The "Grape Lollipop" God

 

When I was younger, my siblings and I very quickly learned which errands to go on with my mom and which errands to run far away from. The one errand in particular I want to share with you this morning is when my mom would go up to the bank. Now, I don’t believe this bank is in business any longer; but back in the 90s, my mom would go to the drive-through teller at Barnett Bank. Whenever you went to the drive-up teller at Barnett Bank, they would give out lollipops to the kids in the car, which is probably while they’re no longer in business today because the Hill kids depleted them of their lollipops back in the 1990s.
 

But seriously, mom would pack all of us in the car, she’d talk with the bank teller, she’d get her envelope full of money, and they’d ask how many kids were in the car… she’d say 5. They’d say “send back some of the money to cover the cost of all those lollipops, lady.” No just kidding. But on those bank errands, everything was fine. Things went surprisingly well. There were 5 of us kids, and 5 lollipops. Everyone got one. No one fought over the flavor they got. All was well in the world, and all was well in the back of the Hill family station wagon as we began to drive away. Everyone was happy. And everyone was thankful. EXCEPT ME.

If I happened to get the purple lollipop, otherwise known as the grape-flavored lollipop, I would pitch a royal fit. I would complain. Though my mom would try to console me, and say, “Rosemary, they didn’t have to give you anything. Be thankful for what you do have,” it didn’t work. And I would pout. I would make myself and everyone in the car absolutely miserable. I would say things like, “I don’t want this. Why are they giving me this. How come they didn’t give this to someone else?”

Now, I share that story with you today because even though it was a long time ago ,and it was very childish of me and is somewhat embarrassing to share with you, I realize now that the people at the bank gave me something out of the kindness of their hearts. My mom was right. They didn’t have to give me anything, but they gave it to me because they meant it for my good. After all, what child does not like candy? What could have been and should have been a sweet ending to a story was turned completely upside and sour because of me. The problem was not in what was given; rather, in the reaction to what was given. What was going on around me didn’t agree with what was going on inside of me.

Bringing it closer to home for all of us….
 

Now I tell you that story to tell you this: even as an adult, I sometimes wrongfully view God as the “grape-lollipop” God.

And what I mean by that is: anything and everything God gives us aside from salvation is already too much. Salvation in itself it way more than any of us deserve.

God gives us things in life. Just like the bank gave my mom all those lollipops out of the kindness of their hearts, God gives us things out of the goodness of Who He is and the kindness of His heart. If it’s something that is difficult or hard times or something I didn’t plan on, I start to complain. I begin to gripe and I become a very unpleasant person. Or, better put, I should say I don’t “become” an unpleasant person; rather, the unpleasant things stored up in my heart towards that circumstance or situation come to the surface through my words, attitudes, and actions.

There have been a lot of unpleasant or unplanned things in my life this year.

And I’ve seen that this year in my life, but as I take a step back and look at it all, I realize that God has entrusted difficult times into my life because He intends them for my good. He has shown me a lot this year. Just through the sheer amount of students and parents and interpersonal relationships, the pressure of teaching Bible (yes, from an academic standpoint, it seems easy… but the Bible warns in the book of James that not many should become teachers of the Word of God… and this year I’ve realized why. because we are held to a stricter judgment… I’ve felt that this year.) God has really shown me a lot of things, personally this year. There’s a lot of things in my life this year that I can readily label and say “grape lollipop,” “grape lollipop.”

“I don’t want this. God, why are you giving me this?”

As I reflect back on that story, I realize that the same little girl that complained all the way home from the bank is still very alive and well inside of me. Now today, it may not be purple or grape-flavored lollipops, but it disguises itself. It morphs itself. It tricks me into thinking it’s new obstacles to overcome, when truly it’s just the same obstacle over and over again that is hiding behind a new mask.

Let’s see if you can relate. Your “purple lollipop” today may be….

the things in life I don’t plan on.

the things I don’t sign up for.

the disappointments.

the struggles.

the sufferings.

the difficult times.

Your grape lollipop this year may not just have a shade and color and flavor.

It may have a first, middle, and last initial.

It may have an email address.

It may have taken your peace of mind.

And stolen your sanity.

It may have jaded your attitude.

Remember whatever your “grape lollipops” this year have been and whatever my grape lollipops have been this year, God has given us those things for our good.

The verse I want to share with you today is 1 Peter 5:10:

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."

The Bible has a lot in general to say about suffering or difficult times:

Paul said that we should not count it as something strange that happened to us.

James says to “count it all joy” when you fall into various trials.

Jesus Himself says, “In the world you will have trouble…. I have overcome the world.”

“We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us so.”

Remember:

God loves us. He entrusts us with suffering and difficult times because He knows the Jesus inside of us can handle it.

So, next time you’re handed a “grape lollipop” in life, know that God intends it for your good. And He will be using it as He sees fit in your life.