“The work of restoration cannot begin until a problem is fully faced.”
2 KINGS 6-8
33While Elisha was still saying this, the messenger arrived. And the kingb said, “All this misery is from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”1Elisha replied, “Listen to this message from the LORD! This is what the LORD says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, five quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver,a and ten quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver.b”2The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, “That couldn’t happen even if the LORD opened the windows of heaven! But Elisha replied, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!”
JOHN 4:31-54
31Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.”32But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.”33“Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other.34Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 35You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripeefor harvest. 36The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 37You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. 38I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”
JOURNAL
There are many times when I read the text and the words just seem to go right by me. I feel like I might as well be reading a different language. This must be how the disciples often felt with Jesus. He often spoke about things that they could not at the time understand...yet they would eventually.
These verses also speak of how God works things out above and beyond what I often even consider possible. I am not to be ashamed when I don't understand or are frustrated in my doubt or impatience. The Bible is full of those who felt those exact emotions yet would see in time that things worked out in ways that they could never have conceived. The challenge is to trust through the frustrations, doubts and trials. It is here that I get to experience the presence of God in the ditch of uncertainty.
It is also the path to recovery and restoration. Problems, trials and the pain of life can leave me feeling all alone and searching for anything that tells me I have a place and a purpose. Yet this is the place where I can actually find peace, because it is when I reach out to God the most. Again this is the beauty of the Gospel. I can find almost identical examples of others who felt and experienced the same questions and doubts. So...regardless of where I am or what I am experiencing, I can find purpose and the peace of his spirit. Doing so means I must focus on the day, the moment and when I do...I realize he is always there with me.
3We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
ROMANS 5:3-5
There are many times when I read the text and the words just seem to go right by me. I feel like I might as well be reading a different language. This must be how the disciples often felt with Jesus. He often spoke about things that they could not at the time understand...yet they would eventually.
These verses also speak of how God works things out above and beyond what I often even consider possible. I am not to be ashamed when I don't understand or are frustrated in my doubt or impatience. The Bible is full of those who felt those exact emotions yet would see in time that things worked out in ways that they could never have conceived. The challenge is to trust through the frustrations, doubts and trials. It is here that I get to experience the presence of God in the ditch of uncertainty.
It is also the path to recovery and restoration. Problems, trials and the pain of life can leave me feeling all alone and searching for anything that tells me I have a place and a purpose. Yet this is the place where I can actually find peace, because it is when I reach out to God the most. Again this is the beauty of the Gospel. I can find almost identical examples of others who felt and experienced the same questions and doubts. So...regardless of where I am or what I am experiencing, I can find purpose and the peace of his spirit. Doing so means I must focus on the day, the moment and when I do...I realize he is always there with me.
These verses also speak of how God works things out above and beyond what I often even consider possible. I am not to be ashamed when I don't understand or are frustrated in my doubt or impatience. The Bible is full of those who felt those exact emotions yet would see in time that things worked out in ways that they could never have conceived. The challenge is to trust through the frustrations, doubts and trials. It is here that I get to experience the presence of God in the ditch of uncertainty.
It is also the path to recovery and restoration. Problems, trials and the pain of life can leave me feeling all alone and searching for anything that tells me I have a place and a purpose. Yet this is the place where I can actually find peace, because it is when I reach out to God the most. Again this is the beauty of the Gospel. I can find almost identical examples of others who felt and experienced the same questions and doubts. So...regardless of where I am or what I am experiencing, I can find purpose and the peace of his spirit. Doing so means I must focus on the day, the moment and when I do...I realize he is always there with me.
3We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
ROMANS 5:3-5
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