I Already Know That!

His eyes sparkled with laughter as he tried his hardest to join in the family activity. After each joke, his laugh was always a second behind everyone else’s, but he didn’t care. Ben just wanted to be a part of the group, and in his mind, being four meant he was big enough to play with the “big people.”

 We tried our best to cater the game to Ben’s level, and his grin grew three times larger whenever he got a point for his team. He was so proud of himself for obviously thriving at the one or two questions we’d ask him, that Ben could be heard several times saying, “No, don’t ask me that question, ask me the one you know I know!”

 Ben’s daddy, Joel, responded once, “We’ve already asked you the same question, Bud. Think hard. I know you know the answer.” Despite not giving Ben what he wanted, Ben’s daddy was right there, being his biggest cheerleader, and helping Ben put his mind to work. After getting over his devastation of not receiving an easy win, Ben realized he could answer a different question. 

Sometimes, I relate more to Ben’s four-year-old mindset than I’d like to admit. I can be heard storming into the Throne Room crying out to Jesus, “I don’t want to learn this new lesson. Teach me the lesson I already know!” But, because Jesus is determined to stretch and mold my mind and heart to look like His, He often pushes me to endure the newest season because growth is more important than comfort.

I’ve finally come to understand, though, that God is always in my corner, and I really can rely on him, simply because he loves me.