Psalm 35:9-12; 27-28
I will celebrate and be joyful
because you, Lord,
have saved me.
Every bone in my body
will shout:
“No one is like the Lord!”
You protect the helpless
from those in power;
you save the poor and needy
from those who hurt them.
Liars accuse me of crimes
I know nothing about.
They repay evil for good,
and I feel all alone.
Let all who want me to win
be happy and joyful.
From now on let them say,
“The Lord is wonderful!
God is glad when all goes well
for his servant.”
Then I will shout all day,
“Praise the Lord God!
He did what was right.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One day, then-six-year-old Timothy was coloring at the counter. He got very upset because he felt his coloring was “messed up.” I tried to assure him that it was fine. He wadded up his paper and threw it across the counter. I smoothed out the paper and began to show him how we could fix his work. Nothing I said made things better, and Timothy ended up sitting for a while in “Time Out.” We talked about why he had to take a break and he apologized (reluctantly). I told him how much I loved him.
Later that afternoon, I heard Timothy tell his little brother, “Nathan, Aunt Debbie doesn’t love me anymore.” I told him this was not true, and he said, “Yes it is…she said, ‘I don’t love you ANY MORE.'” I insisted that this was NOT what I said…that in fact, I told him that I DID love him. He told Nathan again, “She doesn’t love me.”
A few days later, Timothy apologized. He told me, “I promised Mother I would do it, and I have.” I asked Timothy, “So you told your mother what happened?” He said, “No…I just told her that I had done some bad things to several people and I needed to apologize to them. I needed to get all that sweatedness out.” I asked…“Sweatedness? What does that mean?” He said, “You know, when you are worried about bad things you have done to people, and it makes you all sweaty, and you just need to get it all out…and then you feel better! I’m really sweating!”
Now that I’ve made you laugh, let’s talk about our “sweatedness,” because I’m willing to bet we’ve all been there, done that! And it’s very possible that people – especially children – have accused us of things we didn’t say/do! Children have not yet learned to harness their frustration, and this is often the result! I have no “excuse” for adults who lash out physically and verbally! But God knows the truth…He sees and hears everything. And God will guide and guard us if/when we will allow it.
In every situation and circumstance, God will make things right. It is up to us to turn to Him for rescue and redemption – and to trust His process. And if you find yourself on the other end of this situation (because we are human and subject to outside influences), ask God to show you how to quickly and fully correct course…to “get all the sweatedness out” and make amends. Alleluia!
©2024 Debbie Robus
Forty-seven years ago today, Greg and I graduated from Arkansas Tech University. We were blessed to be able to graduate together, thanks to a work-study program that spread out the last half of Greg’s course of study over three years, while providing him with a job – and us with income! As I thought back over the past 50 years, I thanked God for how He has carried us in His arms…and how He continues to do this even today.
Daily Devo Time 