pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: struggle


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Always Seeking to Deliver

Reading: Romans 7:15-25

Romans 7:21 – “So I find that, as a rule, when I want to do what is good, evil is right there with me.”

At the end of chapter 7, Paul describes his own struggle to do and be good in the world. He often does the things he hates to do. In his mind, he knows God’s Law is just and good and right. If it were up to his mind, he’d do all the good stuff: worship God, love neighbor, meet the needs of the poor… But he just can’t quite…

In verse 21 Paul writes, “So I find that, as a rule, when I want to do what is good, evil is right there with me.” Have you found this to be true in your life? That fleshy part of you – that part that just wants pleasure, that part that easily turns to pride and judging, that part always seeking to elevate self to the throne – that fleshy part is always pulling you away from holy, God-pleasing living. Paul chooses the word “war.” And in those moments when he feels like he is totally losing the “war” – it is then that Paul feels like a “miserable human being.” Ever felt this way? Ever allowed sin to win and you instantly see how it hurt someone you love?

Paul correctly realizes two things in verses 24 and 25. First, on his own, his fate is “dead corpse.” Ouch. Second, and most importantly, he realizes that Jesus Christ is his deliverer. Jesus is always with us too, always fighting for us in Spirit, always seeking to deliver us from temptation and sin. Through Jesus Christ, we will have the victory over sin and death. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, the power of evil is strong and pervasive. It runs rampant in our world. All sorts of messaging, people, and situations draw us to sin. We need you Lord. Desperately. Be the constant voice too, calling us to good and holy living. Empower and equip us, O God, to live by your will and ways. Amen.


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Rest, Peace, Hope

Reading: Matthew 11:27-30

Matthew 11:29 – “Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves.”

Finishing out our gospel reading for this week, Jesus first claims authority over all things. He declares, “My Father has handed all things over to me.” God has empowered Jesus to be over all things, to have power over all of creation. Jesus then invites you and me to be a part of his kingdom, part of this creation, saying, “Come to me…” Come and experience my power. Come and experience my love. Come and live under my authority. Come and find rest, hope, peace.

In the rest of verse 28 Jesus names two of humanity’s realities. Many people are “struggling hard and carrying heavy burdens.” For many people, they struggle through a paycheck-to-paycheck existence, making choices between necessities. Others struggle through addictions and others struggle against injustice and others with abuse or violence. Many people are carrying heavy burdens – financial, emotional, relational, physical. For some of these folks, the burdens are their own to try to carry. For others, they carry burdens for those they love. These realities, especially in combination, can make us feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and/or defeated.

To these folks and really to us all, Jesus says, “Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves.” Jesus invites us all to give our lives to him, to enter into a relationship, to know his love. He invites us to really get to know him, to study his words and his way of life. In exchange, Jesus gives us rest. Walking in Jesus’ way of love, we grow to trust our burdens and struggles to him. He walks with us, lifting some of the struggle, some of the burden – enough so that we can find some rest. Jesus gently and humbly leads us, bringing renewal, life, rest, hope, and peace. Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Prayer: Lord God, how we need you! This life, even on a good day, can be hard and difficult. Add in limited finances or challenges with health or other factors, and life can feel heavy and hopeless. If this is our reality, Lord, help us to choose you and the peace, hope, and rest that you offer. If this is not our reality, use us to reveal Jesus’ love and way to others as we seek to walk alongside people in need of rest, hope, and peace. Thank you, God. Amen.


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Like a Shepherd with Sheep

Reading: Psalm 23:1-3

Psalm 23:3 – “He [God] guides me in proper paths, for the sake of his good name.”

Psalm 23 is a psalm of trust in God’s love and care. This very well-known passage brings comfort in times of grief or doubt. It offers reassurance in times of worry and stress. It reminds us of God’s good plans and provision in times of need. We begin today with the first few verses, which lean into the metaphor of God as our shepherd.

Verse 1 reminds us that because God is a good shepherd, we lack nothing. This is NOT to say that God gives us everything we want. It is to say that God provides what we need. There is a wide gulf between want and need. We struggle with this difference when greed, envy, selfishness, and more raise their ugly heads. We very much need God’s power and presence to lead us through these inner battles.

In struggles such as these, our God guides us to times and places where we find rest, peace, and stillness. Here we encounter God’s presence. In these moments we are renewed and encouraged. We are prepared and equipped to move forward. Perhaps most importantly, in these moments we are assured that God’s love, care, provision, and protection go with us as a shepherd with sheep.

We read, “He [God] guides me in proper paths, for the sake of his good name” in verse 3. To walk in “proper paths” is to walk with the will and way of God guiding our steps, our words, our actions, our decisions… Walking this way, we witness to God’s presence in our lives. Doing so, we invite others to walk alongside the good shepherd too. In all ways, may our lives bring glory to the Lord our God.

Prayer: Lord God, life is not always easy. It gets harder, though, when we try and go it alone. Break our taught reliance on self. Lead and guide us to trust in you. Give us feet willing to walk the path that you set out for us. Walking this path, use us as light and love, drawing others into a relationship with you. Amen.


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Forgiveness

Reading: Psalm 32:1-7

Psalm 32:3-4 – “When I kept quiet, my bones wore out… your hand was heavy upon me.”

Psalm 32 is a song about forgiveness. While the concept of forgiveness is simple, our human nature can complicate this practice in many ways. In the opening verses David lifts up the benefits of forgiveness. The one whose sin is covered by God and who is guilt-free before God is “truly happy.” When nothing separates us from God and God’s love, yes, we are truly happy! The same can be said of our other relationships. When nothing separates us from our love of family, friends, teammates, coworkers… we are truly happy.

We’ve all experienced this place of joy in our relationships. From this experience, you’d think we’d always be swift to seek and offer forgiveness. Unfortunately, we are often like David. In verses 3 and 4 he writes, “When I kept quiet, my bones wore out… your hand was heavy upon me.” Too often we do not seek or receive forgiveness and the weight of this choice begins to feel heavy upon us. The angst or anger, the guilt or the grievance can fester and grow as we let the unresolved tension continue. We come to the place, too, when God’s hand feels heavy upon us. The gentle nudge of the Spirit feels like a hard shove. This is a good thing. It leads to verse 5: “So I admitted my sin…”

Confession begins the healing process – at least as far as God is concerned. God is quick to remove the guilt and shame, swift to rescue and redeem us and our relationship with God. Sadly, we can struggle with these steps sometimes. Our pride or the hurt can get in the way. We can want to nurse a grudge. We can have a hard time admitting we were wrong. When we are struggling with these or other issues, may we remember that we are made in the image of God. Doing so, may our forgiveness be quick and gentle, honest and complete.

Prayer: Lord God, in the arena of forgiveness, make us more like you. Guide us to be practitioners of grace and mercy, humility and love – the key ingredients to living in right relationships with you and with one another. Amen.


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The Power of Love

Reading: 1st Corinthians 1:18-25

1st Corinthians 1:23 – “We preach Christ crucified, which is a scandal to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.”

In this week’s Epistle reading, Paul addresses most people’s struggle with the cross of Jesus Christ. On the logical level, many people then and today struggle with the idea that a man would willingly die for others. On the religious level, many struggle with what happened next – that Jesus rose from the grave, thus ending sin and death’s hold on humanity. To many yet today the cross is scandal at best, foolishness at its worst.

Paul addresses three “crowds” in his writing. The first two are the Jews and the Gentiles. The Jews were looking for a Messiah who would rise up over the Romans, taking back control of Israel. To willingly submit to a horrific death – a scandal. The Gentiles – all non-Jews – were non-religious and therefore sought to use wisdom and logic to understand and make sense of the world around them. The giving and sharing of wisdom would end with death on the cross – foolishness.

These two basic “crowds” exist yet today. There are many who seek to make Jesus into their own image, seeking to control their version of Jesus for their own gain – politically, economically, socially. And there are those who will try and argue away who and what Jesus was and is. Atheists and others will try to “disprove” Jesus, elevating their own wisdom above all else.

Paul also writes of a third “crowd.” This crowd exists today as well. Those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and give their lives to follow him see and understand the cross differently. They see the power and wisdom of the cross and of faithful living today as rooted in love. Love led Jesus to the cross to save us and love leads us out into the world so that others may be saved. Led in love, may we go forth, sharing God’s love with all people.

Prayer: Lord God, use us today to change the world. Just as love broke down the power of sin and death, send us out in love to break down the power of injustice, oppression, power over, greed, lust, prejudice… – the evils of our day. Love can defeat them all. So pour us out in love today, O God. Amen.


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A Kingdom of Justice and Righteousness

Reading: Psalm 72:1-7

Psalm 72:2 – “Let him judge your people with righteousness and your poor with justice.”

Psalm 72 is a prayer for the long reign of a just and righteous king. It is a prayer for a king who will rule as God’s representative here on earth. These words of Solomon were likely written when he was living closest to this vision of an ideal king. Like his father David, considered Israel’s greatest king, Solomon had many failures during his reign. Only one king has been and ever will be truly just and righteous: Jesus.

In verse 2 we get a glimpse into what the “ideal” king will be like. Here we read, “Let him judge your people with righteousness and your poor with justice.” Under this kind of leader there will be peace in the land. This peace is not founded on military power or dominance. It is founded upon lifting up the poor and needy while “crushing” any who seek to oppress. Today this would involve dismantling systems that oppress and take advantage of those on the margins. It would remove power from the hands of those who seek to lord power over others purely for personal gain.

Under a just and righteous king there would be abundance and flourishing for all people. To ensure this, a just and righteous king would act for the good of the poor and marginalized, exhibiting God’s heart for “the least of these.” These actions would naturally place such a king in opposition to the greedy and power-hungry. The kingdoms of this would did and do struggle with the establishment of a kingdom of justice and righteousness. It is a kingdom not of this world. It is a kingdom where Christ the king reigns. O God, may it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, we long for the day when the kingdoms of this world crumble to dust as Jesus returns in glory. As we long, we also wait. As we wait, O God, may it be an active waiting. Use us day by day to be builders of a more just and righteous world. May the story of our lives tell the story of your coming kingdom. Amen.


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God’s Intended Creation

Reading: Psalm 65:9-13

Psalm 65:13 – “The meadowlands are covered in flocks, the valleys decked out in grain.”

Psalm 65 is a song of praise for God’s works. The portion that we read today celebrates God’s provision to the people of the earth. In verses 9-10 the psalmist rejoices over how God brings abundance to the earth through the “rain showers” that enrich the earth and provide grain for the people. From what was chaos in Genesis 1, God has ordered and shaped creation in ways that express God’s love to all of God’s children.

Moving into verses 11-12 we see that it is God’s goodness that creates this overflowing abundance. God provides because God is good. God’s goodness is so graciously given that even the desert is “dressed in pure joy.” This goodness and blessing extends even more to the valleys and meadowlands tended by God’s people. Of these we read, “The meadowlands are covered in flocks, the valleys decked out in grain.” This provision yields a joy that expresses itself in songs of praise to God.

As I read these verses, I think that all of creation and all of humanity should be greatly blessed with all that we need. This is clearly God’s intent for the world that God designed and created. The hard reality, though, is that there is a great wrench that “we” have thrown into God’s plan. Greed and selfishness and the desire for power have twisted God’s plan and design. A very small few are greatly blessed in all ways. And while a good chunk in the middle are doing okay, a too-large group struggles daily for food, shelter, and security. How can we, as the people of God, move our world closer to what it was created to be?

Prayer: Lord God, likely as we read this we sit in the middle group – comfortable enough in life that it can feel okay to ignore those other groups. But, Lord, you call us to more. Awaken in us your spirit of generous abundance for all of creation. Move us to be people who speak and act in ways that bring about your intended world. Amen.


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Fire and Water

Reading: Psalm 66:5-12

Psalm 66:10 and 12 – “But you, God, have tested us – you’ve refined us like silver… we’ve been through fire and water.”

In today’s verses from Psalm 66, the author invites the reader to remember how “awesome” God’s works have been. The specific event remembered is the crossing of the sea. With Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit, God “turned the sea into dry land” so that Israel could pass through the waters. The nation rejoiced in God’s power as the water closed back in on the Egyptians, freeing Israel. The rebellious leader (and his army) that had exulted self over God was no more. Israel took this as a word of warning against exulting self over God.

The third step in the Examen is “review” – the practice of looking back over the past day. While the corporate review of a major act of God is good for Israel and for our faith, it is the daily reflection that will shape and form us more intentionally. In reviewing the past day we ask ourselves questions like these: When did my words, actions, and thoughts bring healing or hope or light into another’s life? When did my words, actions, or thoughts bring harm to another or to myself? Where was God present? When did I miss or ignore God’s presence? How was I blessed? When did I bless others? When and how did I sin or otherwise fall short?

While the psalmist first celebrates God’s saving acts (relish), the second part of our reading reveals thoughts on these kinds of “review” questions. In verses 10 and 12 we read, “But you, God, have tested us – you’ve refined us like silver… we’ve been through fire and water.” The movement of review reminds us of the waters and fires of our previous day. Both the blessings and the struggles have things to teach us – most profoundly when we are very intentional in our time of reflection. May it be so for us each day as we practice this deep spiritual discipline.

Prayer: Lord God, be with us in Spirit as we pause to reflect on our past day. Help us to be honest – both with the good and with the bad of the day. Guide us to be truthful with ourselves and with you. Lead us to see where change and faith can be applied in order to deepen our walk with you and with one another. Amen.


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Our Intercessor

Reading: Exodus 32:7-14

Exodus 32:10 – “Now leave me alone! Let my fury burn and devour them.”

Exodus 32 begins with Moses and Joshua already up on the mountain, speaking with God. They are up there a long time – apparently too long. An impatient people decide that they need something new to follow and worship. A gold bull calf is fashioned. An altar is made. The image is worshipped. Before moving to today’s reading, let us ponder how often we either get impatient with God and take matters into our own hands or… how often we worship things other than the Lord our God.

In verse 7 God instructs Moses to “Hurry up,” to return to “Your people” because they are “ruining everything.” God recounts to Moses the making of and worship of an idol. God is very upset with this “stubborn people.” God then says to Moses, “Now leave me alone! Let my fury burn and devour them.” God is ready to simply wipe the Israelites off the face of the earth. God will just start over with Moses. Referring back to our earlier pondering, I wonder, how often does God get to this same place with us? Collectively we must regularly tempt God to just burn it down in order to start over.

What happens next is amazing. Moses intercedes on behalf of God’s “own people.” Moses tells God to calm down, to change God’s mind, to remember the covenant promises. And God does. Moses had walked long enough with these people to understand their struggles with being faithful 100% of the time. The good news for you and for me? Jesus – God in the flesh – walked long enough with humanity to truly understand our struggles. Just as Moses did, the risen Christ intercedes for you and for me, standing between us and God, pleading our case. Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ, our intercessor and friend.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for you day to day patience and for your unconditional love. We are so imperfect. We must push your buttons regularly, like a difficult two-year-old with a very tired parent. We rejoice in Jesus, our intercessor before you. We thank you too for the Holy Spirit, our indwelling friend who helps us in our walk with you. And, God, thank you for your saving grace and unending mercy. You are a most awesome God. Amen.


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New Life in Christ

Reading: Romans 7:4-6

Romans 7:6 – “We have died with respect to the thing that controlled us, so that we can be slaves in the new life under the Spirit.”

As we begin this week focusing on having lips to speak and ears to listen, we begin in Romans 7. In our walk of faith, one of our greatest struggles is often choosing what voice(s) to listen to. For Christians this struggle often centers around what the world or our culture tries to tell us. This voice tells us that “things” matter most: wealth, power, status… Our inner being, “self,” can be drawn into this narrative because we are innately selfish, greedy, prideful…

In today’s passage Paul writes about choosing new life in Christ instead of trying to live under the Law of Moses. For devout Jews at this time following the Law was almost all that mattered: offer this sacrifice, say that prayer, attend the festival, give, worship. On the surface these can sound and can be good. But when one’s faithfulness to the rules leads to judging and rigidity in things like compassion, empathy, and service, then it can become a bad thing. And failing to uphold the Law led to a guilt and a shame that the Law could not remove.

Paul shares how this changes with the coming of Jesus Christ: “We have died with respect to the thing that controlled us, so that we can be slaves in the new life under the Spirit.” The religion of checking the boxes, the life that leads to death, has been superceded by faith in Christ. Living the new life in Christ, through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, tunes our ears to the will and way of God. This leads to a life that bears good fruit. Rooted in love, this fruit is peace, patience, joy, hope, forgiveness, self-control… Thanks be to God for the new life that we find in Christ!

Prayer: Lord God, as we die to self and to the ways of the world, what freedom we find. Instead of chasing after and worrying about accumulation, we become filled with content and peace, we practice presence and generosity. Instead of seeking to elevate self, we praise and glorify God as we lift others up. Thank you for the life of joy and hope, of love and grace found in Christ. Amen.