Have you ever seen a child throwing a temper tantrum? Maybe they are not getting what they want. Maybe they don’t want to go where mom wants to take them. Maybe they are just tired.
I remember my daughter doing that in the middle of a store. I was holding her hand, walking toward the Post Office counter … and she was having no part of it. She wanted to go a different direction. She started crying, picked up her feet, dropped to the ground and just would not go with me. What did I do? I let her lay on the ground pitching a fit, while I walked a few feet away to the counter, bought my stamps or whatever. Back then, I wasn’t worried about anyone abducting her… and who would grab a screaming, squirming child anyways… unless they had to!
I read that children stomp their feet when angry because they don’t have the words to express their feelings. Maybe that is true. But most of us have learned that temper tantrums get us nowhere, and they are not socially acceptable. There are other “more acceptable” ways to handle not getting our own way.
But is there ever a good time to stomp our feet? I think so. Years ago, when I was a new believer, I was washing dishes one evening…again. My head started swimming with questions… and fear!
- What if I’m believing wrong?
- What if Jesus is not the winning side? What if I die and find out Jesus lost?
- What if all this is a lie and there is nothing after death?
- What if all this is in my imagination?
- What if I’ve chosen wrong?
- What if…?
- What if…?
I knew nothing about spiritual warfare … nothing about Jesus being the Truth … actually I knew nothing about A LOT of stuff. All I knew was that I felt like I was in a swirling whirlpool … about to go down the drain!
I didn’t know what to do … or what to pray… or even to pray.
All of a sudden, I found myself standing at the sink, stomping my foot (literally), saying something like…
“No! I believe there is a God.
I believe His Son is Jesus.
I believe He died on the cross for me.
I believe He rose from the dead.
I believe He sent His Holy Spirit to me.
I believe He will never leave me…
That’s what I know and don’t ask me any more questions!”
The “going down the drain” feeling left. I had no idea the principle behind what I had done … but it had worked.
You see, one of the reasons God gave us the power to choose is so that we don’t have to be at the mercy of our feelings. Our emotions are God’s gift to us … yes … but they were never meant to be our guiding light. They are the color in our coloring books … not the lines. They were never meant to control us. We must be able to separate what is truth from what is not truth. Many times since, I have used that “stomping my foot” method. When I have questions as to why something has happened … or not happened… why is this person still sick … why didn’t my husband get that job … why is my husband gone … where is God in all this …???
One overwhelming truth … if I can understand all about God, His ways, His plans, etc… He is a mighty puny God! I’ll never understand everything about Him … but I can know Him!
Now I know that the turmoil … and doubt … and questioning God’s character come from the enemy. Isn’t that one of his primary tactics? In the garden, didn’t he put questions in Eve’s mind. Does God really want the best for you if He won’t let you eat from that tree too? He just doesn’t want you to know the truth about good and evil? God is holding out on you. Did God really say that? She and Adam should have stomped their feet!
So… get your stomping shoes on! Make a mental list … or written list … of what God has said. Here are some examples…
I know God is Good.
I know His thoughts are higher than mine.
I know God is much smarter than I am.
I believe what His word says …
He is working all things for my good.
Nothing can separate me from His love.
I am crucified with Christ. I am a new creation. The old me is dead.
He is Faithful … and He doesn’t lie.
He is working within me, to make me more like Jesus.
Still feel awkward stomping your feet? Does it feel too violent? Know that you are in good company when you do. Jesus stomped His feet.
Romans 16:20 says “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” Jesus stomped His foot on Satan’s head.
Matt 11:12 says “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it.” (Berean Study Bible) We must forcefully, intentionally take hold of the kingdom of heaven.
Does it seem too scary … too dangerous … to stomp on the enemy? That is one reason we have been given shoes. Ephesians 6:15 says “For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.” (NLT) Luke 10:19 says “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”
So… go ahead and stomp!