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Because I Said So

April 8, 2022 by Lauren 26 Comments

Because I said so“Therefore the law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.”  Galatians 3:24 NASB

 

Even though it’s been over 20 years, I will never forget the first time “because I said so” tumbled out of my mouth.

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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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It excites me to see more people enjoying the discipline of praying scripture.  Genna Stotts for Refining [Spiritual Growth] wrote about her journey in Scripture Praying – Could it Be the Secret to a Healthy Mind?

 

 

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Filed Under: Bible reading, Christian, Faith, Grace & Truth Link Up, obedience, trusting God

Comments

  1. Joanne Viola says

    April 8, 2022 at 6:42 am

    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 🙂

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 8, 2022 at 2:44 pm

      What a good point that I should have included in the post – no regrets to obedience!

      Reply
  2. Danielle says

    April 8, 2022 at 12:49 pm

    I agree. I have uttered those words even when I haven’t wanted to.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 8, 2022 at 2:44 pm

      It’s easy to do as a mom!

      Reply
  3. Barbara Harper says

    April 8, 2022 at 3:13 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 10, 2022 at 2:02 pm

      I never really thought of it like that, Barbara. But it makes so much sense. Of course we wouldn’t be able to understand!

      Reply
  4. Deborah Rutherford says

    April 8, 2022 at 9:04 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 10, 2022 at 2:00 pm

      So much more peace when we do things His way. Thank you, Deborah.

      Reply
  5. Donna B Reidland says

    April 9, 2022 at 10:38 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 10, 2022 at 1:59 pm

      Oh what a good point, Donna. Praying against a grumbling attitude for both of us!

      Reply
  6. Nancy says

    April 11, 2022 at 3:55 am

    Hi Lauren, nice to meet you and your blog! Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 11, 2022 at 5:06 pm

      So glad to have you come by, Nancy. I hope you will again!

      Reply
  7. Tea With Jennifer says

    April 11, 2022 at 6:36 pm

    Oh yes I have to admit that I too have said it on more then one occasion!
    Great post Lauren.
    Blessings,
    Jennifer

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 12, 2022 at 2:02 pm

      Thank you so much, Jennifer.

      Reply
  8. Anita Ojeda says

    April 12, 2022 at 1:37 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 12, 2022 at 2:02 pm

      Amen, Anita. Thanks for chiming in.

      Reply
  9. Carol says

    April 12, 2022 at 5:35 pm

    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.
    Thank you for participating in Talent-Sharing Tuesdays Link-Up 15.
    Carol
    http://www.scribblingboomer.com

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 16, 2022 at 8:42 am

      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!

      Reply
  10. Kym says

    April 12, 2022 at 9:02 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 16, 2022 at 8:40 am

      Absolutely! You said it better than I did, Kym.

      Reply
  11. Susan Shipe says

    April 14, 2022 at 11:24 am

    Because HE says so!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 16, 2022 at 8:37 am

      Yes!

      Reply
  12. Joanne says

    April 16, 2022 at 8:27 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 16, 2022 at 8:33 am

      What has he grown into, Joanne?

      Reply
  13. Pam says

    April 19, 2022 at 12:58 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 19, 2022 at 1:29 pm

      Thank you for empathizing with me, Pam!

      Reply

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I love Jesus, my husband and caffeine. The order of these can change depending on how tired I am. When my two daughters, stepson, and 4 grandchildren get to be too much, I practice yoga. God graciously allows me to share our adventures, victories and flub-ups from my laptop. May He be glorified here.
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