Thursday, June 22, 2017

The Crossroads


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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