Cairo: Jesus in Egypt & God's Unusual Leaning
God seldom gives us all we need to understand, but He always gives us what we need in order to obey. The story of Jesus in Egypt as a boy offers a...
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Dec 14, 2017 9:00:12 PM
Sometimes it seems no one understands what we’re going through. When people fail us, or forget us, or even betray us, we’re left alone in the ashes of a reality we never expected or wanted.
(Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com)
In those intense moments of loneliness, confusion, and pain, we ask God for one thing more than anything else. Relief from suffering.
But when relief is denied, we begin the difficult journey of resisting the notion that God is a cruel sovereign who toys with our lives. After all, He could stop it all in moment. After everything else but God gets stripped away from our lives, we begin realize that the Lord may want to give us something more—and much greater—than relief.
In those moments, God becomes more real to us than we ever would have known any other way.
The most significant way God bridged the gap between our imperfect lives and His holiness came about when He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins—and to rise again. Indeed, Jesus Christ is the only bridge for that gap (1 Timothy 2:5).
But the benefits of that bond with God are more than eternal. Jesus’ suffering accomplished more than our atonement. His experience and ascension to heaven have provided an ongoing benefit in our struggles with loneliness, confusion, and pain.
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. —Hebrews 4:15
One of our greatest temptations we face comes when circumstances tempt us to doubt God’s goodness. Even Jesus asked from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34). In spite of His questioning, Jesus committed Himself to the Father (Luke 23:46).
We need to make that same connection.
(Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com)
Along our journey, God gives us more than simply relief. I can think of at least 4 blessings He gives us:
What are your fears? What are your hurts and needs? There is at least One who truly understands your pain. Because Jesus is interceding for you as a Christian, you may draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that you may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.
And when relief is delayed, remember that God may want to bless you with something more—and much greater—than simply relief.
Tell me what you think: What blessing has God given you beyond relief? To leave a comment, just click here.
This post is adapted from Wayne’s book, Waiting on God: What to Do When God Does Nothing.
• What do you do when the life God has promised you looks nothing like the life he has given you?
• If you find yourself waiting on God—or if you don’t know what God wants you to do next—this book offers a wise and practical guide to finding hope and peace in life’s difficult pauses.
You will discover what to do when it seems God does nothing.
Click here to leave a comment.
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