My granddaughter Scarlett had a moment at school that quietly became a parable.
She got in trouble for not listening. But instead of punishing her, her teacher invited her to reflect. Scarlett chose the word “confused” to describe how she felt. And when asked why, she said something that stopped me in my tracks:
“I was confused because my brain wouldn’t listen.”
Now, that’s not rebellion. It’s not defiance. It’s the honest experience of being human—of wanting to do right, but feeling tangled inside.
We’ve all been there. We want to be patient, but anger rises. We want to be loving, but judgment creeps in. We know what we should do, but something inside won’t cooperate.
Scarlett’s words echo the spiritual tension Paul describes in his letter to the Thessalonians. He says his ministry came “with much struggle,” yet it was “not without effect.” He wasn’t pretending. He wasn’t performing. He was speaking from a place of authenticity.
That’s what God desires from us—not perfection, but sincerity.
Jesus, on the other hand, warns the Pharisees. They were experts in religious appearances. They tithed their herbs, but neglected mercy. They cleansed the outside of the cup, but left the inside untouched.
Just like Scarlett’s brain wouldn’t listen to her heart, the Pharisees’ hearts wouldn’t listen to God.
But here’s the good news:
“You have searched me and you know me, Lord.” (Psalm 139)
God sees the inside. He knows our motives, our distractions, our desires. He doesn’t abandon us in our confusion. He meets us there—with gentleness.
Paul says he was “gentle among you, like a nursing mother.” That’s the kind of spiritual leadership we’re called to. Not harsh correction, but tender care.
And Scripture itself helps us sort through the mess.
“The Word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
It’s like Scarlett’s reflection paper. It doesn’t just tell us what we did wrong—it helps us understand why. Not to condemn, but to heal.
Let’s walk with God—not just in our actions, but in our intentions. Let’s be gentle with every confused heart—including our own.
Lord,
You have searched me and You know me.
You understand my thoughts from afar.
Help me walk with You—not just in what I do,
but in how I think, how I love, and how I lead.
Cleanse the inside of my heart,
and make me gentle with others,
as You are gentle with me.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment