God’s Creation Can Be Unruly

Carl has “deer” issues. He put out an array of flowers in big pots around his home. The next day, he went out to check his plantings. Many of the flowers — gone. He knew the culprits were the deer who thrive in his neighborhood. This community has many homes and cars that move about. But these deer consider it their wildlife habitat!

And, if he were dealing enough with the deer, he found a huge hole that had been dug right under his home’s foundation by some kind of varmint! Hopefully, the varmint exterminator will help rid him of yet another annoyance!

We’ve been in East Texas at my children’s Epiphany Ranch for the last few days. We went on a tour of the property and Larry and Staci pointed out the enormous trees that have fallen or are dying because beavers have been filing their teeth — gnawing away those gorgeous trees.

And then there are the critters that like to eat the new sprouts of my children’s garden. What? God’s creation can sure be unruly! He must have reasons for His unruly creation and their annoying habits.

And then there is His favorite creation – US! I wonder if He scratches His head from time to time when He sees how annoying we can be. And because of OUR annoying and unruly ways, we know, in His loving and caring way, He must exercise discipline in our lives because He wants us to be all He has destined us to be.

Hebrews 12:6 says: “The Lord disciplines the ones He loves.” God’s discipline in David’s life was the sure sign that God still had work for him to do! God disciplined David to make him into a different and a better man. “All discipline seems painful… but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11)

God’s discipline in our lives, however painful, has a purpose and it means He loves us and still has work for us to do. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

God is an incredible exterminator – with an ulterior motive. He wants to remove pride from us. Like the Hebrews who grumbled and complained in their journey to the Promised Land, He had to let them go through stuff to humble them. “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.”
(Deuteronomy 8:2) YIKES! Is that what God is doing to us — testing us so that we trust Him?

If God sees big things ahead for us, and I believe He does, then He must discipline us! So, maybe we need to consider why we are being disciplined. Is it pride, anger issues, worry, or whatever our ornery ways may be? God isn’t trying to break us but rather He is making us ready for the greatest blessings He wants to provide us.

Dear Lord, help us to surrender our wills, our pride, our weaknesses to You and your perfect plans for our lives. We submit to being disciplined so that we become humble vessels of honor for you! Amen.