Finding a Better Substitute

Life Can Be Scary!

When we were children, most of us had a hard time learning to share. We never wanted to give up anything that we thought was ours to keep. Not even for a minute. And when it did happen, we wanted to lash out. We can see that same pattern in our own children too. It's a learning curve!

Even as adults, it doesn't seem reasonable that we would ever want someone to take away anything from us again. We've given up so much that we feel another disappointment could throw us over the edge. We even stay up until all hours of the night wondering how we are going to get it all back.

The Way Things Happen

In fact (whether willingly or not), we did just that--we gave up what was ours. However, we probably discovered in the process that we didn't need or even want all the material possessions in the first place. Who needs two or three of everything? We were able to finally give away that ugly, brown corduroy TV chair; the solid steel, oval steak roasting pan that was used once; and the remote-controlled tie rack left in the closet!

Giving away, or having something taken away, isn't the worse that can happen to us.

It's not the negative occurrence we seem to think it is. We may have to change our minds about if we really need the item in question and why. It could just mean we have to find a better substitute. At the very least, it frees us to choose our own necessary living essentials that fit our new lifestyles.  

Other than material possessions, there are definitely things in our lives we desperately want to be taken away. Some of these things have caused us much pain and heartache. Wouldn't we want hatred, unkindness, evil, malice, and prejudice removed from our lives? Couldn't we do without depression, anxiety, worry, chaos, and selfishness?

Something to Think About

Many people have misunderstood the beautiful Christian song, “Blessed Be Your Name,” where it speaks of the fact God gives and takes away. This immediately sounds like a truly negative and distasteful concept.

However, as demonstrated above, we can understand that there are things in our lives we want Him to take away. We can then thank Him for blessing us in such a way.

Once upon a time, God took everything away from a man named Job all in one day, including his family and friends! Heart-breaking, yes. Something similar may have even happened to one of us. Why, we ask?

Some scholars say that in Job’s case it was to bring him to a point of humility. After all, we came into the world with nothing and will leave with nothing. In between those two major events, we hopefully learn everything we have, absolutely everything, comes from God.  

“He said, ‘I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!’ ” Job 1:21 NLT.