Category Archives: Submitting to God

Minimizing Murmuring

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For several days now, my 7 grandchildren have been at my house making all kinds of racket and having all kinds of fun. Even though they’re only aged 4, 3, 2, 2, 2, 9 months, and 7 weeks, these young cousins (who live far from each other most of the time) are establishing sweet relationships, and it’s a joy to watch.

Today I saw 2 two-year Micah and Thomas wobble down the stairs hand-in-hand, chattering (simultaneously) about the toys they were going to find in the basement. Then 4 year old Skylar and 2 year old Evelyn joined forces to “help” Birgitta change Emerald’s diaper, adding kisses, head-strokes, and 12 extra wipes to the routine. This afternoon Nick and Skylar successfully completed an art project without bickering, and all of them regularly stop to pat crawling Autumn on her head.

Overall, the compatibility is impressive, at least most of the time. But then there are those moments of frustration, fatigue, and unadulterated, me-first selfishness when eruptions come lightning fast and pleasant children melt-down in seconds.

But there’s something much worse than screaming fits. Somewhere between harmony and discord lies the miserable zone of murmuring.

The word “murmur” is an example of onomatopoeia, a word that sounds exactly like its definition. To murmur is to whine or complain about something in an irksome tone, not especially loud or soft but droning on and on, with no end. And during these happy days at my house, we’ve also had big doses of murmuring.

But murmuring is nothing new. The children of Israel did it while following Moses through the wilderness, murmuring about being hungry, thirsty, about their leaders, about leaving Egypt, about the challenges of war, and about most of what God told them to do.

They weren’t the only ones, though. Years later the Scribes and Pharisees of Israel murmured against Jesus and also against his disciples. But New Testament believers murmured, too. None of us can justify pointing a finger.

Except God, that is.

God never murmurs and is disappointed when any of us do it, whether we’re 2 years old, 22, or 102, and he links his displeasure with punishment. As a matter of fact, the children of Israel weren’t allowed to enter The Promised Land for only one reason: their murmuring.

This afternoon Linnea tried to cope with a murmuring toddler as we talked about how difficult it was to listen to steady whining. Then she said, “But I guess since I’m complaining right now, I’m doing it, too.” We all whine sometimes, but God has the same opinion about it today as he did thousands of years ago.

So what can be done? How can we be good examples of “murmurlessness” in front of our children and grandchildren when complaining comes so naturally? Tomorrow Nate is going to give us the answer.

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings, that you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke.” (Philippians 2:14-15)

 

Complete Dependency

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Little Emerald is almost 5 weeks old. She’s gained nearly 3 pounds, which is quite a bit, since she left the hospital weighing only 7 pounds 9 ounces. We’re loving her double chin and dimpled hands, and Birgitta is doing a beautiful job nursing her.

Emerald’s eyes have learned to focus intently now, unlike in the beginning when they would freely cross while looking at nothing in particular. These days, her favorite thing to look at is her mommy’s face. She studies Birgitta’s features as she’s feeding, memorizing every detail with a gaze of complete adoration and feelings of absolute dependency. And when Emerald can’t readily see that face, she’ll crane her neck to do so. Her mother’s presence equates to complete security in Emerald’s mind, and she spends most of her wake-time searching for her and wanting to be close to her.

If Birgitta chose not to feed Emerald when she was hungry, she would gradually lose weight. If she didn’t change her, bathe her, keep her warm, and speak lovingly to her, Emerald would fail to thrive, eventually becoming sick, and finally dying. And yet this little one knows nothing of these dangers, trusting her every need will be met by her mother.

We might say Emerald is blissfully ignorant of life’s many hazards, which positions her perfectly to abandon herself to someone else’s care. And if we carry that image into the spiritual realm, God our Father wants us to have the identical relationship with him, focusing away from life’s hazards and abandoning ourselves to his choices for our lives.

Why is this so difficult? Why do we clutch onto our self-made plans rather than surrendering to the One who can do all things? That’s about as crazy as Emerald trying to dress herself or wash her own hair. It’s probably because we’re well aware of life’s dangers. Giving God the reins (which includes standing back so he can work) is a daily trust-tussle inside our heads.

Surely it’s not because we doubt his capabilities. Nor can it be a question of his wisdom. And none of us distrust the magnitude of his love. It’s just too hard to give ourselves over.

We’d never say out loud that we know better than he does, but our actions often say it. As a result, we’re consumed with worry, we’re loaded with stress, we nurture our fears, and we forfeit hours of sleep trying to manipulate circumstances and people. God looks down at this turbulence and says, “So unnecessary. But if you insist, the consequences will be all yours.”

Precious Emerald sets a ready example for those of us living with her. When she has a need, she cries for her mommy-provider and doesn’t try to solve problems on her own. She’s secure in Birgitta’s arms, gazing at her face, and when she sleeps, it’s the deep, nothing-can-wake-me-up sleep of a trusting soul.

With determination of will, we can be the same way with God.

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8)

With Gusto

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The other day I was running errands and passed a small store that had some big enthusiasm out front. A teen girl dressed warm against the wintry temperatures was holding up a yard-wide poster that said, “CASH FOR GOLD!”

She wasn’t just holding it up. She was waving it back and forth in an effort to get the attention of passing cars. On top of that she was dancing, back and forth, up and down, side to side, spinning around, ear-buds enlivening her ears with upbeat music. Although I’d seen similar signs (which are called human billboards), I’d never seen such a lively one. I wondered if she had just started her shift or if she was just one exceptional employee.

All of us can remember projects or commitments we started with gusto but finished just-barely, if at all. Some were even in the spiritual realm. Who of us hasn’t committed to reading through the Bible in a year, only to get bogged down in Leviticus or Numbers? Maybe we made New Year’s resolutions to eat healthy but gave up in February, or started exercise programs that went defunct 4 weeks in.

What’s the key to following through with the things we say we’re going to do? It’s partly the character quality of perseverance, but absent that, it can also be sharing the same commitment with a like-minded friend, or asking someone else to hold us accountable. Even having an enthusiastic cheerleader on the sidelines is sometimes enough to make us follow through.

Scripture includes a verse that talks about cheerleaders. Hebrews 12:1 mentions “a great cloud of witnesses” watching the life races we’re running as believers in Christ. Scholars dispute who these witnesses are, but it’s clear somebody is watching, and most agree those somebodies are urging us on to do the best we can in this life.

I don’t know exactly who’s in that crowd, but I do know the name of one biblical cheerleader who is steadily encouraging us with gusto, whether standing in that group or off by himself: Jesus Christ. He’s watching us for signs of ever-growing faith in him while simultaneously doing something wonderful. He’s praying we won’t fail, or, put another way, praying we’ll succeed.

When I think of Jesus (and the others), and of having only one earthly lifetime to use for heavenly purposes, it makes me want to keep the commitments I’ve made and to do so with enthusiasm. Although I might not be able to dance while following through, I can certainly leap for joy inside my heart and my will, especially over the things God has directly assigned for me to do.

As for the CASH FOR GOLD girl, I think I’ve seen that same gusto someplace else:

“David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.” (2 Samuel 6:14-15)