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When The Father Says "No!

by Shari Weigerstorfer  
1/20/2016 / Christian Living

Yesterday I took my daughter and a little friend of hers to the pool. Her friend came up and asked if she could jump off the diving board.

"You can if you want to, but aren't you a little afraid?" I asked. After all, she is only six.

She said, "No, I'm not afraid. It's just that Mommy doesn't let me."

Upon hearing that, I informed her that jumping off the diving board would not be on the itinerary for that afternoon.

A little later, she came to me again and asked me if she could get an ice cream. Well, that was safe because her mother had sent her with money earmarked for that purpose. She bought her ice cream and came back to me and asked me to open the wrapper. I undid the wrapper and handed it back to her. She took a bite, and her face lit up. "I just love these! Mama won't let me have these!" And off she trotted. I had to laugh, but it left me thinking.

Why is it that children have no qualms about indulging in a "Thou Shall Not!" issued by a parent? Why is it they don't take these parental rules seriously, realizing the restrictions have been given because we love them and want to protect them from harm?

After contemplation, I decided it was because children aren't that dumb. They've watched us for years, and they realize that our "I said No!" is sometimes for their good, like when the burner is hot, and we don't want them to get burned. But sometimes, it's not so much for their good, but ours. Sometimes, we have our own personal agenda, and we say "No!" at the child's expense. What they're asking might embarrass or inconvenience us.

Maybe we're overly cautious. Our children trust us, and they trust our judgment, but only so far. It's probably for this mixed bag of reasons that children question our motives, and therefore, our decisions. Really, you can't blame them for that.

Our parents probably did the same with us. Just maybe, that's why we do the same with God. We don't always trust His motives for the "Thou Shalt Nots." With some sins, we understand that if we touch it, we will get burned. We understand that a loving God genuinely handed down that command with our good in mind. But sometimes a "No!" doesn't look so harmful. We truly think we can cross the line over into some sins and be okay. The consequences won't be that severe, if there even are consequences at all. Maybe God had His personal agenda in mind when He forbade some of those.

No, He didn't. God is not like us. He had only our good in mind. Every one of those "Thou Shalt Not's" will burn us badly should we touch them. God's not overcautious or difficult or selfish.

All sin carries serious consequences. Sometimes immediately, sometimes in the future. But all sin leaves its mark on us and on innocent others. When God says, "You're not allowed to do that!" He's desperately trying to protect us, pure and simple.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 says, "I call Heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him, for this is your life and the length of your days..." (NASB)

Dear Lord, give me trusting eyes that see a "Thou Shalt Not!" as a guidepost and not a restriction.

Shari Weigerstorfer is a free-lance Christian writer, native to the West Coast of America. When not indulging in her passion for travel, she writes from her home in Singapore. Other articles by Shari can be found on her site at Faithwriters.com

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