JANUARY 22, 2023

 “Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to light.” 

― John Milton, Paradise Lost

EXODUS 1-3

7The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”(3:7-10)

MATTHEW 15:21-39

21Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22And a Canaanite woman from that region came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon.”

23But Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

25The woman came and knelt before Him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

26But Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

27“Yes, Lord,” she said, “even the dogsf eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

28“O woman,” Jesus answered, “your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

JOURNAL 

God is aware of our suffering...this could not be more clear than in these verses. While he does make provisions to end it, he also allows it. This is often hard to accept, especially when I am right in the midst of difficulty. However I truly can take comfort in knowing that God gets it, allows it and will ultimately redeem it. Suffering is for a purpose and can always serve as a way to strengthen resolve and passion for a purpose.

It is therefore imperative that I have habits that keep me in a place of seeking God and his direction. For when times get tough...when things are falling apart and all seems lost, will I be able to keep my head and keep seeking God? This is the challenge that every believer faces and from scripture it becomes very clear that in order to make it through the gauntlet of life...in ways that truly glorify God, I must have a consistency and a discipline in following and seeking no matter the circumstance. 

One of the lesson's from Joseph and his time in Egypt is that his principles never really seemed to waver. He stayed obedient no matter if he was in prison or the second in command of all of Egypt. He remained disciplined, faithful, hopeful, loving and humble. So that when the opportunity came...he performed, prophesy was fulfilled  and God was glorified. I'm sure there were moments, especially after being falsely accused and then forgotten about where his faith and resilience were tested. Yet he never stopped believing, never stopped obeying and ultimately God rescued and redeemed him.

It is interesting to note that Jesus was very focused on his mission and when the woman cried out for him to heal her...he initially ignored the request. It was only after she continued to engage with him and showed great faith that he relented. Multiple lessons in this but one great one for me is to better define my mission and purpose and do not let "good things" distract me.

It's also comforting to know that God knows me and all my faults and strengths. I don't have to pretend or fake it. So that when those moments come where I just don't feel I have it in me to obey or perform or remain faithful...I can truly fall into his love and trust that he will carry me through. 

8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 CORINTHIANS 12:8-10