What Have You Done For Me Lately?
I can be such a hypocrite.
Have you ever been on the receiving end of a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately attitude from someone you know? Annoying, isn’t it?
But if I’m honest, there have been times when I’ve responded in a similar way to God.
You’ll hear me talk about God as my Father, my Savior, and my Provider. He has met—and continues to meet—my needs in amazing ways, especially in this new season of life. (It may be three years since my life changed significantly, but to me it’s still “new.”)
Yet, when something I deem important or urgent takes longer to occur than I want, I confess to times when my thoughts, and even my words, are whiny.
Why, Lord?
This needs to happen now!
I know You’ve met my needs in the past, but will you do it again today?
If I take a moment to consider all God has done for me, how is it possible to entertain an ungrateful attitude? Is the very act of Jesus taking the punishment for my sin not enough? Is the gift of salvation not enough? Am I a what-have-You-done-for-me-lately kind of gal?
Trust in God means trusting His sovereignty. Trusting His timing, too. And trusting His “no” answers as much as His “yes” answers.
While COVID-19 is a dangerous virus, so is the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately syndrome. So I’ve put together my own antidote for this equally deadly virus:
- Reverently remember who God is: the Creator of the universe.
- Worshipfully remember the Creator of the universe is also my personal Savior. And the gift of salvation is more than enough just by itself.
- Joyfully recall His past provisions as I review my daily “thank You” list in my quiet time.
- Gratefully ask the Holy Spirit for His perspective on differentiating needs from wants and differentiating His “no” response from His “not yet” response.
- Respectfully recall His perfect timing can never be separated from His perfect love.
- Humbly remember the consequences when I ran ahead of God to “make things happen.”
- Wisely learn the lessons from those past experiences so I won’t have to repeat them.
- Intentionally trust and rest in the One to whom I belong, regardless of my circumstances.
Because of Jesus Christ, I know the answer to the question, “what has God done for me lately?” The answer is found in 2 Corinthians 5:21:
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
And that’s way more than any of us could ever deserve!
Amen. What a powerful message!
So easy to fall into this trap of thinking because our society has become invested with this mentality. Thanks for sharing.
In light of all that Jesus has done for us since before the foundation of the world, He has blessed us and gifted us with goodness far above what we could ever imagine, let alone deserve. Thank you, Jesus Savior!
Amen, yes! We are blessed God cares for us and shouldn’t be impatient with Him but honor Him with respect.
Ava, I like how you describe this attitude/syndrome as a deadly virus. Remembering God’s sovereignty is usually the hardest and what gets us into trouble. Going to remember your antidote for any future treatments I need for this ailment!