pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: vulnerability


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Stepping Out

Reading: Genesis 12:1-2

Genesis 12:1 – “Leave your land, your family, and your father’s household for the land that I will show you.”

Moving someplace new can be exciting, but is often scary and disorienting. Sometimes when someone else moves, it can raise our anxiety and fears. Several years ago, our son and daughter-in-law decided to move to “a city” after finishing college. No, they didn’t have jobs. As they considered Seattle, Atlanta, and Fort Worth, we were greatly relieved when they chose Fort Worth. Alex’s Dad lived there. Family would be nearby. Phew.

Turning to Genesis 12:1-4 today and tomorrow, we can imagine that Abram and Sarai and even Terah, Abram’s father, felt some of what we felt and more. In verse 1 God says to Abram, “Leave your land, your family, and your father’s household for the land that I will show you.” God is asking Abram to leave everything he knows: homeland, security, family, support, place of worship, guidance. This in and of itself is a BIG ask. Add in the kicker – “for the land that I WILL show you” – and it requires radical obedience for Abram to pack up and go. As John Wesley wrote, Abram was wrestling with “whether he could trust God further than he saw God.” How true!

This challenging invitation does come with some promises from God. God will make Abram into a great nation and will bless him. Childless yet at age 75, to step into these promises also required great faith and trust – and a willingness to enter into a place of vulnerability. While God could call us to do what Abram was called to do, our callings and invitations are relatively “smaller.” Yet whether it is to step into a new role or career or to reach out to reconcile that broken relationship or whatever God asks if us, the divine call asks for faith, trust, obedience, and often for vulnerability. As God calls, may we too step out in faith, believing in what we cannot yet see.

Prayer: Lord God, your Spirit calls and invites us to step out frequently, if not daily, asking us to go where you need us to go. Sometimes it is to stretch or grow our own faith and trust. Other times it is to share our faith and your love, grace, provision, presence… with others. In all cases, strengthen and encourage us to faithfully obey you as we walk in faith. Amen.


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Fasting Practice

Reading: Psalm 63:1-8

Verse 8: “My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me “

Today’s Psalm is an expression of both longing for God and of praise for those intimate moments with God. David’s soul “thirsts” for God, especially in the times when David feels dry and weary. There is also recollections of moments when David has seen God’s power and glory. For these experiences he praises God with uplifted hands. Because of God’s help and presence, David sings “in the shadow of your wings.”

As you consider these thoughts from David, reflect on times in your life when you’ve longed for God in a “dry and weary land.” Reflect on times when you’ve been a witness to God’s power and glory. Take a few moments to offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God…

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Lent is a season where we are invited to look within, to seek to become more like Jesus Christ. Fasting is one means of helping us to practice these spiritual disciplines. To give up or abstain from something brings us face to face with our weakness and vulnerability. In that moment when we long for what we’ve given up we see our limits and our need for God. Admitting our inability to keep our commitment on our own leads us to a place of seeking God’s power to overcome. This is a scary place to willingly walk into. But it is also a place of honesty and clarity. From this place we can take steps to becoming closer to our Lord and Savior.

Fasting can lead us to a beautiful place – to a sacred space where we encounter ourselves and where we draw closer to the Lord. I invite you to consider the practice of fasting as a part of your Lenten journey.

Prayer: Lord God, the fast that you require is one that leads me away from self and deeper into your presence. Guide me on this journey. Draw me closer to who you created me to be. Amen.


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Forgiven and Forgiving

Reading: Genesis 45: 1-15

Verse 5: “Do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you”.

Today’s passage centers on forgiveness. In the Christian faith we understand that forgiveness is a two-way street. Each Sunday most of us pray these words: “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”. If we want to partake of God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness, we need to extend these same things to one another. For me, and perhaps for you, at times I struggle with each side of this equation.

It can be hard to admit we are wrong. It can be hard with both God and with others. There are times when it is difficult to admit I am wrong or have done harm. It can be easy to justify myself or to be self-righteous. Wanting to seek revenge or to get even can be tempting. But the way of love calls us to more. Jesus calls us to humility and honesty and transparency, to vulnerability and weakness, to confession and repentance. To enter and walk the path of Jesus, one must first practice forgiveness when we have sinned or caused harm. This was the first step for both Joseph and his brothers. For Joseph, it was to reckon with his younger self – the bratty, spoiled, arrogant Joseph – and the role that played. For the brothers it was to accept responsibility for what they did. Yes, God was at work behind the scenes, but they still harmed Joseph.

Sometimes it is difficult to extend forgiveness. At times it would seem easier just to keep that person on the outside, to keep them in a place where they cannot have a chance to be hurtful or harmful. (And, yes, there are times when it is necessary to end a relationship – in an abusive situation, for example.) As Jesus told Peter, we are not to forgive seven times, but seventy times seven! Just as we are each a work in progress before God, so too are all of God’s children. God has no limits or a quota on forgiving us. May we be the same, forgiving just as we are forgiven.

Prayer: Lord God, help me to ever be a person of grace. Help me to see and believe the best in everyone. Lead me to give my best and to recognize when I have given less, especially when I need to ask for or extend grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Guide me, O God. Amen.