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that encourages women in their faith walk.
that encourages women in their faith walk.
Wishing. Wanting something to be different than it is. Reaching toward that something in our heart. Longing for it and even perhaps putting energy into changing that something.But there is no star that can grant our secret yearning. No genie who can grant three wishes. No wishing well to quench our desire for that thing. That kind of thinking can get us in trouble.
Wishes set us up for disappointment and disillusionment. We hang our happiness on others’ actions or circumstances beyond our control, then become angry when we don’t get our way.
“I wish this person would change and stop treating me a certain way so that I wouldn’t feel so stressed and snap at everyone so much.” And when they don’t change we blame their bad treatment of us for our bad treatment of others.
Wishes nourish discontent. We begin to think that life can only be better if that something happens or changes. But the truth is, if we cannot be content where we are, when we get what we want, there will be something shinier or more desirable we start wishing for besides that.
“My house is so small, I wish I had a bigger house.” But then once we get that bigger house, we complain about how much extra time and work it takes to maintain it and wish for anough money to pay a maid and handyman.
Wishes blind us to the real problem. Putting the responsibility of the “it” happening on someone or something outside ourselves.
“I wish I could win the lottery. Then I could have a new car.” Takes the onus off the person to end bad spending habits in order to save for the car.
One. Two. Three. Trap set.
Hope in God, however, is no trap.
It’s not that our situation will magically change. We might even have to change our own ways.
But if we let Him, God meets us in the middle of being treated badly, the small house and the beat up car. And all the other tight and disappointing and hurting places that we find ourselves.
We can hope because He is in control. He walks with us through our storms. (Tweet this) And in the right time, God will deliver us.
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Great post, Angela. We must be careful not to fall into the trap of expecting God to say yes to everything we pray for. It is possible to expect him to act like a wish genie without our realizing it.