We want what we can't have.

This week "someone" at our house learned a hard lesson. Sometimes we can't have what we want, even if we have the means to get it ourselves. "Someone" decided to purchase a mini lego character from a friend (without permission). The money was given and the lego was received. However, this was not approved. "Someone" had taken matters into his own hands while keeping this information from his authority (Mom and Dad).

It reminded me of how we all can be at times. Sometimes we want something that seems like a good idea. We go after it and may even obtain it. But were we supposed to have it in the first place? Sometimes what we want is a good thing. Sometimes we think it is a good thing, even a great thing. We "feel" that it is supposed to happen because we want it to. When God answers No or Wait, we often get discouraged because we have focused on us or what we wanted instead of on the fact that God is still active in our lives. He is still answering us and still in control.

We hold onto this little idea like my son was holding onto his little lego-with a closed fist. He was keeping that part of his life to himself, much like we may keep or hold onto something in our life. We allow God to have reign over all the areas outside this one thing we are keeping tight in our fist. God wants us to release it to Him. To give all completely over to Him. To allow Him to be the giver in His time.

We want something we know we aren't to have right now (even if it is known in the recesses of our mind, we know). We keep it to ourselves and this means we are not lined with God's will, but our own. The great thing is that God waits. He waits for us to give this over to Him. He gives grace. He waits for us to release this thing we wanted until He decides to give it to us. He waits, so we have to wait. His grace makes a way for us to receive from Him in the first place.

So for us now....the lego was returned. My son's desire has not left for this unique lego he wants, but he learned that he cannot keep what he obtained without permission. And we all are reminded that acquiring what we want outside of the will of God usually isn't as enjoyable as we had presumed!