I was seven years old and in primary three in elementary school when I learnt a very big lesson that I will never forget. One day, I got math homework that was due for submission in class the next day. Math was my best subject and I hardly ever needed help doing my math homework. However, this particular homework was very hard because the math concept refused to stick in my tiny brain. So, after my daddy got home from work and was relaxed, I approached him and asked for help with my homework and he walked me through it.
I was excited and grateful for the help I got from my daddy. Shortly after however, I started thinking. ‘But, how can I be sure that my daddy really knows how to solve those math problems?’ My seven-year-old mind rationalized that since my daddy was not in my math class, how could he have even known what to do? From that moment, I became doubtful. Hmmm? Then I figured out what I was going to do. Very early at school the next morning, I was going to double check my homework with my friends before the school bell rang for morning assembly. I was very excited that I had a plan!
Immediately I got to school the next day, I executed my plan and compared my homework with a couple of my friends. Lo and behold, we got different answers and I was then really convinced that my daddy definitely did not understand the math concepts since my two friends had similar answers and had been in the class when the math concept was taught. So, guess what I did? I promptly erased ALL my answers, which were done in pencil, and I copied my friends’ answers. I felt so much better.
Finally math period came, our math teacher marked the homework and guess what I got? Yeah… I got a big fat zero! Every single answer I wrote was wrong! I realized that the answers I had written before were ALL right. O dear! My daddy did know math after all and I felt extremely silly.
Whenever I think back to that incident, I realize that this is exactly the same way many of us behave towards our heavenly Father, the everywhere present God, who knows ALL things and can do ALL things. The one who was before ALL things and will be after ALL things. Since we know all these truths about Him, why do we fail to completely trust him? Instead, we prefer to trust in our own limited knowledge and go to fellow humans, who are equally as limited in knowledge, to solve our problems.
I often imagine God looking down at us with tears in His eyes, shaking His head and wondering why we just don’t get it. If my fridge stopped working all of a sudden, what would be my best chance for solving the problem without going around in circles and avoiding frustration, mental stress and anxiety: try fixing it myself, ask my hubby for help or reach out to the fridge manufacturers for help? I don’t know about you but I would reach out to the manufacturers right away and try to work with them to get the problem fixed.
It is the very same concept with your heavenly father. He knows all things and can do all things, so He is your best resource to avoid going around in circles and stewing in frustration, mental stress and anxiety, which studies show are a huge part of the causes of chronic disease.
However, you have your free will and you must choose how you want to solve your problem. Your choice could lead you down the path of sustained frustration, anger, sadness, conflict and bitterness which can lead to chronic disease. On the other hand, you can choose to trust in God and let Him show you how to solve your problem, the path that fills your heart with peace and joy and promotes a healthier you. Remember that when He was on earth, Jesus endured the pain and suffering that we do today, so he gets it. Moreover, He knows the solution to any and every problem that you are facing and yet to face.
So, if you were in my shoes in primary three, would you have trusted yourself and your fellow seven-year-olds, or would you have trusted your daddy who knew so much more than all of you combined? Similarly, with that problem you are facing right now, will you rather trust yourself and fellow humans to solve your problem or will you trust God, who knows more than everyone in the world combined, and avoid frustration? You decide- your health could depend on it.
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