A Lesson from God

I have been saved since I was a little girl. And sure I've sinned, but I've never strayed very far from the path. Throughout school I was labeled the "Good Girl" because of the stance I took against certain things. I went to church, prayed, read my Bible, did devotions, taught Sunday School and Children's Church, spoke in church services, and even became a missionary. 

So why is it that at 26 1/2 years old, I am FINALLY learning how to live in complete peace with God? Why did I wait that long to completely give all of my troubles to God? Why did I wait this long to stop relying on friends, mentors, and other humans, and to learn to rely fully on the One who created me? 

A couple weeks ago, I was literally crying out to God to remove loneliness from my heart. I was crying out to God that it just wasn't fair that I was all alone. It was when I finally stopped crying and just cleared my mind and listened for God that He directed me to Psalm 40:1-6.

1 I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. 3 He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be astounded. They will put their trust in the LORD. 4 Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD, who have no confidence in the proud, or in those who worship idols. 5 O LORD my God, you have done many miracles for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them. 6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand... (NLT)

This was exactly what I needed to hear at exactly the moment I needed to hear it. And now God has been teaching me with these verses for the past couple weeks. The first verse that caught my eye was part of verse 6, Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand. When God finally got me to shut up and stop my crying, I was able to listen to Him. I was able to finally understand. 

Then God told me the following... 

For too long you have depended on man. You have depended on people that will fail you. You cry to me that people hurt you. You cry to me that people leave you. But never once have you said I am enough. I, the God that created you, am enough for you. I am all you need. People will fail you. I will never leave you. Give all you have to me. Turn your heart to me. Let me heal you. Let me lead you. Let me love you. Let me be your friend.

Talk about putting me in my place! Parents discipline their children to help them. So does God. When we need to be corrected, He does so. When we need to be taught a lesson, He does so. And I'm so thankful that God taught me this lesson. ...even if it took him 26 1/2 years to get me to listen. :)