On Fear, Disobedience, & Correction - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) December 26, 2023

If there is one thing the Lord keeps teaching me as I walk with Him, it is that there is so much I don't understand and need to learn. I thank Him for the opportunity, though I wish I didn't have to make so many mistakes in the process. One such mistake occurred recently. I was running some last-minute errands with my entire family. They went to one store while I moseyed over to another shop for some window shopping.

At the back of the store, I saw something that would look great in my kitchen - a utensil holder for my cooking spoons and other knick knacks. It retails for over $50 but was on sale for $8. Now, I've learned to pray and seek guidance before purchases (this might seem like much, but it keeps me from doing what I'll later regret). So, I prayed and asked the Lord if I could have it. The response was affirmative and so, item in hand, I went to pay. Then, I recalled that I wasn't there to buy anything. Plus, given the season, I'd spent quite a bit. Since I live on a fixed budget, I really didn't want to spend on something non-essential. So I returned the utensil holder to the shelf and met up with my family so we could go to our next stop.

The following day, my thoughts occasionally returned to the item I didn't buy. There was a sense that I'd missed something about the experience. When I get that feeling, I know I need to check whether there's something God wants me to know. So, I turned off the distractions, worshipped, and let the Lord know I wanted to hear whatever He had to tell me. I was shocked by what I learned. He noted I hadn't trusted Him in that store. Color me confused! From my perspective, I thought purchasing the kitchen item was optional. The problem, however, was that I didn't purchase it because I was anxious about certain upcoming bills.

There I was thinking I had been a good steward of my resources, but in fact, my choice stemmed from fear. The Lord had to remind me that He'd promised to help me with each bill that was on the horizon. He also pointed me back to every other issue I'd faced where He'd come through with a miracle. I needed to trust that He wouldn't have me spend $8 only to leave me high and dry when the big bills came due.

All I could do was repent for allowing fear to creep into my life. It had morphed into a form I couldn't readily identify and when God tried to help me overcome it, I swatted His hand away. I put myself in His shoes, knowing it would hurt to not be trusted by someone I cared for. Someone I'd helped repeatedly. Once again, I said I was sorry and committed to do better next time.

'Next time' came sooner than I expected. As the day wound down, the Lord told me to return to the store. This came as a surprise because I thought the issue ended with my repentance. Alas, it didn't. I soon understood that I needed to go buy the utensil holder. I confess that I got a bit stubborn and had numerous excuses for why I should stay home. One, it was cold and dreary outside. Two, I still had things to do. Three, I had planned to stay home until after Christmas so I could avoid last-minute shoppers. And four, surely, the kitchen item was long gone. Nobody would have walked away from such a deal. Yet, the more I tried to rationalize things, the more the Lord gently insisted I should get in the car. Then, I recalled my promise to obey and knew this was not the time to repeat my error. I threw on my coat, grabbed my bag, and started the drive. When doubt made me wonder whether the utensil holder was still in the store, I resisted and said out loud, "My God will prove Himself."

The store was crowded but I weaved through focused shoppers to the clearance section. "Lord, will I find this thing?" I wondered as I walked to the back of the store. And there it was! Exactly where I'd left it! How had nobody seen it? Without wasting time, I snatched it up and got in line.

Here are the lessons I learned from this experience. Firstly, the spirit of fear can mask itself in a way you might not readily comprehend. When this happens, we could end up disobeying God. In my case, I truly believed I was being fiscally responsible until God shifted my understanding so I could see from His perspective. Secondly, God is very merciful. Despite my disbelief that the item would be waiting, there it was. He proved Himself despite all my disobedience, fear, and unbelief. Thirdly, He is the God of the second chance. God will provide an opportunity to rectify a failure on our part. In such moments, it is crucial to cooperate and obey.

The Lord was kind in teaching me these things and I am grateful for His patience. He is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11) and therefore, He will be just as kind and patient with the rest of His people who submit to correction and training. Never forget that God will only discipline those who belong to Him (Hebrews 12:10) so we must be willing to receive such correction. I plead with you to simply obey Him at the first instance. Do not make a mistake similar to mine. However, if you do, repent, let Him discipline you, and allow Him to guide you on the do-over. My prayer for everyone reading this message is that God will do all this and more in your life. I pray that God's faithfulness, lessons, and miracles will be a constant fixture for you, IJMN, Amen.