adult in charge of a three-year-old who has decided that getting his favorite toy warrants a full blown, kick-a-hole-in-the floor screaming fit until you give in and put it in your basket. But a smart and caring adult will stand their ground and refuse to give in to manipulation. For the child’s sake.

Make no mistake, tantrums simply do not get you what you want, period. From God or other people. Yes, it might happen, short term. But that is only the result of you using manipulation. And the results of that kind of living never give you what you are truly needing. Because you have not had to make any changes inside. And therefore, you will find yourself wanting more and more. And having to throw more tantrums. And ending up losing relationships because of it. That is why tantrums cause you to lose more than you could ever gain.

You are better off trying to figure out what God is wanting from you. And letting Him make those changes He knows you are needing. Because learning to not throw tantrums is not the only part of learning to accept the painful parts of living.  Allowing your Creator to shape you as He sees fit is another huge chunk in learning to function as a real adult.

Sure, complaining, griping and refusing to accept changes is a part of our human nature. Just not a smart part.