The Lord Longs to be Gracious to You

We have now officially entered the time of year that I have to be mean to my kids.

Let me explain:

• Both of my kids have December birthdays. They are entering a month of endless celebration and gifts.
• Both of my kids get an allowance that they are usually allowed to manage freely and learn from those decisions.
• A large group of caring relatives who are good planners have already purchased great Christmas and birthday gifts.

So this is the time of year when I place a ban on spending allowance money and any gift money received until after the last event of the month is over. My kid's know the reasoning, but that doesn't stop them from getting mad at me.

I have to be the mean mom.

At least that's what it looks like. The truth is, I can't wait to give my kids the presents that I bought them! I can't wait to see their faces. I long to be gracious to them. But I have to wait.

Sometimes it is easy to see God as spiteful and uncaring. I don't want to see him that way. I know better. But that doesn't stop me from feeling that way when he seems to be holding back on me.

I don't really deserve his blessings anyway.

But then I read this verse:

The Lord longs to be gracious to you;
he rises to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice
Blessed are all who wait for him!
-Isaiah 30:18

That verse stops me in my tracks. It is unfathomable. I picture God getting up from his throne specifically to show me compassion.

He longs to be gracious to me.

The Lord of heaven and earth has a longing to bless me.

Am I willing to wait for him?