God’s Concerns Not Man’s
“But He turned and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of man.” Matthew 16:23.
CHURCH
When I was in college and in my early 20’s, I didn’t attend church very often. I really saw no need in going to church. Sunday was my play day. My grandmother often scolded me. I can hear her now say, “Paula, you better go to church. You are going to need your church someday.”
CONCERNS
In Matthew 16:23, Jesus said, “you are not thinking of God’s concern, but man’s.” In much of my life, nothing could be more truthful. My concerns were most important. My wants, wishes and desires were priorities. How many times I have prayed for my will to be done and gotten so frustrated when it didn’t happen like I asked.
CONTROL
Prior to 1976 prayer wasn’t even a thought. Life was good, or so I imagined, and I didn’t need anything. I had it all under control. It wasn’t until March of 1976 that we had any thought that our daughter might be sick. My husband, our 18 month daughter, and I went to a friend’s camp house for dinner on a Saturday. The children were playing, and our daughter fell into a sitting position. She screamed and cried because of the pain. I couldn’t comfort her, so we left for home. I was rubbing her back and had no idea what was hurting. As I rubbed, I found a knot at the end of her spine.
TERRIFIED
The thoughts that flooded my mind were terrifying. I couldn’t imagine what was happening in that little 18 pound body. Monday didn’t come soon enough. We went to the pediatrician in Selma. Thankfully, my mother met us there because she could help entertain my daughter. I was so sick with worry. The pediatrician examined her, called in his two partners, and they were all puzzled as to the reason for the knot. They decided we should see a neurologist.
Ephesians 4:32 NKJV “And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
COMPLACENT
It took me a long time to release the anger and frustration I had towards those two doctors. It also took me a long time to forgive myself for being complacent regarding my child’s health for those few months. If I allow myself, I can regret so many decisions during this time, but I am reminded of Joseph in Genesis 50:20. Joseph realized the circumstances he had been through were not the fault of his brothers, but God’s plan.
God’s Concerns, Not Man’s
God’s concerns should be our main concern when we pray, study our Bible and walk through our day. It’s not about us and our wish list. It’s about God and His overall plan. Yes, He loves us and our concerns are important to Him, but He knows what is best for us all. I did need my church as my grandmother had warned, and they were faithful to love and support us even though I was not faithful to church or more importantly to God.
Paula Wallace
For King and Country God Only Knows
Further blog reading
https://www.treadingwatertiljesuscomes.com/2017/08/02/3011/
Your story is heart wrenching but anyone who sees your faith through this story will know their is a God. I pray that your testimony will bring not only the hurting and lost to Christ, but also open eyes like mine to praise him for the very breath he gives us! God bless you for your courage to share! The scripture and video are powerful!