WHOSE am I? Rights—What Rights?

“Oh no! Not again!” I thought when a chronic health issue resurfaced recently. I was disappointed and dismayed. And I certainly had a hard time giving thanks in it, even though I am right in the middle of teaching a class on Choosing GratitudeWhen my health issue didn’t improve right away, it was even harder to be grateful.

I’ve been here before—disappointed and discouraged, which often leads to me to complain. Perhaps you’ve been there too. I know it’s displeasing to God, but it’s so hard to stop.

Finally, when I got serious about it—and tired of being miserable—I repented. At that moment God showed me why I was having such a hard time being grateful.

I was simply holding onto my “right” to be disappointed.

However, I have no rights. I gave the right to live life my way when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. He bought me with His precious blood—all of me. I am His now.

God has pointed out to me many times in the past that it’s okay to be disappointed as long as I don’t become discontented. I have no right to complain.

He has shown me that I don’t have to like or understand why He has allowed a “negative” circumstance, but only to accept it as part of His plan. I have no right to be angry. I have no right to resist or fight God in it. I’m not saying it’s wrong to struggle. It does take time to process and work through difficulties. Even Jesus struggled in the Garden of Gethsemane.

But God wants us to work toward a “Not my will, but Your will” mentality.

It’s so easy to think that we deserve blessings from God (=no hardships)—especially in our prosperity-minded culture; especially if we are walking with the Lord. But like it or not—you don’t deserve a break today! Sorry, McDonalds and L’Oreal! God does bless us in many ways, but

He does not owe us anything. We are the ones who owe Him!

He is the holy Creator, the One in control. He has ALL the rights to everything. Yet amazingly God does give us some rights through Jesus.

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (Jn 1:12, emphasis added)

Being His child includes the right to:

  • Personally interact and relate with Him.
  • Protection, provision, and patience from a loving heavenly Parent.
  • Go to Him in our time of need (Heb 4:16).
  • Share an inheritance in His Kingdom with others belonging to Him (Col 1:12).
  • Escape forever misery in hell to forever bliss in heaven.

The list could go on and on.

When we think of it this way, that we belong to the God of the universe with all these benefits, it’s really not that hard to surrender to His ways.

So when you think you’re not getting your “just” due, don’t get upset (or at least don’t stay there). Rather humble yourself to the Lover and Rescuer of your soul. Be grateful that God didn’t give you what you (and all mankind) truly deserve—hell. Instead, through His sacrificial love, He gives us mercy and grace. He gives us a way through Jesus Christ to be His child—forever cherished from this moment on.

Until next time my friends, in my negative situation, I have a choice to make. In your negative situation, you have a choice to make. I’ve made mine. What will yours be?

 

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.