If you want to know how to get into a proper snit, ask a four-year-old.

I would know.

When I was around that age, I got in a snit about something my Dad had done or wouldn’t let me do.

So I decided to teach him a lesson.

I announced to my Dad, “I’m going to run away from home!”

He replied with a barely suppressed smile, “I’ll help you pack!”

This got me even madder. I bundled some belongings in a bandana and tied it to a stick to prepare for my journey (I must have seen this in a cartoon). I then stormed out of the house dramatically.

I stomped around the backyard for a while to make my point. Eventually, though, I got hungry and had to go back inside for dinner. (Where humble pie was no doubt on the menu.)

What lesson did I learn?

That even though I was mad at my Dad, he provided everything I needed. I had to go back to him. Where else could I go?

In the same way, sometimes we’re unhappy with the way our Heavenly Father is arranging things in our lives.

We may think God is taking too long to give us the things we want, or is making us undergo things we’d rather not experience.

But if we try to run away from Him, it doesn’t actually get us anywhere. Where else can we go, anyway? Every good thing we have comes from Him.

The psalmist Asaph recognized this:

“Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:25–26)

As did Peter:

“At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, ‘Are you also going to leave?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.’’ ” (John 6:66-68)

The Lord is everything to us. Look at the various ways He is described throughout Scripture:

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2)

“The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” (Psalm 118:14)

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)

“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)

“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.” (Psalm 16:5)

Learn a lesson from a (now grown up) four-year-old:

When life gets difficult, run to God. Running away from Him won’t solve your problems. He is the source of everything you need, and loves you deeply!

“I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; all the good things I have come from you.’ ”

psalm 16:2

© 2023 Lori J. Cartmell. All rights reserved.