He Doesn’t Just Snap

“To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;” Daniel 9:9

All of us face stress in this life. We’re immersed in a stressful world, surrounded by stressful people, living in bodies that get weak when “stressed out”. The temptation to get snippy and snappy is a daily reality, especially when things aren’t happening according to OUR plans.

When I worked in the jail as a volunteer clergyman, we saw all kinds of inmates. There were drug addicts, alcoholics, reckless drivers, gang members, and a whole host of other troubled souls.

But once in a while we’d run across someone who just “snapped”. Unable to cope with the stress of life, they would lash out in some form of rage, anger, or moment of weakness…and thus would wind up in jail, sometimes seated in our preaching service.

Remember this: God isn’t stressed out today. He isn’t chewing his fingernails with elevated blood pressure as He watches this chaotic world full of rebellious humans. Those are human reactions to stress, and God is unlike any of us.

In order to offer us (rebels) His mercy and forgiveness, He has to be the steadiest, most mature entity in the universe. Nobody else would be able to handle the problems of our world without snapping and going crazy.

God doesn’t just snap and lose control. He’ll never be found in jail, waiting for Gabriel to bail Him out. He is a God of mercy and forgiveness, and any actions He takes are the result of His perfect judgment.

This would be a different world if people wouldn’t be so snippy and snappy…we ought to follow God’s lead instead. It’s a good day to be patient and kind!