What we want, what God says

Today: Jeremiah 42-45

"Sometimes what we want isn't what we get.
Sometimes what we get ain't really what we want..."

A few months ago I was singing along with the lyrics to this song in my car (Dave Barnes' "What We Want, What We Get"). Little did I know that I was on the verge of getting some news...some really disappointing news...the same week. Something that I REALLY wanted, REALLY prayed for and REALLY thought was going to happen--didn't. To be honest, it made made me sad-mad-disappointed-scared all at once. I was back to square one.

I cried. My parents brought me dinner (LOVE them!). And I prayed again, "Why, God? Why? I'm one of your kids--and I really wanted XYZ to happen. Did I do something wrong?"

And God was silent.

Honestly, I felt hurt--like the God I trusted let me down.

In those moments, well-intentioned people say things like, "Things happen for a reason" or "God must have something else that's just right for you." I believe those sentiments, but I don't exactly want to hear them in the middle of my sad-mad-disappointed-scared stage.

God was telling me to be patient and to trust Him--to keep aiming for what I want, but to not bulldoze through on my own and make a quick decision without His blessing. I'm still trying to work on that lesson. :)

In today's passage, I thought it was interesting that God's people faced a similar challenge. God gave them some instruction via the prophet Jeremiah. But it wasn't the message they wanted to hear. Instead of listening, they did the exact opposite--and God wasn't happy.

It's important for us to remember that what we want and what God wants aren't always the same things--and what God says and what we want to hear aren't always identical, either. Does God love us still? Absolutely. But here's one thing that makes me feel better in my sad-mad-disappointed-scared stage: God knows and sees a lot more than I do. Perhaps things don't always work out the way I want them to because 1) I'm not God and 2) God has extra information and wisdom--His delay or denial of my requests could be for my protection or growth. And perhaps the idea that "there's something else that's just right" will actually become reality at some point. In the meantime, I'm trying to trust what God already said.

Tomorrow: Jeremiah 46-48

The difference between what you need and want

Today: 1 Kings 12-14

There's sometimes a difference between what you need and what you want.

Tomorrow is Monday and I'd personally LOVE to sleep in. I'd love to have an extra day to clean house, watch a movie or go out with my friends. But I need a paycheck. And there are people counting on me to show up at work tomorrow--so I should follow through, despite what I want (at the most basic level, anyway).

When it comes to advice, there can definitely be a difference between what you need to hear and what you want to hear. I thought a story in today's passage really illustrated this. Take a look at this part of the passage when the people of Israel approached their new king, Solomon's son Rehoboam:

They said to Rehoboam,

"Your father made life hard for us—worked our fingers to the bone.

Give us a break; lighten up on us and we'll willingly serve you."
"Give me three days to think it over, then come back," Rehoboam said.
King Rehoboam talked it over with the elders

who had advised his father when he was alive:

"What's your counsel? How do you suggest that I answer the people?"
They said, "If you will be a servant to this people,

be considerate of their needs and respond with compassion,

work things out with them, they'll end up doing anything for you."
But he rejected the counsel of the elders

and asked the young men he'd grown up with

who were now currying his favor,

"What do you think?

What should I say to these people who are saying,

'Give us a break from your father's harsh ways—lighten up on us'?"
The young turks he'd grown up with said,

"These people who complain, 'Your father was too hard on us; lighten up'—

well, tell them this: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist.

If you think life under my father was hard, you haven't seen the half of it.

My father thrashed you with whips; I'll beat you bloody with chains!'"
Three days later Jeroboam and the people showed up...

The king's answer was harsh and rude.

He spurned the counsel of the elders

and went with the advice of the younger set...

A few interesting things about this passage:

• Rehoboam was the son of Solomon--one of the wisest people to ever live. As such, I think that Rehoboam probably knew what wisdom sounded like.
  
• Rehoboam first sought out the counsel of trusted advisers who helped his father rule the kingdom. These guys had experience and credibility. They spoke the truth--but Rehoboam rejected it.
  
• When he didn't get the advice he wanted, he turned to his posse of pleasers--people who cared more about getting an "in" with the king than they cared about doing the right thing.

This passage interested me because in our world, I think it's easy for people to find the advice and instruction they want to hear. There are so many schools, churches, politicians, "news" programs and Web sites to choose from--you can find those that fit exactly what you want, exactly what you're looking for. But ask yourself: Is that really what you need?

In some cases, maybe it is. But be careful if you find yourself reading, watching, and listening only to those who are exactly like you--particularly if there's something in your heart that doesn't feel right about it and the advice you're getting is contrary to what's in the Bible (the whole Bible).

Speaking of, if you're really interested in making wise decisions or going after God's purpose for your life, it helps to know what wise people--or better yet, God (as wisdom itself!) has to say. Surround yourself with such people and better yet, read the Bible yourself.

But even if you have wise people in your life and read the Bible for yourself, you will have moments when you don't want to follow what they have to say. You're human. In those moments, I hope that you (and I) will learn a lesson from Rehoboam. I hope that instead of seeking out advice that tells you what you want to hear and what's easy to do, that you'll realize exactly what you need. I hope you'll make a conscious choice to do the right thing (even if it's not easy) and listen to that inner voice in your heart. It might just be God talking to you.

Tomorrow: 1 Kings 15-17