June 14, 2018

Doubts Are Normal

When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” – Matthew 11:2-3

There are moments of clarity, times when you know what God has called you to do and you step out boldly in faith. Then real life settles in and the doubts start playing with your mind.

Did you really hear God correctly? Is it truly the Holy Spirit leading you or is it Satan telling you what you want to hear? Are these obstacles just another hurdle to overcome or are they sent by God to stop what He hasn’t ordained?

Don’t you wish you could have a clear reading of exactly what God wants you to do? I’ve often joked that I wish God would give me MapQuest directions for my life journey. I want to do His will in all things but sometimes it sure is difficult to drown out the voices of the world and concentrate on what He is telling me.

It consoles me to know that John the Baptist had doubts too. He knew who Jesus was. Listen to this:

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” – John 1:29

John was confident that Jesus was the Messiah. At least, until John found himself sitting in a jail cell. There’s something about being alone with your thoughts that lets the worry seep in. There’s something about idle time that causes you to question what you thought you knew.

John was fortunate that he could send his disciples to Jesus and ask for confirmation. Jesus didn’t brush off the questions. He didn’t seem offended by John’s sudden doubts. Instead, Jesus provided the reassurance John needed to continue his journey toward death.

So how do we get confirmation for our own journey? Ask the Savior. If you truly seek God’s voice, the Holy Spirit will tell you what to do.

The problems come when the world tells us something different. There’s always someone around to say you can’t do what God has called you to do. There’s always someone to point out all the difficulties that lie in your path. There’s always someone to doubt your calling.

But at the end of the day we aren’t meant to follow the world. We are meant to follow Christ. We are to do God’s will, recognizing that He is the God of miracles. He doesn’t call us to something without intending to make it happen.

That doesn’t mean it will be instant. There is frequently a season of waiting. That’s hard. We are an instant people but God sometimes has lessons to teach us as we wait. Ask what the lesson is. Do all you can where you are. Trust that God didn’t call you forward to abandon you before the end.

Everyone has doubts sometimes. The key is to seek reassurance from the One who knows all things. Don’t give up. You may not see the path but trust that it’s there. God knows the way. Your job is to follow Him one step at a time.

May 14, 2016

Take It To Jesus Today

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” -- Matthew 11:28-30

Some days I sit down late at night, so exhausted I just want to have a good cry, and try to remember where my day went. I was busy all day long and yet I didn’t seem to accomplish anything.

Have you ever been there? Do you know what I’m talking about?

I cooked. I washed dishes. I drove others to various destinations. I did laundry. I counted cows. I fed geese and dogs. I mowed grass. I watered flowers. I cleaned and bandaged a hurt toe on someone else. I sorted medicines. I helped make homemade jelly and then cleaned up the kitchen -- again. Oh, and I tried to complete a painting so I could earn a little money.

Yes, I am tired. What did you do today? I’m betting that while the tasks were different, for at least some of you the day was equally as long. I am a caregiver for two elderly adults. You might by a young mom with small children who is juggling a job and everything else. You could be a man working overtime to help his child pay for college. We all have our stories and we all get tired from life’s demands.

Jesus said to come to Him and He will give us rest. I need that, don’t you? I need to be covered in peace and grace, to rest in His embrace, so that I can recharge enough to do it all again tomorrow.

So many times we try to do it all ourselves. We don’t want to take time from the little bit we have to spend with Jesus. We tell ourselves that somehow tomorrow will come with more of that special thing called time. Except it doesn’t because tomorrow is like today and the day after.

What happens when we don’t recharge in the arms of Jesus? What happens to our souls, our peace, our strength, when we don’t take time to rest in Him? Sooner or later there just won’t be anything left. Nothing. And we’ll become empty shells of who God intended us to be.

We were built with an inner longing to know and worship God Almighty. We can try to fill ourselves up with stuff. We can put it off. We can try to persuade ourselves that it’s not important. But we will never, ever have peace and rest until we do.

Take time today and spend it with Jesus. Then do it again tomorrow. Rest in His strength and draw from it. Find comfort in His Presence and learn from Him. He’s waiting. Don’t put it off any longer. You need Him. We all do.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Give Jesus Your Load

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” -- Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

Some days God speaks -- loudly. The other day this verse was my devotion for that day. It followed a Christmas gift, a cross, that has a portion of this verse on it. Another book mentioned Jeremiah 31:25, which is also about rest for the weary. Why is it so easy to read and so hard to do?

This year has been one of the toughest I’ve ever endured. I almost feel guilty saying that because so many people I care for have lost loved ones and suffered horrible accidents and illnesses. I’ve got nothing specific to point to. Not one major event or catastrophe. Just a whole lot of little things that seemed to push me beyond what I can endure. Do you know what I mean?

Most days I feel like I’m black and blue just from trying to juggle the needs of everyone else. And facing constant criticism all along the path. I understand that getting older is hard and admitting that skills have diminished is even harder. But it isn’t a picnic for those walking beside the older folks. And being on the receiving end of all that anger and resentment takes a heavy emotional toll.

Most of the time I fully understand that I am doing what God has called me to do. But sometimes I just need a break. I need relief from the constant stress and agitation. I want a day for me, to do what I want. I long for that joy that has slowly slipped from my life. I feel like I’ve aged 20 years in the past 12 months. Literally. I look it too, which doesn’t help my feelings at all.

I am longing for 2012. I want to get rid of this year and forget all about it. Have you ever had one of those years? I know I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I just hope I don’t have to do 2011 again.

Sometimes I think the big events are easier to endure. I’ve had a few of those over the years and still carry the scars. I know it sounds strange but those things come and then you pick up the pieces. You have support and prayers and other people understand. Most people don’t understand constant care giving for people don’t even like you -- and tell you just that bluntly. So I largely remain silent, keeping this secret between God and myself.

So Jesus calls me to cast all my cares onto Him. I can place this baggage at the foot of the cross and leave it there. I can endure what I must because His strength is sufficient and He meets all my needs.

I have no idea what this next year will bring. I pray for peace and comfort. I pray that I will draw closer to Him and will feel His Presence every moment of every day. I pray for strength and endurance. And I pray for understanding and compassion. Life can be a hard road, but we are never alone.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Reflect Jesus Outward

Then Jesus prayed this prayer:

“O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike.” - Matthew 11:25

Yesterday I heard a woman talk with disdain because someone had recommended her to give a talk about God. Seriously. She was totally put out because a woman had called and ask her to speak to a group of nursing home residents.

I really couldn’t believe what I heard. I tried to understand. Okay. Someone heard her speak, loved it, and told someone else that she was wonderful. How could she be offended by that? Except she was. I heard it for myself.

I realized later that I should have tactfully given her a lesson in how to decline gracefully but, honestly, I was too shocked. She could easily have smiled, thanked the person for the compliment and simply said it wasn’t something she was interested in doing. Everyone would have been happy. No one would have been offended. Well, I guess she was offended but did she really need to make sure everyone around her knew?

The thing that I don’t understand is how we can talk about God’s love, and Christ’s sacrifice, about what it means to be a Christian, and then totally ignore it in our daily lives. It’s like we can be all nice and sweet and, well, Christian, when we want to be and when we don’t, we just do and say whatever we want. We don’t even seem to care about the feelings of other people. We don’t seem to remember that others see -- or don’t see -- Jesus reflected outward from us.

Maybe she’d had a bad morning. Maybe she’d had a bad week. I have no idea. I simply know that a number of people will never look at her the same way again. And I know that’s a sad thing. Because she is a nice person and, I believe, she does love Jesus so much.

I also know that some who are new in faith or maybe just beginning to seek God’s love, will step back and ask questions. If that’s how a longtime Christian behaves, why should other people give their lives to Jesus? What’s the difference between a Christian and just another person only concerned with himself? You and I know but can others see what we have, can they see Jesus living within us, by our words and actions?

I know I could probably take this woman aside and speak to her, but she’d probably just get defensive. Most of us would. We don’t see our own flaws because we’re so busy looking at the flaws of others. And we all have them.

So I’ll pray for her and hand it over to God. And I’ll pray for those she hurt and those who heard something that really didn’t reflect Jesus. Our Savior is kind and compassionate. He reached out to everyone, using words with care. Jesus drew people to Him with love. He taught us many things we need to remember as we live our daily lives. Jesus taught us to love first. Funny how everything falls into place when we follow His teaching.