Why is there always a battle?

Honestly, this idea is the reason I really started thinking about a BLOG.

I have asked MANY times in my life (especially in relation to my kids) "Why does everything always have to be such a battle?" That question came up again yesterday, in a round-about kind of way. I was thinking about it this morning, and I believe God really put this in my heart.

There is going to be a battle when we try to buck the authorities that God has placed in our lives. For example: Our parents are our first authority figures. Think about the battles we fight with our kids. When my girls were little, I remember dreading bedtime. It was a struggle every night to get them ready for bed, to get them in bed, and to keep them in bed. They did NOT want to go to sleep. They would find every possible reason NOT to stay in bed. They did not want to submit to my authority as the one who knew that it was best for them to get rest.

As they got older, the battles became much more intense. There were battles over who they could hang out with, how late they could stay out, what music they should or should not listen to, what they could or could not watch on tv, what was appropriate to wear and what was not. I'm using past tense here because two of my daughters have moved out now. But the battles still rage because I do have one teenage daughter left at home. And it's still the same old stuff. WHY can I not go to so-and-so's house? WHY can I not watch that show on tv? WHY do I have to be in the house at a certain time? WHY do you not let me go out with my friends? WHY do you constantly bug me about the music I listen to? WHY are you on my case about my grades? WHY do I have to wear the rubber bands on my braces? WHY does everything have to be a battle?

The answers to all those questions (except for the last one) is "Because God put me in charge of you. He has placed convictions in my heart concerning the way you are to be brought up. And I have to answer to HIM for how I mothered you. THAT'S why!"

The answer to the last question is this. There doesn't have to be a battle. When we finally get to the place where we can accept God's delegation of authority, there will be no more battles. To continue with the previous example...When a child will get to the place where he/she can say "I don't get it, but Mom doesn't want me to hang out with this person, and Mom knows what is the best thing for me" there is no battle. Or "Mom is riding me hard about my grades because she has been around the block a time or two more than I have, so she knows what I'm going to be facing in the future. She wants what is very best for me." No more battle. Or "Mom is so stinkin' over-protective, I can't stand it. BUT, she is doing her best to take care of me and keep me safe. So even though I think it's stupid, I'm going to do what she asks." No more battle. Or "That doctor went to school a LONG time and has put braces on a LOT of kids. He probably has a reason why he put these rubber bands on me, even though they don't seem like they are doing anything at all for my teeth. I guess I should just do what he says." No more battle.

You see. Submitting to those in authority over us prevents ALL KINDS of trials!  Hmmm...interesting thought.