“Therefore the law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24 NASB
My step-son wanted to know why he couldn’t turn the water hose on the trampoline and jump when it was 40 degrees outside. Chandler was (and is) very bright and tended to think he was right much of the time. He would argue his point until one of us was exhausted if I let him. He did not consider “It’s cold outside,” to be a good enough reason and was not satisfied with “you could get sick” or “your clothes will be soaked”. H continued to plead his case until all there was left for me to say was “because I said so”.
I hoped I would never say it. I swore I wouldn’t. It frustrated me to hear it, but I think most parents have uttered those words at one time or another.
God gets to that point with me sometimes. I can be pretty head strong about what I want and what I think is best. God has to not-so-gently remind me that His Word contains His knowledge and wisdom to direct my path. And I have to admit that “because I said so,” can be really hard for me to take – even from the Creator of the Universe. Just look at how counter-cultural His ways are!
Why It Matters
This world is trying it’s hardest to convince us all (and quite successfully in some circles) that God’s Word either doesn’t really say what it says, or that it doesn’t belong in our modern era. And it some ways it would be easier to let ourselves believe that than to fight against the current. Especially when we don’t understand why something is true. But this thinking is leading us into darkness and destruction.
That’s where faith comes in. Isaiah 55:8 says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Just as we now understand that our parents knew better than we as little children, so we must trust that our Heavenly Father knows better than we ever will. His laws and ethics have purpose. They aren’t meant to be restrictive but to protect us and bring us closer to Him. Reminding myself of this helps when I don’t understand why He said so.
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I have never regretted listening when I heed God’s said so. But oh the regret when I have not. He always tells us what is good and right and will be for our benefit., even when we may not understand. And yes, those words have slipped out from my mouth too as a mom 🙂
What a good point that I should have included in the post – no regrets to obedience!
I agree. I have uttered those words even when I haven’t wanted to.
It’s easy to do as a mom!
I never wanted to say those words, either. But I think we all do at some point. There are some things you just can’t explain to a 3-year-old, at least not to their satisfaction. That comforts me when I don’t understand God’s ways. Maybe sometimes He doesn’t explain just so we learn to trust and obey. But I think more often it’s because we couldn’t understand even if He did explain.
I never really thought of it like that, Barbara. But it makes so much sense. Of course we wouldn’t be able to understand!
I can get a little rebellious with, “Because I say so.” But these days I am trusting God with all and find a sense of peace and security in His way, in because He says so. Thank you for this post!
So much more peace when we do things His way. Thank you, Deborah.
They are hard words to hear on either side, aren’t they? But I know I have said them. I hope I keep getting better at choosing to obey God because I want to please Him and not with a grumbling “because He said so” attitude.
Oh what a good point, Donna. Praying against a grumbling attitude for both of us!
Hi Lauren, nice to meet you and your blog! Thanks for hosting!
So glad to have you come by, Nancy. I hope you will again!
Oh yes I have to admit that I too have said it on more then one occasion!
Great post Lauren.
Blessings,
Jennifer
Thank you so much, Jennifer.
Oh, I tried to avoid that phrase, too! I always hated it when my parents used it on me ;). But, alas, I resorted to it a time or two! And your spiritual application is spot-on. If we believe in a higher power, we have to accept that His word is final!
Amen, Anita. Thanks for chiming in.
My children are now in their mid-40s, so it’s been a long time. But, I did say “because I said so” on a few occasions. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with teaching children that there are authority figures in their lives who should be listened to — parents, teachers, caregivers. The adults in children’s lives who care for them need to exert authority at times, just as God exerts authority over humans. Although God the Father is a loving holy spirit, nevertheless there is an aspect of authority that is for our own good. Example — the 10 commandments.
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Carol
http://www.scribblingboomer.com
This is such a good point, Carol. Unfortunately, in our hyper televised and streamed world, we hear about every bad egg who abuses their authority and kids are more often taught to question everyone and everything because of it!
Yes, as a mom I have said those words far more often than I would have liked. I think it was often out of frustration or impatience, but I hope it was also for my kids’ good. God’s thoughts are higher than my thoughts, and when he says “because I said so” I can KNOW that it’s for my good and while I may not understand right now I can trust him.
Great post!
Stopping by from IMM#30
Absolutely! You said it better than I did, Kym.
Because HE says so!
Yes!
I always swore I’d never utter those words either but I too had one really smart, head-strong little boy that everyone swore was going to grow up and become a lawyer since he really loved to argue his own point of view.
What has he grown into, Joanne?
I was another who said I wouldn’t say that to my kids, but I did, occasionally. And, eventually I realized that it was ok to say that now and then! I love that God tells us that, too! I enjoyed the post!
Thank you for empathizing with me, Pam!