Revelation 21:4 "‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
I have continued on in my bible study by Lysa Terkeurst called "It's Not Supposed To Be This Way"..finding unexpected strength when disappointments leave you shattered. This week is about living between the two gardens of Eden..from Eden in Genesis to Eden restored in Revelation 22. This in between time is the life we are living now which includes anxiety, disappointments and sadness. We are not in the perfect times which God first made, until sin entered, nor the time to come that God has planned to come. We are in the hard, difficult days where our trust in Jesus is fully tested. So where do we begin?
Start with what you know is true.
As believers, we know God is good. God loves me. God has an unfailing love for us. God will never forsake us. God is steadfast in his love and care for us. God never lies. God knew us before He created us in the womb. God has a purpose for us, the pain, and the joys in this life.
Hebrews 2:14-15, 17-18 "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." "For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."
"He became man that he might die; as God he could not die, and therefore he assumed another nature and state. Here the wonderful love of God appeared, that, when Christ knew what he must suffer in our nature, and how he must die in it, yet he so readily took it upon him." [M. Henry]
Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
We must look to Jesus, as our example, especially when we are hurting and discouraged. He felt the same pain and sorrow, as we do. There is nothing we have felt in this world that he hasn't. Mark 15:23 "Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it." D.A. Carson says "The 'wine mixed with myrrh' was a sedative that was intended to dull the pain and agony but Jesus refused to drink it." "Jesus would feel all the pain so he could, on the cross, heal all the pain." [L. Terkeurst]
Hebrews 3:1 "Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest."
Hebrews 5:7-9 "During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him."
God chose to become man, as Jesus, and we can trust him to completely understand all of our hurts. Jesus learned thru his suffering and obedience that matured over time---and we can too. Luke 2:52 "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." "It is through the suffering that we are experiencing now that we will develop a perseverance to carry us forward then in what God sees coming our way." [L. Terkeurst]
Trading our will for God's will.
Mark 14:36 "Yet not what I will, but what you will."
"Where do I struggle trading my will for god's will? We assume that we know what a good god should do. ..we make suggestions, felt stressed, anxious, talked w/others
but have you prayed w/a posture of humility? You trade your will for his b/c you know he works all things out for good for those that love him. We often say 'god bless this but don't mess with this.'" [L. Terkeurst]
Matthew 6:10 "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven"....how Jesus taught us to pray. May we always align our will with God's plan for us, even when it's not easy.
As for myself, the devil has tried to fill my mind with negativity, lies, and twisted thoughts. So, this blog is written especially for me and anyone else who feels the same. I feel like I'm being tested as I've gone through many different kinds of trials lately. I've been sick and now well; been through the loss of a longtime, great aide; dealing with isolation; and definitely trying to accept God's will for me.
So, 'Start with what you know is true'..I know that God's love for me hasn't changed and that He will work things for my good, as always. My doubts and fears may try to get a foothold, but it's only temporary. God grants me new mercies each and every day. His hold on me is never any less. Then, 'Turn your eyes upon Jesus' ..I have found great comfort in the verses friends have sent. His Word is how I am reminded of who he is. His Word is what destroys the lies that the devil plants in my head. Lastly, and the hardest, 'Trading our will for God's will'.. I am not the one who gets to choose my life for me, thank goodness, or I'd been in the ditch a long time ago. I have to understand that my suffering is purposeful to me and many others. My aides are learning the gift of service in good times and bad. My friends are learning that suffering isn't always so bad, there are joyful times. Everyone in my life are witnesses to the strength of God's hand on me and what he has pulled me through time and time again. God's will for me is to turn to Him as I suffer and obey till His Kingdom come.
