What
do you do when you don’t understand God’s ways?
One day Jesus
gave a hard teaching that His followers did not understand. Thus, they came to
a crossroad. They had to make a choice whether they would still believe though
they did not understand, or whether... they would walk away.
This
day is recorded for us in the Bible. Following Jesus’ teaching, John 6:66,67
says “After
this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus
said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”
I’ve been at such a crossroad; have you? Just this
past weekend I learned that the dear son of Christian parents passed away
following a long, difficult battle with addiction and depression. I had to get
alone and go out for a walk and cry out to God. “Why? I don’t understand,
Jesus, why You didn’t heal him in this life.” I felt the walls around my heart
go up, as if to protect myself from the God Who alone holds the power to heal
my children.
Sometimes I am shaken and I flail around awhile wondering
where the Rock is to stand upon… when I don’t see the whole picture and God
appears to be unfaithful. But, like Peter, in this Bible story, I always come
back to “Lord, to whom shall we go?” John 6:68,69 says “Simon Peter answered him, “Lord,
to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed,
and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Sometimes, much of the time, I don’t have answers. But
what I do know is that Jesus is alive… and He is the Lover of my soul. He died
for me and He died for my children… suffering beyond my comprehension to
purchase our salvation, healing and deliverance. I have felt His loving
Presence and witnessed His power. I have heard testimony after testimony of the
things He has done to show us that He is good. I have seen Him heal and I have
heard Him whisper that He loves me. I can trust Him when I don’t understand. No
one can tell me anything different because--- I believe that Jesus is faithful.
That’s the bottom line. I believe Joshua 21:45 which says “Not one word of all the good
promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to
pass.”
When I am shaken, I don’t see any other viable option
than to wrap my little arms tighter around His big, strong chest and bury my
ear deeper in to find His heartbeat. He holds me fast. And I continue to
believe that He answers the prayers of His children.
“Let
us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised
is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)
LORD Jesus, please comfort those whose hearts ache.
Draw us closer
into Your embrace
where You hold us fast and give us unwavering trust.
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