Devotionals by Dr. M. Craig Barnes
All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people. --
Have you ever noticed that when small children get overwhelmed, they always bend their heads down
and bring their hands up to cover their eyes. Sometimes they just dissolve into a puddle of tears
right on the spot. Apparently, it isn't natural for us to open our eyes wider or lift up our heads
when we get scared, sad, or hurt. No, the natural instinct is to close down as many senses as we can and turtle into an emotional shell.
If the child's parent is nearby, he or she can call the child and hold out their hands. But
sometimes the child is so overwhelmed that the parent has to go and pick up the child. Only then
does the little head eventually tilt back up and the red eyes open. Now the world can be handled
again - only in the strong arms of love.
As adults when we are overwhelmed by fear or hurt, our natural instinct is still bending down our
heads, covering our eyes, and retreating into anything that diverts us. That is just how sin
begins. You weren't intending to become an alcoholic, work-aholic, fear-aholic, or new-job-aholic.
You didn't mean to drive others crazy with your constant whining and self-absorption. But it's
hard to see clearly when your head is down and your eyes are covered.
The alternative is to remember that all day long our heavenly Father has his hands held out to you.
-- Craig Barnes