My daughters are two years apart in age, they are best friends and at times they are mortal enemies. At times it seems like they would fight over a piece of string... it is nerve racking. The second they sense they are in trouble the promises start - "We won't fight anymore, we promise. We won't do it again! ..." I am sure every parent has heard the laundry list of excuses and empty promises that children use to avoid punishment. Today my girls were in one of their moods and I started thinking - Isn't that how we treat God?
Human nature is self serving at best, so we tend to do whatever we want or what gives us pleasure and often ignore the consequences. When it is time to pay for our actions, we cry out to God - "We won't do it again! I promise if you get me through this I will never...." I am speaking from personal conviction, but figured I am probably not alone.
We often wonder why God allows us to suffer and go through hard times... maybe because it is the only way we learn. I do not enjoy punishing my children, sometimes they do not understand just talking to them - it takes something more to make them understand and to be truly sorry. Maybe through our suffering or trials that God is hoping for us to have a true change of heart. Next time instead of just promising God a change, maybe we should look a little deeper and ask "Why am I here? What did I do to help put myself here? What do I need to change?"
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