Daddy Uppease

July 10

My little friend Liam loves it when people hold him. Especially his daddy. He runs over to his dad, puts his hands in the air, and says “daddy uppease!”  Whether it is the kids that are all taller than Liam that run over to touch his blonde hair, or some chickens coming towards him, or if Liam has fallen and gotten hurt he knows that if he runs to his daddy he will be lifted up out of danger into strong safe arms.

I think we all feel like Liam at times. I know I do especially right now. I have hit a point where I cannot sleep at night, I am always tired, I have a constant headache, woke up today with a cough and low grade fever, and I am simply culturally exhausted. I have spent the last month alone here and have been away from home for so long. I can tell it is wearing on me. All I want to do is hold out my arms to my heavenly father and say, “daddy up please.” Please lift me out of my uncomfortable circumstances. Please hold me in your safe arms until it is all over. Please let me rest my head on your shoulder. Please make it all better.

This is not the first time in my life I have felt this way and I know it will not be the last. The problem that I have is forgetting that I have the option of having my Father pick me up. I try to stand my ground and fight the battle on my own. I should learn by now that is a fatal mistake.

In our lives it is so important to run to God first in times of trial. He has all of the strength needed to lift us out of our situation. All we need to do is ask. Just throw up our arms in surrender and say “daddy uppease.” It’s so simple that a two-yr-old can master it but difficult for adults to practice because it requires being humble and admitting we are at the end of ourselves and can not go any further on our own.

But in all honesty that is the best place to be. It is at the end of ourselves and our strength where we see the glory of God shine. When we are empty He fills us up and His power, strength, and love are what people see in us and what sustain us. At our end He begins.

John 3:30 “He must become greater; I must become less.”