Accept the Unexpected

                My son is at the age where he is beginning to discover cause and effect. He seems to have learned that if he makes noise, someone will notice. If he laughs, someone will normally look over and see what he is doing. If he laughs louder, more people will see what he is doing. If he cries, Mom or Dad will come to help. Even though he cannot talk yet, he often asked me to come get him by making lots of noise! That is how I know my boy is ready for a nap.

                 When I pick him up, he is initially very happy! Then he realizes that I did not come to play, but to put him to sleep. He may have been asking for what he wanted, but I came to give him what I know he needs. When he realizes that I am going to put him to sleep, he fights and fusses until finally giving into the nap. This very familiar scenario came to mind when I read a very familiar passage in Matthew 9 today.

                Before this chapter, Matthew goes on and on about how Jesus is healing people left and right! He is casting out demons, preaching, and healing everywhere He goes! Then some men bring him a paralytic man on a mat and you can guess what is going to happen. Just when you think Jesus is going to walk up and heal the man, He doesn’t. He comes to the man and says, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then some very religious people called Pharisees start to say that Jesus cannot forgive sins because He is not God. That is when Jesus heals this man.

                I have always had questions about this story. Did the paralytic man come to Jesus to be forgiven, or did he come to be healed? What was he expecting? What about his friends, did they carry him to Jesus because he asked them to or because they wanted to see him healed? Or did they bring him because they knew he needed to be forgiven? I wonder if I ever approach God expecting one thing and receiving what it is I really need. When that happens, am I grateful or do I fight with God like my son often fights with me to be put to sleep? If I am open to what God has for me, would I find like the paralytic man that God would provide for me both what I expected and did not expect?

                God, please help me to be open to what You have for me. Help me to remember that You always have my best interest in mind. Help my belief in You to bring You honor. Amen.