pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: unanswered


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Completely Loved

Reading: Matthew 4:1-7

Matthew 4:3 – “Since you are God’s Son…”

Photo credit: Robert Linder

As we stand on the edge of Lent, we begin to lean into the themes of this season. We begin and end the week in Matthew 4, with Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Today we spend time with the first two temptations. Each of the two begin with the same phrase: “Since you are God’s Son…” The tempter is very well aware of who Jesus is. The devil seeks to test Jesus’ own sense of identity in these first two temptations. This is often where Satan attacks you and me in our moments of weakness.

After fasting for forty days, Jesus is “starving.” We can often find ourselves wrestling with hunters and wants, although not often physical. Satan invites Jesus to command stones to become bread. ‘Satisfy your hunger,’ Satan says. Jesus has the power to do this. Jesus instead centers himself on the word of God – that which truly satisfies every hunger. In moments when we really want that new phone or outfit or… may we too remember that our true identity comes not from the world but from the word of God.

Satan then takes Jesus to the top of the temple and invites him to test God’s love and care for him by throwing himself down. Jesus again quotes scripture, saying, “It is written, Don’t test the Lord your God.” The devil is testing Jesus’ sense of his belovedness. Satan invites Jesus to test the depth of God’s love. We can fall into this temptation. In a dark valley, we can question if God really, really loves us. In a season of unanswered prayer, we can question if God really cares. In these moments of trial and weakness, may we too remember the truth that even Satan knows: you are God’s son or daughter. You are completely loved. May it ever be so.

Prayer: Lord God, when the voices of discontent or doubt begin to rise up, may the voice of your Holy Spirit be clearer and stronger. When we’re tempted to chase after happiness or status outside of our relationship with you, whisper into our hearts the truths about our true purpose and about our place of belonging. And when we question your love in our times of trial or suffering, draw us into your abiding presence, ground us in your unconditional love for each and every one of us, your sons and daughters. Lord, we need you. Amen.


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Care Well

Reading: Genesis 1:26-28

Genesis 1:26 – “Let us make humanity in our image to resemble us so that they may take charge of... all the earth.”

Today we turn to the day of creation when Father, Son, and Holy Spirit created humankind. In connection with one another, God says, “Let us make humanity in our image to resemble us so that they may take charge of... all the earth.” Humanity is to be like the divine in the ways that we are in the world. Keeping this in mind, how we understand “take charge” bends toward steward, care for, protect, guard, and love.

This week we have been considering prayer. Some of our thoughts have focused on unanswered prayer. What would it look like to blend the best intents of ‘take charge’ with some of the unanswered prayers that people pray? What would our world be like if we ourselves sought to be the answer to people’s needs?

If we saw the resources that we have been blessed with as ways to care for the hungry, the sick, the naked, the imprisoned, then how would our world change? If we saw our role as the protector and defender of the vulnerable, the weak, the marginalized, the oppressed, then how would their lives change? If we were willing to risk and sacrifice on behalf of those without voice, without power, how would a new reign of justice and mercy become the reality in our world?

Because we are created in the divine image, we have within us the ability, the power, and the heart to care well for our world and for all of the earth. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, bend our hearts towards your heart. Remove the selfish, inward focus that creeps into our hearts, our thinking, our way of acting and being in the world. Empower us to be the answer to these questions pondered today. Amen.


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God at Work

Reading: Mark 2:1-12

Mark 2:2 – “So many gathered that there was no longer space, not even near the door.”

Photo credit: Milo Weiler

In Mark 2 we find a story that is not directly about prayer but can speak to us about prayer. We’re early in Mark’s gospel. According to what’s written, Jesus has healed people and is beginning to draw a crowd. Of those who packed out the house in today’s reading, how many do you think prayed on their way there?

The story first focuses in on four people who have brought their paralyzed friend to be seen by Jesus. Surely all five prayed in the way to see Jesus. So great was their perseverance, so strong their love for their friend, they tore open the roof to get their friend before Jesus. And Jesus’ initial words? “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Likely not what these five were praying for. Great for the man, but…

Jesus then perceives the thoughts of the legal experts. He calls them out. What prayers do you think they quickly muttered? They certainly were not praying to be put in their place by Jesus. Yet they are. Their thoughts opened the door for God to work good in many ways. It is at this point that the man is healed, answering the prayers of the group of five. In this moment, the crowd is amazed and praises God.

While many prayers went unanswered this day, God was still very much at work in the lives of all of these people. We hold hope for the legal experts. Maybe this humbling experience led to growth in their faith too. God’s desire was and is to draw all people to a saving knowledge of God. So may we continue to pray faithfully, trusting in God to work good in our lives and in our world.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the reminder to ever seek your presence, to linger in that space, expecting good from you. Help us to ever be open to what you are doing, especially when it is beyond our limited vision or understanding. Draw us closer to you, moment by moment, encounter by encounter. Amen.


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Dominion

Reading: Psalm 22: 23-31

Verse 28: “Dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations”.

Photo credit: Erik Van Dijk

The words that we read in today’s Psalm seem far from the realities of our world. The world feels like it is full of suffering. Many of their cries seem to go unanswered. The poor do not appear to be satisfied. All the earth has not turned toward the Lord. In the midst of these continuing realities, verse 28 calls us to a higher truth, to an eternal reality: “Dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations”.

The hope that we find in our faith reminds us that this world and its trials are temporary. God is truly in charge and one day the Lord will be the only king or ruler. All people past and present will “kneel before him”. This is a future scene that one day will come. As we live out our day to day lives, do we simply wait for Christ to return or to call us home? Do we just go through the motions of life and live with the suffering and the cries and the plight of the poor? Should we be okay with all the lost souls?

As Christians in the modern world reading these words written long ago by King David, our role is to connect to that “future generation” and to be the ones who “proclaim his righteousness” and who share the hope we have with a world in need. Rather than seeing ourselves as David and the Jews did and do – as a chosen people set aside for God – may we see ourselves as Jesus saw and lived out his ministry: as one sent into the world to minister to needs, to care for the marginalized, to alleviate suffering. May we, by our words and actions, proclaim that the kingdom of God has drawn near, manifesting this reality in the world. May all that we do and say reveal the dominion and rule of Christ here and now. In and through us, may Christ reign.

Prayer: Lord God, open my eyes and heart to the cries of the suffering and to the needs around me. Lead and guide me to make your love known in this world. Amen.