Grown-ups Have Temper Tantrums Too!

When my soul was embittered,

    when I was pricked in heart,

I was brutish and ignorant;

    I was like a beast toward you.

Nevertheless, I am continually with you;

    you hold my right hand.

 You guide me with your counsel,

    and afterward you will receive me to glory.

 Whom have I in heaven but you?

    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

 My flesh and my heart may fail,

    but God is the strength[a] of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:21-26

I was recently taken by these verses in Psalm 73.  Probably because I've been feeling embittered, brutish, ignorant and acting like a beast toward God. 

Suffice it to say, I am not entering my latter 50s gracefully, but by kicking and screaming.  Well not literally, but in my head I am.  lol.   I think I am realizing that at this stage of the game, which is only going to get worse, I know Debbie Downer right here lol, but true none the less, that as we get older, there are more aches and pains and what I am recently discovering and apparently am not alone, that I just can't eat like I used to without suffering from all manner of gastric issues...

In observing my granddaughter, we are blessed in that although she does have temper tantrums like all toddlers, she has always been one to let it out in a quick fit, but then, for the  most part, as soon as you calmly speak to her, she shrugs her shoulders, makes an angry face and goes off to do what she was asked.  It's like she quickly gets it out of her system and then resigns herself to obedience.

When my kids were little, our pediatrician told us that the best way to deal with temper tantrums is to ignore them.   This takes the wind out of the child's sails and must make them think, "Oh, well this isn't getting me anywhere."  lol.

But sometimes tantrums just can't be ignored.  And can end with painful consequences...

My husband had taken our daughter to the store and she wanted something there, but was told "not today".  She had a tantrum and dropped quickly to the floor while my  husband was still holding her hand at which point we discovered she had "nursemaid's elbow" as she suffered a painful dislocation.

In my own "tantrum", I am suffering painful consequences by allowing bitterness to take root.  I am not only hurting myself and my spiritual walk, but by my complaining, I'm sure, is bringing those around me down.

And there may be times that it feels like our Heavenly Father is "ignoring" us in our tantrums, but the verses in Psalm 73 remind us that He is continually with us and holds our hand, despite our tantrum.

I think my granddaughter showcases the Lord's effect on our tantrums.  When we resign ourselves to obedience, and allow the Lord to lead us and direct us in the right path,  And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.  Isaiah 30:21, we will experience God's peace and His love.  The more we obey, the more we will walk in His love and our desires will shift from that of self to that of service to our Lord and Savior.

There seems to be a perception that the God of the Old Testament was "harsh".  But the more time I spend reading about God's relationship with the Israelites, this is anything but true.

Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water.  When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah.  And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet...

Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.

Exodus 15:22-25; 27

 In this account, the Israelites are having a tantrum because there is no water.  And just like the Truth the Psalmist shared above, the Lord was right there with them and provided water.  Not only did He provide water despite their tantrum, He ultimately gave them an abundance of water - 12 springs to be exact!

What amazing love!  Even though our heart and flesh may fail,  God is the strength of our hearts and our portion forever.

If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

2 Timothy 2:13 

Thank you Father for your great patience and love.  Thank you that you never let us go.  Thank you that you use every opportunity including our tantrums to show us that you will  never leave us or forsake us and that there is NOTHING that can separate us from the love of the Father.

In Jesus Name,



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