Simon Says
“Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man; I will question you and you shall answer me.”
Job 38:2-3
Playing “Simon Says” with my eight-year-old grandson, Titus, proved to be more than I could measure up to. He was overjoyed when it was his turn to give the commands and watch Nana and his older sister move at his voice. Of course, his little brother just thought it was all fun and ran around like a wind up toy. For a brief moment, Titus took full advantage of being in charge and watching everyone obey.
Simon says, "Jump". Simon says, "Run”. “Run” Simon says, “Pat your head”. “Jump” Simon says, “Stop”. Suddenly, you could see it in his eyes! He saw a way to be in control for longer than a couple of minutes. The goal was no longer attempting to make us mess up and loose, but to wear us down and stay in control. That’s when the game shifted.
Simon says, “Jump”. Simon says, “Jump”. Simon says, “Jump”.
Simon says, “Jump”. Simon says, “Jump”. ”Simon says, “Jump”.
Gasping for air, this Nana, called the game over and set us all free. He grinned and snickered knowing he had captured us and won all the games. I’m sure any passing neighbors enjoyed watching the old game still being played and found the now sitting Nana to be comical.
At first glance, it is a bit comical how I long to play Simon Says in real life. But then, it is really scary instead of comical. In some crazy way, I think if I could just sit on the steps of my life and be in charge, everything will go better. I can easily see how it should be. I write the script in my mind of how the conversation will go and when others don’t repeat the script just as it is written in my mind, I’m easily frustrated. I look on situations that could be so different if my advice was followed, but no one wants to follow my Simon Says voice.
The really scary part is when I try playing Simon Says with God. I know that is really honest, but I hear it in my prayers. While praying for friends healing, I start informing God how to do it. I try telling Him how to provide the money a family member is in great need of. Instead of asking him to just work His plan in my kid’s lives, I go in great detail of how he needs to do it. I bark the instructions of how high to jump and change the hard situations in life.
I begin to sound like Job or his friends, before he encountered God. They all had so many words and so many explanations. They spoke the script they had written. They sat on the steps and told Job “what, when, where, why and how”. But God wasn’t in any of it.
But then, God spoke and hushed all the words. He brought Job to a new revelation of Who was in charge. He is God and I am man. He controls all things and He holds the master script. He calls the moves and they are always right and best.
Oh, that my response to God will become like Job:
“I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.
My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You.” Job 42:5
“Lord, you are in control, not me. Forgive me for pretending to sit in your place and attempting to be in control. I trust you and what you say. I submit again to your control. I take my hands off of my life and others' lives. I will follow your command.”