No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in. (8:12)
Jesus said, "You're looking right at me and you don't see me. How do you expect to see the Father?" (8:19)
Jesus said, "You're tied down to the mundane;" (8:23)
"You're missing God in your lives." (8:24)I wish I could report that life has suddenly gotten easier, but it hasn't. Sigh. I'm still struggling internally, and that generally means conflict in my closest relationships. I'm still trying to work through the disappoint-ment about the adoption and what I thought life would look like now.
I'm asking God to show me what He wants me to learn about Him and about myself through this experience. Despite all difficulties, I know that God is working in me and that none of this is a surprise to Him. Psalm 34:18 has been very real to me:
If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there; if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath.Thankfully, there are other verses in this chapter that give me hope in the midst of the turmoil.
"Does no one condemn you?" "No one, Master." "Neither do I," said Jesus. (8:10-11)
Then Jesus turned to the Jew who had claimed to believe in him. "If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you." (8:31-32)I'm soaking in these words today, trusting that the Lord will carry me through this season when I know I can't make it on my own.
"Don't look at your inability. Look at My Son's ability." 66 LL
"In the world you now inhabit, communion with Me is not defined by an experience of Me. Nor does it depend on blessings from Me. To really live is to release My Son's life through yours, in any circumstance, no matter what you feel, to relate as He related" 66 LLLord, I confess my utter lack of ability to fix myself. I need you. I pray that You will release Your life through mine so I can relate as You related. Today I'm choosing to trust in Your ability and strength. Thank You that You don't condemn me or withhold Your love in the face of my inability. Thank You that You are Faithful and True. (Rev. 19:11)
1 comment:
Hang in there, Cici. I don't know what God is teaching you or doing in you right now, but I know that it is for His good (and of course, you know that), but I can be more hopeful being on the outside, looking in.
When it comes to my own life, I feel the same...an absolute inability to change and get past certain things. Ugh. My anger and frustration with my kids just doesn't seem to get better. When they are whiny and disobedient all day long, I feel like I am at my wit's end. But these verses encourage me:
Jesus said, "You're tied down to the mundane; I'm in touch with what is beyond your horizons. You live in terms of what you see and touch. I'm living on other terms.
Help me, Lord, to not be tied down to the mundane of being a stay at home mom and instead, live on Your terms, knowing that You are making me and (hopefully) my children more like Christ through this process.
Moving beyond my own struggles, my heart breaks for so many loved ones in my life that, like the Pharisees, these verses apply to:
"I told you that you were missing God in all this. You're at a dead end. If you won't believe I am who I say I am, you're at the dead end of sins. You're missing God in your lives.
Lord, you know the people on my heart who I know for sure are missing God in their lives. They are blind to who You are. They don't believe who You say You are and it saddens me. I see their need for Jesus. I see their lives being destroyed. I know my life isn't easy and all hunky dory, but I am SO thankful that I can cling to the hope and joy of my salvation, knowing that I am being renewed day by day to be more like my Savior. I pray the same for these loved ones in my lives...that they would humbly bow down before You and call You Lord. Right now, today, before it's too late.
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