God is on the phone

Have you ever had one of those days where you JUST WANT TO HAVE A TEMPER TANTRUM??? Me neither.

Thankfully, today was not one of those days.  It went smoothly.  Everything I needed to get done went off without a hitch.  I didn’t have to wait in the doctor’s office for an hour because she accidentally entered the wrong exam room and so “was committed” to seeing the patient scheduled after us before us.  (I love my doctor but I had to fake that I was laughing along with her.)

The Terrible Twos

Cody excelled at temper tantrums.  By nine months, he was well advanced in the Terrible Twos. 

By 15 months…well, let’s just say there were days that I wore earplugs – all day.  One day, I poured a glass of juice for him, but I wanted him to stand over the rug in case he spilled so it didn’t end up on the hardwood floor.  I tried to move him to the right six inches. 

My 15-month-old turned into a screaming banshee, whirled around running and screaming through the kitchen, into and through the living room, and then on to the dining room, and, for the grand finale, SLAMMED his palm onto a door. 

Because I tried to move him. Six. Inches.

Although, honestly, I have the emotional development of a 2-year-old at times.  I might actually have a temper tantrum now and then.

After witnessing Cody’s magnificent display of will, I sheepishly realized I can act that way with God.  He wants to move me just a little bit and I run screaming in the other direction.  Or I have a temper tantrum-sort of day and miss out on sharing a refreshing glass of juice with Him.

Distractions

So, the question is how can I see God in my daily life?  The reality is that He is everywhere.  How can I not see Him?

But I put so much between myself and Him.  The bad – annoying drivers, rude cashiers, late doctors.  But also, the good – serving others (when that isn’t what He has asked me to do), all the stuff I say I am blessed to have in my life that I don’t actually need in order to live my life, cellphones that could free up time and instead suck up even more time.

A few years ago, I looked at my phone and wondered if I use it for good, to reach for God?  Is it getting between me and Him or is it bringing my human mind and heart back to Him? 

A cellphone is a tool and, once I realized it could be used to help me focus instead of just stealing my focus, I created a new folder on it:  GOD.  I added songs, a blog, the local Christian radio station’s app, meditations, and links to Bible verses. 

God is on the phone

To get through the storm, the dark, or even just the annoying, I need to be overwhelmed by God.  I need to clear away this world that I think is real to see what lies behind it.  I can’t let myself be overwhelmed by the bad news I see about our world on the phone (because it’s everywhere!), but I need to use the phone to overwhelm the frustrations and fears of this world.

Yes, temperamental Carrie, God is always there even though you cannot see Him with your eyes, even on the trying days.  He is that gut feeling, that odd sense in your heart, that thought that doesn’t make sense (although is quiet so you could just ignore it).  Perhaps most importantly, He is peace on the days when you really need it.

So, use that phone when you feel a tantrum coming on!  Not for mindless, time-wasting apps but for God, for engaging in a relationship with Him.  Pause and play words of praise.  Read His word for me.  Don’t mentally run away but just be.

I had some temper tantrums today.

I wonder what peace I gave up.  What gifts I missed.  I wonder what God would have said to me on the phone if I had just thought to pick up.