Just my thoughts...

I know I'm not the only one who has ever held a toddler back from doing something he really wanted to do regardless of the consequences. For instance, Nate has discovered how fun it is to jump on a bed but doesn't understand why we won't just let him keep jumping when he gets closer to the edge. He squirms and squeals for us to put him down on the deck when we know full-well that he would topple down the stairs as soon as we let his feet touch the wood. I commented on how frustrating it is that he doesn't understand that it's for his own good, that we're just trying to keep him safe and protected. If he would just wait a minute and be patient. If he could see that soon we would let him down to run on the grass once we reached the bottom of the stairs. Eventually we would allow him to jump in the center of the bed instead of the edge and all would be safe and happy. While explaining to my 14-month-old the cause and effect relationship of getting his own way (which I believe I'll probably be explaining for years and years and years to come) a thought popped into my head about our relationship with God. Not just my personal relationship, but the relationship this country once had with the heavenly Father. If it hasn't already happened, God will release His mighty hand of protection on our country that once trusted in Him. I know God will not turn His back on His people. If we battle and struggle to break free from His way, eventually He will give in to the desires of our hearts even if its not the best thing for us. All the while He is hoping and knowing if we will return with a repentant heart, although more battered and bruised from the struggle. I don't have any specific scripture at the moment to back up my thoughts, but I'll work on that in my quiet devotion time. For now, these are just my thoughts and observations from my life as a mommy. I've learned a lot more about the character of my heavenly Father while learning to be a mom.
On a personal level, this situation makes me think of how God sometimes withholds certain things from us for a reason. If we trust and hope in Him and keep His will in the center of our lives, we will be blessed beyond imagination. We might not understand why God is holding back the blessings, just like Nate truly doesn't understand yet why we won't give him his way. God is sovereign and He does have a plan and a purpose for every life in every situation.

Nate wanting his own way