I dread having my children grow up. Because I know what’s coming. Not only external struggles for them, but internal struggles with sin. And therefore, struggle with us, their parents. If I could help it, I would bundle them up and tie them down so that they would stay at this age forever (Actually, I wish they were a little smaller…!) I dread their rebellion and breaking of our hearts. I just hope and pray that my wife and I will be able to withstand it. And I hope and pray that they will be able to survive it…

Human nature is such that sometimes even God is baffled. That is certainly the impression that the Bible gives. If we think God is in absolute control and therefore disinterested and always calm and collected, then the emotions in the Book of Hosea doesn’t make sense. Listen to these words:

My people are bent on turning away from me,

and though they call out to the Most High,

he shall not raise them up at all. 

How can I give you up, O Ephraim?

How can I hand you over, O Israel?…

My heart recoils within me;

my compassion grows warm and tender

Hosea 11:7, 8

Here, I see a portrait of a hurting father lamenting about his child who’s gone astray. He’s angry and hurt at the same time. He wants to punish him and bear hug him at the same time!

But, I take comfort in the fact that God knows and feels the same emotions as I do. And I believe He is allowing us to feel these emotions of rejections and hurts precisely to bring us to Him. To find our rest in Him who identifies with and consoles our soul!

God is our refuge and our strength!

PH