I have many entertaining parenting stories. One of my daughters, Marissa, was a particularly strong-willed toddler. Her antics were hilarious, but her defiance was not. The Lord used that little girl in so many ways to challenge me to rely on Him and trust Him every single day..
You guys know God has a sense of humor, right? I mean the creator of the Axolotl and the Blobfish and the Dumbo Octopus (not to mention Steve Carell) obviously enjoys a good laugh.
Well, He’s getting a good laugh in my life right now too as He continues to challenge me through that same little girl. Except now she’s a woman. And except now she challenges me in new ways that drive me toward God.
She challenges me through the ways she has greater discipline in her daily devotions, and time with God than I do. She challenges me through the ways she bravely walks with Him and trusts Him through experiences and circumstances that would terrify me. And she challenges me through the ways she loves other people so wholeheartedly and joyfully.
I bet you have a person in your life who used to challenge you one way, but now they challenge you afresh. Thank God for them today and get a good laugh with Him at how He surprises us sometimes.
If you’re stuck in a tough season with a tough person, take heart, pray hard, and patiently wait for God to do what He does best: miracles!