I’d like to do a better job expressing how I go from clueless about a problem to actually doing something about it. Part of that process I write on this blog. My hope has always been that those who read will think to themselves, “God can do that for me, too.” But I think that’s not always the reaction. Maybe I’m leaving out some critical steps.
Deidra mentioned something on her blog that I think is hugely significant in how God deals with us, and I think evidence of what I’ve been leaving out. Here is what she said:
Why is it that every time I start trying to teach my kids something it starts popping out in me?? Feels so hypocritical to teach them something only to find that I have the same issue.
I’ve been noticing the same thing. What Deidra says is significant because it shows some of the first thoughts about a problem. Before we learn how to fix a problem, we have to recognize it, and then we have to define it, as God defines it in the Bible. That’s what Deidra has been doing. Funny thing, in the process of defining a problem (like being kind, or being angry) by looking at Scripture, we often start to realize it’s a problem for us, too. That’s a normal, predictable consequence of the power of the Holy Spirit working through God’s Word. Jesus prayed for us, “Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth.” Sanctification is the process of God changing us to be more like Him. That’s what is happening, and it’s an answer to Jesus’ prayer for us. Isn’t it great? It’s not a bad thing. It is evidence of God’s work in us, and his grace to show us how to change, and how to help our children change, too.
I love your insight on this. I was thinking today, what better way to teach our children than through our own struggles and experiences? We are so much more able to define the issue if it is something that we ourselves can relate to. In the sanctification process sometimes we are surprised to find an “issue” that God wants to work on in us that we didn’t even realize before was there. I think our kids help to pull those little “issues” out. So thankful for God’s grace.
We often don’t take the time to ask God to show us areas of sin in our lives like David did (Search me O God…. Psalm 139). Maybe God allows our children to teach us because He knows how distracted we can be in this stage of life. I’m thankful for His mercy and grace, too!