I'll Take That Seed, Thank You.

As I pondered God's protective covering over my lilfe, I became acutely aware of how often I take this role from him.  Much like a bird snatches seed, I snatch God's job as my protector right out of his hands.  And then more often than not, I blame HIM when I get hurt. 

As a counselor and wounded child of God myself, I've learned more than I'd like to know about Self-Protection.  We fear where God will plant us.  We fear where we might grow.  We fear.  Instead of settling into the seed of Christ, we attempt to protect ourselves.  And that false sense of security, most often does not completely block the elements of the wind, the rain, the sun.  And even more often, can do more damage than good. 

I've heard some counselors encourage people in their self-protection.  We all have our protective measures--ways we secure ourselves from hurtful people, situations, and past wounds.  It's a natural reaction of the human nature--but so is sin.    Don't get me wrong.  There are logical choices we must make when we've been hurt by our mothers, abandoned by our fathers, or abused by our spouses.  We must set certain boundaries to ensure we are honoring that in which God honors--US. 

When I speak of self-protection, I speak of unhealthy behaviors that become almost idolatrous, for we depend on them to take care of us more than we depend on Christ. 

Hiding behind our children because we fear interaction with others.
Shopping and spending.
Dishonesty.
Unhealthy co-dependant relationships.
Masking the truth of who you are or what you've done.
Constantly serving others and never receiving.
Sarcasm.
Rejecting others before they can reject you.
Alcoholism.
Gambling.
Sex.
Facebook.
These and so many more.

All the ways of self-protecting seem logical, seem helpful, seem right.  But all of them are ways that each of us concoct to aid a much deeper hurt or issue that only God can truly help us with.  When we choose to allow God to be our protective covering, we allow ourselves more vulnerabilty which is definitely suffering for me--and with vulnerability comes growth. And with growth comes maturity--and hope.

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Romans 5:2-4

But this hope that comes, comes only of the glory of God--through Him, by Him, for Him.  Your self-protective ways willl not produce the hope we need for the healing we need.  For it's through God's Hope and his glorious work on the cross that we can truly be healed of all the hurts we attempt to protect ourselves from.

I encourage you this day to rest in the seed of God's protection, casting aside your finite ways of protecting your heart from the hurts of this world.  It is only through that will you find the eternal healing you are searching for.