The Man Upstairs
January 27, 2009
I was listening to a radio broadcast today which was raising money for Cook’s Children’s Hospital. They were interviewing a mom who was going through a difficult ordeal with her child. My heart went out to her in a powerful way. My comments are not in any way to be construed negatively toward her. I think she was surprised by a microphone in her face asking questions. She made this comment, “The man upstairs doesn’t give us more than we can take or put more on our plate.”
Immediately I said, “Invite Him downstairs!”
Her comment reminded me of a time in my life when I felt like God was very distant to me. Life was moving along, but I was not feeling particularly close to God. I was driving my car to go talk to my daughter who was in a relationship that she shoudn’t have been in. I was thinking about all the little things that had been happening in the past few months, wondering where God was in the midst of it. I looked up to the sky and outloud I said, “Hello God! Are you really out there?” He didn’t say anything.
It was only a few hours later, driving my car back home, when I felt His presence fill my car as He wrapped His arms around me, promising me that He was going to walk this difficult journey along with me.
I recounted all the times I had said to myself, “I would never be able to go throught ‘that’.” Of course we aren’t equiped to go through the difficulties that we don’t have to go through. The grace of God comes flooding us only when we need it.
I’ve always hated that comment that he will never give us more than we can bear. I’m sure I’m going to step on a few toes here, but the scripture reference people use for that is related to temptations not issues of life. It would really be more appropriate to say His grace is sufficient. If you haven’t had to rely on that grace though, you almost can’t comprehend it.
I don’t think of God as being “the man upstairs” “someone watching from a distance” or even a “great cosmic slot machine.”
My God is there with me every step of the way. He’s like a coat that I wear throughout my day, always there, guiding me, and keeping me safe and warm.
If God is “the man upstairs” in your life. Invite Him to come where you are. He loves hanging out with us.
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