We are the Icing, not the Cake

by Mare Ball @ ADVENTURES IN THE BALLPARK

I saw the coolest badge on facebook last week.  It read: 

God never commanded us to trust people.

He commanded us to love people

and trust Him.

I read it several times, because it really made me think. As wonderful as people can be, especially our loved ones - it's important to remember they are simply human and at some point will probably disappoint us. 

Not that they mean to or want to.  We all do the best we can with what we know at the time.  But, we're not God.  We're not the Savior.  We can't fix or repair or heal the way God does. We're not equipped to do that, no matter how hard we try.  Our responsibility is to lead people to the great Healer/Director, and let Him complete the work. 

I think we all get off track on this.  In our teen/college years, we look for "the one" we're to marry and build a life with. After children, our heart becomes enmeshed with our newborns.  Friends become "soul mates", and so on.  We often put our hope and dreams in people, instead of God.  

Don't get me wrong, we are to love people and build lives that are connected and committed to others.  But, we need to be careful about what we worship and rely on.  Only God is fully trustworthy.  He alone is unchanging and unflappable.  People are not.  

Understanding this actually improves relationships, because it takes unrealistic pressure off our loved ones.  Other people cannot make or keep us happy.  They can do lovely things for us and love us to the best of their human ability, but we only have true peace when our first commitment is to God and trust in His plan for us.  After that, people are the icing on the cupcake (and we all know how icing sweetens the cake.)

This facebook badge was a good reminder for me.  It's unfair to place 'savior' expectations on anyone. They'll always fail, because that's not their job. It's not my job either, to be the end all for anyone else. 

The best way to love people is to exhibit Christ in our own life.  Period.  God will use that to draw hearts to Him (which is what every heart is really seeking, whether it knows it or not.)  While He's orchestrating that, we are truly free to celebrate and enjoy the cupcake. 

I love it when spiritual truths and desserts dovetail.