“We are apt to think that everything that happens to us is to be turned into useful teaching; it is to be turned into something better than teaching, that is, into character. We shall find that the spheres God brings us into are not meant to teach us something but to make us something.” (Oswald Chambers, “Daily Thoughts for Disciples,”)
He approached me with a look of hope. “Would you please help me with my homework? Somebody told me you were good at math.” By his expression, I knew he wanted more than help with his math homework. What he was really asking was, “Would you please do my homework for me? Throwing a little flattery in to smooth things over was a nice touch.
Good thing for Johnny that I am good at math and I’m pretty good at hearing what people really mean despite what they say. “Sure, I can help you.” I answered. What happened next had more to do with learning character than it had to do with learning math.
He slid the paper in front of me, “We need to do these.” I led him through a series of questions probing his level of understanding along the way. Before long the light bulb went on and he understood the solution to the math problem. He left only to return in a few minutes because that particular approach didn’t work with the next set of problems. He was disappointed when the old solution no longer worked. His math teacher had changed the nature of the problem slightly. When we figured this out he was happy again. We repeated this process with each new twist and he learned more about math. He felt good about learning. He got a bit frustrated at times but he never lost his humor and he never gave up. He learned because he trusted in himself and in his teachers.
A couple of days later Johnny came home from school proudly waving his math test paper around for all to see. He received the highest grade in the class ... an A+ ... a perfect score. I was proud of him because he had not only learned some math; he had learned something about being responsible for solving his own problems.
God loves to help us, to teach us, and for us to grow and mature and accomplish what we are capable of accomplishing. He also wants us to accept the responsibility for doing our part. God will never do for us what we can lean to do for ourselves...with his help.
When we come to God seeking his help aren’t we often really hoping he will just fix things for us? Have you noticed that he doesn’t just give us the right answers or do what we need? This is because he not only wants to teach us something; he wants to make us something.
Who hasn’t ever asked God, “Why are you putting me though this struggle?” God doesn’t enjoy watching us suffer. But he does enjoy it when we accept the responsibility for our own problem solving.
I love what the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:12-13, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
How did Paul learn this lesson? Through years of facing life’s problems that he brought to Jesus for help. Jesus didn’t do what Paul needed done. Instead he taught Paul that his grace was sufficient and that God’s power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12) and so Paul learned, “I can do everything through Christ...”
You can learn the solutions to your problems too if you will choose to do your part; if you accept your responsibility in finding the solution ... with God’s help.
Some people grow up being told they cannot do math. That’s a lie. Everyone can learn to do math. Some people also go through life believing the lie that they cannot know God or be used by God or understand things about God. Everyone can learn. Everyone can get an A+ in math and in life ... through Christ.
1 comment:
What a great story. It is so easy to forget that we are His children and He treats us much the same way that we treat our own. There isn't much I would not do to protect my own children from suffering. I hate to see anyone suffer, let alone those that I love so much. But if I do everything to protect them, then what do they learn? They learn to run to Mommy or Daddy to fix their problems instead of helping them solve their own. It is good to remember that God treats us the same way. So why don't we?????
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