Don’t Be The Daddy Of Daddy from Paul Tripp Ministries
My wife and I brought children into this world who thought they didn’t need parents. Each of our four kids, at some point and in their own way, fell into believing that they were far more knowledgeable and capable than they really were.
Sometimes it can be cute or funny, at least on the surface. Other times it will frustrate and grieve your soul. But ultimately, it’s a dangerous lie that these growing human beings fall for: we know better than our parent.
When our kids were young, I would kneel down and appeal to their little hearts and minds with a petition. It was both to help them understand my role as their earthly father, but also to prepare them for deeper theological battles that they would face.
It went something like this:
“Do you know how much I love you? Do you know that your Daddy is not a bad man? Do you know that I would never ask you to do anything that would hurt you?
I’m sorry that you can’t understand why Daddy is asking you to do this. I wish I could explain it to you, but you are too young to understand. So I’m going to ask you to do something—trust Daddy.
When you walk down the hallway to do what Daddy has asked you to do, say to yourself, ‘My Daddy loves me. My Daddy would never ask me to do something bad. I’m going to trust my Daddy and stop trying to be the Daddy of my Daddy.”
Your Heavenly Father knows there are many times when your life doesn’t look like there is anyone ruling it, let alone someone wise and good. He knows that at times, you’ll be overwhelmed, confused, and confounded by his plan for your life.
That’s one of the reasons why he gives us the Bible. Through his Word, God reassures us that he is ruling over every detail of our lives. Today, I simply want to give you 5 reminders of his divine authority.
1 Chronicles 29:11: Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours.
Psalm 103:19: The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
Psalm 115:3: Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
Proverbs 21:1: The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.
Daniel 4:35: All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
No matter how difficult and confusing life may be, no matter how unexpected and alarming your circumstances may be, there is rest to be found. This rest is not found in knowing the future, but the result of being adopted into the family of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
This deep, abiding rest of soul will stay with you when situations are wonderful and when they are terrible, because your rest isn’t circumstantial—it’s personal!
God bless,
Paul Tripp
Reflection Questions
- What in your life is currently confusing and/or alarming you?
- If you were in complete control, what changes would you make to those confusing and/or alarming circumstances, and why?
- How has God revealed himself to be wiser than you in the past? Find one or two specific examples of the Lord working in your life for good when you didn’t have a clue.
- In your own bible study, pay attention for other verses or stories that reinforce God’s wise and loving authority in your life, and then preach that gospel to yourself!