Dads and Husbands (Part 5)

At a point in my life, I said to the Lord and myself that I would never be disadvantaged by what I had no control over. This resolution helps my mind in many ways. First, it helps me not to give control of my life to anyone but God. People can be people, life can happen, decisions can be made about me that I won’t be consulted, but  whatever the circumstance, I have a choice to rise above it and I will rise above it.

Sometimes, aligning my mind with this resolution comes with a struggle because I do not want to leave the old way. And so I cry, “why me?”. Take for example, the death of a Father or the Ill-treatment of an irresponsible Father. In all these, I remember the words of my Saviour when he said, “I have you engraved in my palms”; “I will never leave you nor forsake you”. I choose to believe these words. I stay on them until I see the light directing this is where to go and how to go.

Look at the Biblical Esther, though she lost her parents at a young age (an incident she had no control over), she was raised as a daughter by another man. If she had let herself wallow in the pain of losing her parents and rejected Mordecai’s instructions, she probably would not have become the Queen she was and wielded the much influence she did.

Look at David, one would have wondered what kind of irresponsible father would let his last son go to the bush where he was exposed to all kinds of wild animals that were a threat to his life; however, it was in this bush that he developed an intimate relationship with God and could boldly say, “The Lord is my Shepherd”. It was in this bush that he developed the strength and character that prepared him for kingship.

Second, this resolution helps me to be blessed by the blessing and gift of people God brings my way irrespective of how how they treat me. This is not to say that I do not desire or hope that people treat me well, but what if they do not? Should I tie my life around their actions and allow bitterness into my heart?

Let us look at David again but this time, his relationship with King Saul. They had a very intimate relationship. Sometimes David referred to Saul as Father and Saul called David his son. But when jealously started eating the heart of Saul, he sought every opportunity to kill David. But David, when presented with the same opportunity said, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my Lord the King. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him” (1 Samuel 24:16). He went further to pay obeisance to Saul as King and was blessed by Saul.

Remember Joseph and the cruelty he faced at the hands of his brothers as a young boy. After many years, when they asked for his forgiveness, he said, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I should punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people”. Genesis 50-19-20

These men lived. These examples happened to them and they were written for our instruction. We can live also for we have the help of the Holy Spirit. 

Father, we thank you for your word produces Life in us, in Jesus name, Amen.

To be continued…