Because I Said So

I can remember many times as a child when one of my parents would tell me to do something and I would respond with, “Why?” Their response was generally, “Because I said so!” I didn’t like that. So I made a vow. If I told my children to do something and they asked why, I would never say, “Because I said so!” I would take the time to explain all of the rationale for my directives. I did have children. I did give them directives. They did ask why and I did say, “Because I said so!” So much for the vow of my youth. As an adult, I realized that I possessed understanding and perspective that is beyond the reasoning powers of a child. My parents knew that long before I came to that realization. I also knew that what I told my children was in their best interests even if they didn’t recognize it.

At one point in the ministry of Jesus, He directed some of His disciples to take their boat to the deep water on the Sea of Galilee and let down the nets. They had been unsuccessfully fishing all night and Peter brought that to the Lord’s attention. Even though Peter questioned the Lord’s directive he went on to say, “But because you say so” (Luke 5:5). And because the Lord said so, they did so. (See Luke 5:6) They took the boat to the deep waters and let down the nets. Since they chose to do what the Lord said to do, they caught so many fish that their boat began to sink.

The Lord always knows what is best. He sees things from a clearer perspective than we can and He always has our best interests at heart. We will find life much more rewarding and happier when we do so because He said so.