Recently, I wrote something that I was led to delete. My most trusted advisor, my wife Jan, helped me come to that decision. Her comment, “What you wrote doesn’t fully represent the love of God”, is what caused me to delete the article.
When Jan first brought this to mind, I was mildly defensive trying to justify what I wrote. The more we talked the more I realized she was right. It didn’t offer a complete picture of God’s nature.
I don’t take my writing lightly. Sometimes it will take me a few hours to create the content of what I share even though it may be only a few paragraphs in length. Because I give writing the time and prayer needed, Jan’s comment felt like a mild assault on my integrity until the Lord confirmed the truth of the matter.
Whenever this kind of loving correction takes place, we are offered a chance to humble ourselves before God and people so that in our defensive state we don’t hold onto something we should let go of. To hang on in pride and defensiveness is what leads many astray and into places of error.
When I hit the delete button, a surge of thankfulness came over me. I was thankful that Jan loved me enough to challenge my mistake and thankful that the Lord is faithful to bring such correction simply because He loves us.
There is a lot of information flowing into our minds in this age of information. Sometimes we will pick up part of a broader subject and think our small piece represents the whole of what we need to understand. Those small pieces lack a greater and more complete explanation needed to arrive at a fuller understanding.
We are lumps of clay that occasionally need to be placed again on the spinning wheel of the Master Potter and be recast. The recast product always reflects a better image of how God wants us to live with each other and be willing to not hold onto and protect what needs to be reformed.
“So, the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him” (Jeremiah 18:4).
You are an extremely gifted lump of clay, Garris; God has formed you well. This acquiescence to Jan and to the Lord is possibly the shiniest part of your pottery. I am so impressed and inspired by this. God will take what you deleted and spin into something profound — He just did!
Thank you for this explanation. When I read the first part of the article and then tried to go to the second page it was not there! Instantly I thought the internet police had deleted it. But the rest of the story. Because I questioned why God did what he did, telling the Israelites to kill men, women and children, I went to Got Questions and asked the question and was able to read and understand more and it resolved my inner conflict with the issue. God uses you powerfully Garris and I just wanted you to know what happened to me with your deleted post. Praise God!!!!
Thank you Mr. Elkins for your, “courage and strength” to allow the gift of wisdom and the spirit truth to speak to you through your beautiful bride!
There is so much to glean from in this message. We need each other to help see and/or identify blind spots that can be detrimental to bringing dishonor to Father.
I thought about Proverbs 21:2-3. It’s a passage I pray frequently.
Thank God for help mates!
This has truly been a blessing!
My hearts cry, “Search my heart and change me Lord!”
Thank you, Garris. Two become one in Holy Matrimony. It’s no more a competition than the relationship between the eye and the ear. They complement and appreciate each other because of the mutual benefit to the body. BTW, did you mean to say “my life Jan” or “my wife Jan?” LOL