What scripture says about who to vote for

Scripture will not explicitly tell you who to vote for (and neither will I), but it says a lot that should inform your decision. Whether it is by the example of good leaders, descriptions of perfect leadership, express directions to more fallible leaders of old, proverbs about government, or teaching about how citizens should relate to their leaders, Scripture has a LOT to say.

God’s word is infallible, it is incisive, and provides light to direct our paths. It is worth far, far, more than any 30 second ad paid for by a super PAC, so it simply cannot be ignored. We must read it, think and pray about it before we vote, whether its for president or dog catcher. 

To help in that process, I have set out scriptures that address government and how leaders should and shouldn’t act. They are arranged topically. To avoid bias, I am presenting them in the order in which they are most frequently addressed, in accord with the principle that the more God brings a topic up the more important it is.

The are hyperlinks going to multiple translations of most of the scriptures cited. Hyperlinks that are italicized are to verses illustrating the principle by negative example.

Must strive for fair justice, to maintain the rule of law for all, including the weak

Exodus 23:2-3, 6-7

Leviticus 19:15

Deuteronomy 1:16-17

Deuteronomy 16:18-20

1 Chronicles 18:14

2 Chronicles 19:5-7

Psalm 72:1-2

Psalm 82:2-4

Proverbs 17:15

Proverbs 18:5

Proverbs 20:26

Proverbs 22:8

Proverbs 24:11-12

Proverbs 24:24-25

Proverbs 28:21

Proverbs 29:14

Proverbs 31:8-9

Sirach 4:1, 9

Isaiah 5:22-23

Isaiah 11:3-5

Isaiah 16:5

Isaiah 42:1-4

Isaiah 56:1-2

Jeremiah 5:28

Jeremiah 23:5

Amos 2:6-7

Amos 5:7-15

Micah 3:9-12

Acts 19:35-40

Romans 13:4

Colossians 4:1

1 Peter 2:13-14

Must be sensitive to the weak/disadvantaged

Psalm 41:1

Psalm 72:2, 4, 12-13

Psalm 82:4

Proverbs 14:31

Proverbs 22:16

Proverbs 24:11-12

Proverbs 29:14

Proverbs 31:8-9

Sirach 4:1, 9

Isaiah 11:4

Ezekiel 22:7

Ezekiel 34:4, 16

Amos 2:6-7

Amos 5:11-12

Matthew 25:31-46

Luke 14:12-14

Recognizes the need to repent

2 Samuel 12:13-23

2 Samuel 24:10-25

1 Kings 8:31-40, 46-53

1 Kings 21:27-29

2 Kings 22:11-33

1 Chronicles 21:7-8

2 Chronicles 6:24-27, 36-39

2 Chronicles 12:5-7, 12

2 Chronicles 32:25-26

2 Chronicles 33:11-13

2 Chronicles 34:19-33

2 Chronicles 36:13, 15-17

Ezra 9-10

Nehemiah 1:5-11

Daniel 9:3-9

Recognizes that all success/authority comes from God

2 Samuel 7:18-29

2 Samuel 22

1 Chronicles 16:7-36

1 Chronicles 17:16-29

1 Chronicles 29:10-49

2 Chronicles 6:17-19

2 Chronicles 20:26-28

2 Chronicles 31:8

Ezra 7:27-28

Ezra 8:31

Nehemiah 2:8

Wisdom 6:1-8

John 19:11

Romans 13:1

Seeks God’s guidance

1 Samuel 23:1-5, 9-13

1 Samuel 30:7-9

2 Samuel 5:17-25

2 Kings 19:1-7

1 Chronicles 14: 10, 14

2 Chronicles 18:4-27

2 Chronicles 26:5

Proverbs 21:1

Ezra 8:21-23

Nehemiah 1:4

Nehemiah 2:4

Wisdom 9:7-12

Jeremiah 10:21

Able to delegate/ rely on subordinates and to pick honest ones

Exodus 18:13-26

Numbers 11:10-17

Deuteronomy 1:9-18

Judges 9:4

Proverbs 16:13

Proverbs 25:4-5

1 Chronicles 26:30, 22

Nehemiah 3:1-22

Nehemiah 7:1-2

Nehemiah 13:13

Proverbs 29:12

Sirach 10:2

Acts 6:1-6

Rooted in God’s Word

Joshua 1:7-8

Deuteronomy 17:18-20

1 Samuel 12:14

1 Chronicles 22:13

2 Chronicles 29

2 Chronicles 31:21

2 Chronicles 27:6

2 Chronicles 31:20-21

Ezra 7:10

Nehemiah 8:1-8, 18

Jeremiah 10:21

Daniel 1:9-16

Acts 10:1-2

Courageous

Joshua 1:6-7

1 Samuel 17

1 Chronicles 19:13

1 Chronicles 22:13

2 Chronicles 17:6

2 Chronicles 32:6-8

Nehemiah 2:19-20

Nehemiah 4:14

Nehemiah 4:1-7, 10-15

Nehemiah 6

John 10:12

Acts 4:18-20

Acts 5:27-29

Intercedes for the people with God

Exodus 32:30-34

Numbers 14:10-20

1 Samuel 7:7-11

1 Samuel 12:19

2 Kings 19:14-19

2 Kings 22:11-13

2 Chronicles 30:18-20

2 Chronicles 34:19-21

Nehemiah 1:5-11

Nehemiah 2:2-3

Daniel 9:1-16

John 17

Refuses gifts that corrupt

Exodus 23:8

Genesis 14:21-2

Deuteronomy 16:18-20

2 Chronicles 19:7

Proverbs 28:21

Ezekiel 22:12

Amos 2:6

Amos 5:12

Micah 3:11-12

Luke 14:12-14

Does public works projects

1 Kings 5

2 Kings 20:20

1 Chronicles 22:2-6

2 Chronicles 8:3-7

2 Chronicles 32:30

2 Chronicles 17:12-13

2 Chronicles 32:30

2 Chronicles 34:8-13

2 Chronicles 26:9-10

2 Chronicles 27:3-4

Affirmatively seeks to help the people

1 Samuel 23:1-5

1 Samuel 25:4-8, 14-16Psalm 72:6

Sirach 10:1-5

Ezekiel 34:11-16

Romans 13:4

Matthew 14:13-15

Matthew 15:32-33

Matthew 24:45-54

Mark 8:1-3

Luke 12:41-46

Does not place emphasis on personal gain

Nehemiah 5:14-19

Proverbs 28:16

Proverbs 29:4

Sirach 7:4-6

Isaiah 56:11

Isaiah 56:11-12

1 Timothy 3:3, 8

Titus 1:7

1 Peter 5:2

Seeks/heeds Good Counsel

1 Kings 12:6-11

1 Chronicles 13:1

1 Chronicles 27:32-33

2 Chronicles 10:6-4

Proverbs 11:14

 Proverbs 15:22

Proverbs 20:18

Proverbs 24:6

Sirach 21:16-17

Provides for a strong defense

2 Chronicles 32:1-7

2 Chronicles 11:10-12

2 Chronicles 14:6-8

2 Chronicles 17:1-2, 12

2 Chronicles 26:11-15

2 Chronicles 27:4

2 Chronicles 32:1-8

Nehemiah 2:17-4:23, 6:15

Is gracious to those who opposed him/did him wrong

2 Samuel 3

2 Samuel 9

2 Samuel 16:5-11

2 Samuel 19:18-23

2 Chronicles 28:9-15

Proverbs 24:17

Luke 22:47-51

John 21:9-19

Brings the people back to God

2 Chronicles 29

2 Chronicles 17:7-9

2 Chronicles 19:4

2 Chronicles 29

2 Chronicles 34:3-35:18

Nehemiah 5:6-13

Nehemiah 8:1-2

Does not drink to excess

1 Kings 20:12, 16

Proverbs 31:4-5

Ecclesiastes 10:16-17

Isaiah 5:22-23

Isaiah 56:11-12

1 Timothy 3:3, 8

Titus 1:7

Is Humble

2 Kings 20:12-18

2 Chronicles 32:25-26

Wisdom 6:1-4

Sirach 3:18

Sirach 7:4-6

John 13:1-16

Respected by other nations

Psalm 72: 9-11

1 Kings 4:29-34

1 Kings 10:1-10

1 Chronicles 14:1-2

1 Chronicles 18:6-10

Engages in foreign trade

1 Kings 9:26-28

1 Kings 10:11-12

2 Chronicles 1:16-17

2 Chronicles 2:3-162 Chronicles 9:21

Allows immigration/fair to immigrants

Exodus 23:9

Deuteronomy 10:18-19

2 Chronicles 2:17-18

2 Chronicles 6:32-33

2 Chronicles 15:9

Goes to the people

Genesis 41:46

1 Samuel 7:15-17

2 Chronicles 19:4

Mark 2:15-17

Luke 15:1-2

Goes to God in times of adversity

2 Chronicles 13:14

2 Chronicles 14:11-12

2 Chronicles 18:31

2 Chronicles 20:1-22

Nehemiah 1:4

Truthful/honest

1 Samuel 12:1-5

1 Kings 21:1-26

Proverbs 16:13

Proverbs 29:12

Is not ashamed of worshipping God

1 Chronicles 15:29

1 Chronicles 13:8

1 Chronicles 16:7-36

1 Chronicles 17:16-29

Generosity

1 Kings 8:62-69

1 Chronicles 29:1-5

2 Chronicles 35:7-9

Nehemiah 5:17-19

Equitably distributes resources/burdens

1 Samuel 30:21-25

Nehemiah 3:1-22

Nehemiah 4:15-23

Taxation

Genesis 47:13-26

2 Kings 23:33-35

Nehemiah 5:14-16

Is responsive to the people

1 Kings 12:1-19

2 Chronicles 10

Proverbs 28:16

Is diligent

Genesis 41:46

1 Samuel 7:15-17

Nehemiah 5:16

Not deterred by opposition

Nehemiah 2:19-20

Nehemiah 4:1-7, 10-15

Nehemiah 6

Does not womanize

1 Kings 11:1-3

Proverbs 31:3

1 Timothy 3:2

Provides Stability

Proverbs 28:2

Proverbs 29:4

Understands human nature

1 Kings 3:16-28

Nehemiah 13:19-21

Investigates/understands/

researches the matters to be dealt with

Nehemiah 2:11-15

Luke 14:28-32

Calm, not easily angered

1 Timothy 3:3

Titus 1:7

 Has foresight

1 Chronicles 22:2-6

2 Chronicles 32:1-7

Seeks wisdom

2 Chronicles 1:7-12

Wisdom 9:7-12

 Inspires devotion/enthusiasm

2 Samuel 23:13-17

Encourages his subordinates

2 Chronicles 30:22

Attends to preparing his successor

Numbers 27:15-23

Does not tolerate euthanasia

 2 Samuel 1:7-16

Avoids rash promises

 Samuel 14:24-46

Leads by example

1 Chronicles 29:1-5

Alert to danger

Nehemiah 6:1-4

What Scripture Says About Being a Good Husband

The scriptures say a lot about how to be good at being a husband. Here are some of the principles it lays out, with citations to the relevant scriptures. Copies of the translations of those verses that strike me as making those points most clearly are set out below. The hyperlinks will take you to other translations.

Additional resources on this topic can be accessed at Scriptural directions for husbands—collected

Also, for our Catholic friends, check out A Rosary Prayer for Husbands

PRINCIPLES

Here are those principles, listed in no particular order:

1. A husband is to cherish, savor, his wife, really appreciate the best in her; treat/look at her as a gift from God. Proverbs 12:4, Proverbs 18:22, Proverbs 19:14, Proverbs 31:10-11, Proverbs 31:30-31, Sirach 26:1-4, Sirach 26:13-14.

2. A husband is to be patient with his wife and avoid sliding into negative attitudes towards/about her. Sirach 7:26, Ephesians 5:28-30, Colossians 3:19, I Peter 3:7.

3. A husband should be completely open towards, really bond with, his wife. Genesis 2:24-25.

4. A husband is to enjoy, revel in, take pleasure from, his relationship/life with his wife. Proverbs 5:18-19, Quo 9:9.

5. A husband is to enjoy and maintain a mutually pleasing sexual relationship with his wife. Deuteronomy 24:5, Proverbs 5:18-19, 1 Corinthians 7:2-5, 1 Corinthians 7:36.

6. A husband should keep his focus on his wife. He should not be open to relationships with other women or be unduly distracted by other things in his life. Deuteronomy 24:5, Proverbs 5:16-17, Sirach 9:1-9.

7. A husband should deal with his wife in good faith. Proverbs 31:30-31, Sirach 7:19, Malachi 2:15-16, 1 Corinthians 7:33.

8. A husband is to take care of/provide for his wife. 1 Corinthians 7:33.

9. A husband must think, be intentional, about how he deals with his wife and how to strengthen his marriage. 1 Corinthians 7:33, I Peter 3:7.

10. A husband should recognize, give his wife credit for, her good work/features. Proverbs 31:30-31.

11. A husband is to consider more than his wife’s physical attractiveness. Proverbs 31:30-31.

12. A husband is to stick with his wife over the long haul—divorce is not an option. Proverbs 31:30-31, Sirach 7:19, Malachi 2:15-16, Mathew 19:3-9, 1 Corinthians 7:10-11, 1 Corinthians 7:12-16, 1 Corinthians 7:27.

13. A husband is to sacrifice, subordinate his interests, to those of his wife. Ephesians 5:25.

14. A husband should affirmatively seek to benefit, improve, grow his wife. Ephesians 5:25-30.

THE RELEVANT VERSES

Genesis 2:24-25 (ESV)
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Deuteronomy 24:5 (NASB)
When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out with the army nor be charged with any duty; he shall be free at home one year and shall give happiness to his wife whom he has taken.

Proverbs 5:16-19 (ESV)
Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets?17 Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you.18Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, 19a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.

Proverbs 12:4 (NIV)
A wife of noble character is her husband's crown

Proverbs 18:22 (NASB)
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.

Proverbs 19:14 (NIV)
Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

Proverbs 31:10-11 (NLT)
Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. 11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.

Proverbs 31:30-31 (NLT)
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. 31 Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

Quo 9:9 (NASB)
Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.

Sirach 7:19 (NJB)
Do not turn against a wise and good wife; her gracious presence is worth more than gold.

Sirach 7:26 (NAB)
If you have a wife, let her not seem odious to you.

Sirach 7:26 (NJB)
Have you a wife to your liking? Do not turn her out.

Sirach 9:1-9 (NJB)
Do not be jealous of the wife you love, do not teach her lessons in how to harm you.
2 Do not put yourself in a woman's hands or she may come to dominate you completely.
3 Do not keep company with a prostitute, in case you get entangled in her snares.
4 Do not dally with a singing girl, in case you get caught by her wiles.
5 Do not stare at a pretty girl, in case you and she incur the same punishment.
6 Do not give your heart to whores, or you will ruin your inheritance.
7 Keep your eyes to yourself in the streets of a town, do not prowl about its unfrequented quarters.
8 Turn your eyes away from a handsome woman, do not stare at a beauty belonging to someone else. Because of a woman's beauty, many have been undone; this makes passion flare up like a fire.
9 Never sit down with a married woman, or sit at table with her drinking wine, in case you let your heart succumb to her and you lose all self-control and slide to disaster.

Sirach 26:1-4 (NJB)
How blessed is the husband of a really good wife; the number of his days will be doubled.
2 A perfect wife is the joy of her husband, he will live out the years of his life in peace.
3 A good wife is the best of portions, reserved for those who fear the Lord;
4 rich or poor, their hearts will be glad, their faces cheerful, whatever the season.

Sirach 26:13-18 (NJB)
The grace of a wife will charm her husband, her understanding will make him the stronger.
14 A silent wife is a gift from the Lord, no price can be put on a well-trained character.
15 A modest wife is a boon twice over, a chaste character cannot be over-valued.
16 Like the sun rising over the mountains of the Lord, such is the beauty of a good wife in a well-run house.
17 Like a lamp shining on the sacred lamp-stand, such is a beautiful face on a well-proportioned body.
18 Like golden pillars on a silver base, such are shapely legs on firm-set heels.

Malachi 2:15-16 (NJB)
Have respect for your own life then, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.
16 For I hate divorce, says Yahweh, God of Israel, and people concealing their cruelty under a cloak, says Yahweh Sabaoth. Have respect for your own life then, and do not break faith.

Mathew 19:3-9 (ESV)
And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?" 4He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." 7They said to him, "Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?" 8He said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery."

1 Corinthians 7:2-5 (ESV)
But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

1 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NIV)
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): … a husband must not divorce his wife.

1 Corinthians 7:12-16 (ESV)
To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you[ to peace. 16For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

1 Corinthians 7:27 (ESV)
Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free.


1 Corinthians 7:33 (NLT)
But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife.

1 Corinthians 7:36 (NLT)
But if a man thinks that he’s treating his fiancée improperly and will inevitably give in to his passion, let him marry her as he wishes. It is not a sin.

Ephesians 5:25-32 (NIV)
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

Colossians 3:19 (NASB)
Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.

I Peter 3:7 (KJV)
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Gardening for God: What We Can Learn From Dandelions

I’ve been doing a lot of weeding lately and have noticed a few things about dandelions. They are adaptable; they thrive in all sorts of areas. They are tough; they withstand adverse conditions well. They are incredibly tenacious; simply picking their leaves, flowers, and top roots will not get rid of them. All of those attributes are desirable, so what can we learn from them?

One thing is that those attributes have a common source: the fact that dandelions are very well rooted. A mature dandelion has a very long, strong, tap root that goes far into the soil. That allows it to stay alive in areas and conditions that, superficially, seem less than hospitable. Their root system reaches beyond that apparent adversity to draw what they need from another place. It also explains their tenacity; absent the use of chemicals, you can’t get rid of a dandelion unless you pull out its tap root or at least a good portion of it.

Scripture reflects the importance of being well rooted, albeit in God rather than in soil. It repeatedly speaks of how those rooted in God and His ways are blessed. They are strong. Job 29:19; Ephesians 3:17-19; Colossians 2:6-7. They become wise. Ephesians 3:17-19. They are fruitful. Proverbs 12:12; Ezekiel 17:6. They have beauty and are complete. Ezekiel 31:7; Ephesians 3:17-19. They are able to persist in difficult circumstances, Proverbs 12:3, and to overcome adversity. Isaiah 53:2; Jeremiah 17:7-8. Perhaps that’s why Colossians 2:7 instructs us to be “firmly rooted” in Christ.

Scripture also instructs that those who lose their rootedness in God, or who seek to be rooted in other things, suffer for it. They whither. Job 18:16; Isaiah 5:24. They bear no fruit, or at least no good fruit. Wisdom 4:3-5; Sirach 23:25; Ezekiel 17:7, 9; Hosea 9:16. They become weak, shaken, and susceptible to upheaval. Job 8:16-19; Wisdom 4:3-5. They become weak and eventually die. Sirach 40:15; Ezekiel 17:7, 9; Hosea 9:16.

The point should be clear: we are much better off being rooted in God than not being so. How to grow those roots will be discussed in another post.

Being Steeped

As I was making a cup of tea I had several insights into how the process of maturing in Christ is a lot like the process of steeping tea. At least four similarities came to mind.

First, it takes time. Just as it is nearly impossible to instantly get real tea flavor, it is very unusual for a person to take on anything close to Jesus’ real flavor quickly. It simply takes time to get there, as scripture reflects. Proverbs 4:18; Colossians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 3:18. See also Sirach 24:30-31.

Second, the process is expedited by heat. Although room temperature water can eventually be steeped into tea, the process occurs much more quickly with hot water. The same is true of taking on Christ’s nature. Both common experience and scripture teach that adversity—“being in hot water”—catalyzes our growth in Godliness. Hebrews 12:11-13; 1 Peter 1:1-7; 2 Corinthians 7:8-11; Deuteronomy 8:2-6; Psalm 119:71.

Third, strength is directly related to the amount of interaction. A cup of tea gets stronger the longer it’s in direct contact with the tea and we grow stronger in Christ the more we interact with Him. That dynamic is repeatedly reflected in scripture through instructions to pray frequently, to meditate on God’s word, and to gather together with other believers (who are the body of Christ).

Fourth and finally, the end result is pleasing. A well steeped cup of tea tastes great and gives renewed energy. Scripture describes that reality when it describes the fruits of a mature relationship with God.

Into the Wind

Some time ago I had to walk into the wind to get where I needed to go. That was not pleasant. On the other hand, when I was done there and going back, the wind was at my back and the walk was not bad at all.

That brought to mind the fact that scripture repeatedly uses wind to represent God’s Holy Spirit. John 3:8; Acts 2:2.

It occurred to me that walking into the wind is like going against the prompting of the Holy Spirit: It can be done, but the result is not pleasant. In contrast, moving in the same direction as the Spirit is much easier.

Other images relating to the Holy Spirit as to wind were posted Oct. 5, 2006, and June 18, 2005.

What We Can Learn About God From Being Parents: Understanding God's Jealousy

I experienced something last week that gave me an insight into God’s statements that He is “jealous.”

My 6 year old daughter and I were in the deep end of a wave pool at a water park, the waves were pretty big, and she was being bounced about. I was moving around, trying to keep close by her in case she needed help, when another adult inadvertently got between us. That aroused a burst of anger in me because I perceived that he hindered my ability to get to my daughter. He quickly moved past, and so did my anger, but the experience left an impression.

God likely feels something like that when things get between us and Him. He wants to be there for us, and must be similarly angered when people/relationships/other things interfere with His access to us. See e.g. Deuteronomy 6:10-19 and Exodus 34:12-16.

What We Can Learn About God From Being Parents: Avoidable Difficulty

My 6 year old daughter and I were at a water park last week. She was drifting around in the shallow end of the wave pool, letting the waves push her around, and didn’t realize that she was about to be pushed into an older gentleman.

That could have been easily averted if she would’ve stood up. I told her to get up, reached out, took her hand, and tried to help her onto her feet. She didn’t understand and didn’t try to stand up, so we had a hard time getting her out of the waves’ control. The collision was averted, but it was more difficult than it needed to be.

We adults are probably in similar circumstances more often than we realize. We’re drifting along, about to have a problem, God tries to help us avoid it, but we don’t “get” Him. We don’t respond as He would like us to, and the result is avoidable difficulty.