It’s fine if you need to protest. He can take it. But keep in mind what happens when a young child protests to a good father about what’s best. The father may listen, even lovingly, but the protest is more an indicator of the immaturity and lack of forward vision on the child’s part and less an indicator of the father’s heart. The end of protesting results in the bending of a will--and it’s usually ours.
Does God turn His ear to our cry? Yes, of course. In fact, He knows the desires of our heart more fully than we do...and He knows the root of each of those desires too. But I wonder if God allows our protest because He knows what it produces. He knows the fruit of wrestling is that we know Him more fully and walk with a lasting humility. And maybe a limp.
But praise. Oh praise.
Sometimes praise is an overflow welling up from a grateful heart. Praise while we wait solidifies our absolute belief and trust in the Goodness and Sovereignty of God.
But sometimes praise is a discipline. When our hearts don’t “feel” the praise coming from our mouth, praise tells our hearts to take a seat. And take note.
Sometimes praise is a weapon. When the power of darkness begins to convince us that God’s intentions are questionable, praise proclaims, “I will not turn my ear to your lies, but I will marinate in the truth.”
And here is the perpetual truth: Our Good Father in heaven doesn’t need us to think and speak and sing high words of Him. But we do.
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