A few years ago, my just-waking-up child walked into the kitchen and asked for scrambled eggs. I said no—because the bacon, apple, and cheddar frittata was in the oven and would be ready in 15 minutes. 

After some arguing and begging, he said, “You’re not my real mom. If you were, you’d care about me.” 

I was trying not to laugh while I thought, “I’m making you bacon! What part of bacon with the eggs don’t you fully grasp?”

Right then the Holy Spirit gave me a gentle, “Does this remind you of anyone?” 

At times I think God must not care for me because my plan, which consists of immediate relief, peace, and happiness, doesn’t seem to be his plan, which consists of discipline, refining, and waiting. I am often willing to settle—and whine about—a proverbial plate of scrambled eggs, while God has a bacon frittata almost ready for me.

I can always look back and testify how God worked in every situation, but in the middle of it? That is when I forget to trust these words: “For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him” (Isaiah 64:3,4).

God does awesome things, and he acts on my behalf—in his time. I’m still learning. And so are my kids.