1 Peter 5:7 KJV
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
It was Little Johnnie who wanted to play tug-a-war with his mother. She was trying to wean him off his pacifier, something she and he both discussed. Little Johnnie was three years old and had mastered everything according to his age level, but he could not seem to let go of his pacifier.
He had even told his mother that he was a big boy like the other boys in his class, and every morning before dropping Little Johnnie off at preschool, he handed his mother the pacifier. Although it never failed, as soon as he was, picked up from school, he wanted his pacifier, and on most occasions, his mother would give it to him.
One day his mother realized that he seemed to do just fine all day at school without his pacifier, so why were the evenings so different. Then it dawned on her that Little Johnnie can not break his habit of the pacifier because he had not fully let go. She decided when she picked Little Johnnie up from school that he would not be allowed to have his pacifier.
As Little Johnnie was getting in the car, the first thing he did was open her console to get his pacifier. His mother tried to take it from him, but he would not let go. They played tug-a-war for a few minutes, then his mother said Little Johnnie, you said you are a big boy, and you did a big boy thing today, by being without your pacifier all day, now will you show me that you are a big boy? She held out her hand and said, can I have your pacifier? Little Johnnie thought about what his mother said, and without hesitation, he gave her the pacifier and said, I am a big boy now, no more pacifier for me.
Does this scenario sound familiar? What is in your life that you are playing tug-a-war with; is it a relationship that you are consistently running back to; a habit that you keep picking back up; a behavior or attitude that you can not seem to shake; have you told yourself you want to be free? But you are being pulled in the opposite direction? I am sure there are days when you think you have mastered whatever it is you are facing, only to find yourself back in that familiar place.
You had the counsel, therapy, prayer but still no change. You have asked God why? As though he is doing something to you. And yes, it is easy for us to say, oh God will not put more on us than we can bear, and I believe this wholeheartedly. But we make the mistake of putting unnecessary burdens on ourselves. Like Little Johnnie, he was set free from the relationship he had with his pacifier the first time he gave it to his mother. He was the one who continued to pick it back up every evening. In his mind, he needed it. Initially, he could not separate his attachment from his deliverance.
At times we act similar to Little Johnnie by playing tug-a-war with God. We give him our problems only to later snatch them back. God is saying if you want my help, you must let me have total control. His hands are open, and he is asking can I have it. All you have to do is put it in his hands and leave it there.
Be Blessed!
Author Harriet Lane