Ralph Waldo Emerson
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It is good to humble ourselves and accept that there is an infinite world of possibilities waiting to be discovered. Blessings await. Knowledge is not confined to what we witness or understand. Look at our universe. There are truths without bounds that lie beyond the realm of our perception. We are not limited to the knowledge we can achieve. Our creator is incomprehensible.
When we go through some things, we often ask why? Many times, we can’t know the answer to this question. When we dwell on it, we can become more unsettled, and maybe even more depressed. Our negative thoughts can easily take over.
This week our family lost someone very dear to us. We felt very blessed to have Dick as a family member. He was an amazing man, friend, and a very talented musician. Our hearts ache and we miss him very much. Loss sometimes fills our lives, and overcoming it is difficult. Death, loss, and life sometimes hurt to our very core. Often we have to let time help us heal. It’s not a simple thing, but may be the only thing that helps.
Adam and Eve
The introduction of death, brings Adam and Eve, to mind. Sin brought death into our world. The first sin, as we know, was consuming the fruit of the forbidden tree. We all sin every day. I think what a glorious world it would be without death to deal with. People have had to deal with death from the beginning of time because of sin.
They ate of the tree because they wanted to be like God. Satan lied to them and they believed it. He told them they would know as much as God if they would eat from it. We know how that turned out. We could never come close to being like God. Their realization that Satan had lied to them and that they had disappointed God must have been devastating. Plus, now death had entered our lives. They didn’t know death or the grief death brought with it.They didn’t know what death was, and now they had to be among the first to die. Soon they would know firsthand.
Noah’s Ark
Then I think of Noah. How close Noah was to God. He believed God when he told him to build an Ark, to save the people who believed in God. What ridicule he must have suffered.
What joy he must have felt when in destroying all of humanity, God chose him to build the Ark. To save other believers and two of each animal.
The Bible doesn’t tell us what the people on the Ark were feeling and thinking. Though we know they were people just like us, with genuine emotions, suffering actual loss. People wrestling with conflicting emotions. Wrestling with being saved from the floodwaters that destroyed everyone and everything outside the Ark. They must have grieved deeply the loss of friends and family who refused to join them. Those who refused to take advantage of God’s offered means of salvation.
Grief for lost humanity
Along with the joy was overwhelming grief. Have you thought of what they must have felt when God shut the door of the Ark? When the rain came, the laughter and mocking turned to a very different mood. They hear banging on the Ark and screams of desperate people from outside wanting in. Some of those probably were people they loved deeply. The Bible tells of Noah having siblings in Genesis 5:30. They were more than likely grieving for what was about to happen to them. They felt deep sorrow for those they loved and compassion for all. As they floated away, what grief they must have felt for those left behind. Those who didn’t believe. Those they loved were dying.
God helps us through our grief
When we endure the personal loss of a friend or family member, we guide our children to seek God’s help. We focus on remembering the wonderful times we had with that person. We start by being thankful for those times. Gratitude helps us heal. At first, this may not seem to help much. But when you talk, remember, and yes, even laugh about times you remember. The healing begins. Be thankful you had this person because what a blessing they were in your life. I know because Dick was truly a blessing in ours; we miss him and our hearts are broken. We are thankful he is no longer suffering. God gave him to enrich our life. He gave him to touch the lives of many others, as well. Just as he gave your loved ones to you. Unfortunately, death comes to us all. It helps if we know we will be together again someday. Together, where there is no more pain or suffering, in the most beautiful place ever. More beautiful than we can even imagine. A place where there is no more pain, death or sorrow.
Trust God’s refining love
If you found this blog some time ago because you are going through something difficult. I pray you have found some peace, maybe here or another way God has directed you. In this quote, “all I have seen teaches me to trust the creator for all I have not seen.” We can trust there is a higher purpose in everything that happens. It is for a reason.
I believe things we go through can refine us and make us a better person. This is true in my life. It’s easier for me to see the good in a situation when I’m through it. To see how God directed every step. Even if it’s only a tiny thing I can pick out and be thankful for. In my life, that is always the beginning of healing. I may not yet feel better, but at least it begins the process.
He leads us through impossible times
God is aware of those circumstances in our lives that feel impossible. When these situations arise, we ask, “What will I do?” We try to solve whatever it is alone. We know we don’t have the answer. That’s why we say it’s impossible. What if we ask, “What will you do, Lord?” We have already said it’s impossible. What if we give up and turn it over to him? Nothing is impossible with God. If we turn to him, he will enter our circumstances to deal with it. I alone don’t have to do it, and I don’t have the power, but we can do it together. Keep trusting God. He is always in control, even when your world is so out of control. When you feel overwhelmed, remember to trust God and go to Him first!
Jeremiah 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
Even the disciples lacked faith
While traveling with Jesus as he was preaching the good news of his coming. There was a crowd of about 5,000, Jesus was teaching. It was late, and the disciples wanted Jesus to send them away so they could buy something to eat. Jesus told them, you give them something to eat. They asked, should we go and buy food? Jesus asked how much do we have? They returned, saying, we have 5 loaves and 2 fish. He told them to divide the people into groups of 150 and have them sit. Jesus took the 5 loaves and 2 fish, looking to heaven. He blessed, and broke the loaves. He gave them to the disciples to set before the hungry people. When everyone was satisfied, the disciples gathered the leftovers. They collected 12 baskets full of bread and fish. (You can read this in Mark 6:33-44). It reminds me of the verse in Ephesians 4:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. He is able to do much more than we can imagine. I would say that was exceedingly above. They had more after than they had to start with. So don’t forget to go to him with all of your struggles. He truly cares for us.
We try to figure it out, but God doesn’t want us figuring it out. He wants us to rely and call on him to help us handle whatever it is. He already has a plan for our seemingly impossible situation. He is not caught off guard, he knows. You will be amazed at what God can turn around in your life. Have faith he can help you.
Jesus heals a centurion’s servant
Luke 7:2-10 Here there was a centurion who had a servant dear to him, sick and about to die. The centurion sent some elders to Jesus to ask him to come and save his life. He had faith and knew Jesus could do it. The elders told Jesus he is worthy for you to grant this to him. Jesus started back with them. When he was near the house, the centurion sent friends to say to Jesus, Lord do not trouble yourself further. I am not worthy for you to enter under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and Jesus turned and said to the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith in Israel. Luke 7:10 Those returning to the house, found the servant healed.
When Jesus looks at my faith. I wonder if he is amazed at how large it is or disappointed in how lacking it is.
God says he can do all things
Look around at his creation. Hasn’t he proven to us he can do anything? Nothing is impossible with God. Right now, God knows your problem. He knows the answer, and how to fix it. We tend to measure God’s ability against our own. Just because we can’t do it, we must be careful not to put our limits on God. Look at creation, all he has done. How can we think he may be up there thinking and feeling like us? Thinking I don’t know how this is going to work out. Of course he’s not. We measure by our understanding. God is beyond our knowledge. In my greatest trials, after I have turned them over to him. I always come to the realization he is God and I am not. He has no limitations but I certainly do. So, don’t put limits on him, he has none.
Faith doesn’t mean you have to understand how. We could never comprehend an all-knowing God. You are not obligated to understand, but if you want his help, you must believe and ask.
Remember all the impossibles he has brought you through
God helps us in the areas we see as impossible. He knows later we will face more impossible situations in life. He brings us through so we will look back and see, like the disciples, the fish and the loaves. There were leftovers after they were all fed and satisfied. The next impossible situation they faced, they would remember the time God did a miracle so big there were leftovers. He does this for us now if we only ask and turn it over to him.
The storm in your life is no reason to not ask God for the impossible. Your storm does not control the power of God. God’s power controls the storm. Get rid of your plan and grab onto Jesus.
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. All of us need hope. Hope to be rescued. We can have faith or we can try to have control, but we can’t have both. Never underestimate the power of God. When you surrender, turn your life over to the one who created you. Yield to the one who wants to work in you. He wants to reveal and show you what he can do. Show you what he will do with your life if you give yourself and the impossible to him. God has the best possible plan for your life.
The only way he will make that plan work is if you open your arms. Surrender your life to him. Have you locked yourself into your human plan of escape from your circumstances when God has the best plan? God specializes in the impossible. All it takes is faith like a child.
To understand why it took Jesus’ death, we first have to recognize death is the penalty for sin. Believe Jesus is who he says he is. He came to this earth as a baby. He came as God-man. He was a sacrifice for your sins so you don’t have to take your punishment for them. As God, he was perfect and lacked a sin nature. As both God and man, he was eligible to pay the price for mankind’s sin. All because of his great love and mercy for us. He willingly allowed himself to be mocked, beaten, and put to death by the Romans’ excruciating method of execution: crucifixion.
Paid in full if we accept it
John19:30 b He said, “It is finished!” And he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. While on the cross, he declared this. He took our death penalty upon himself, and paid our full price. He accomplished the reason he came. He finished, and we only need to accept this gift. Three days later, as promised, he rose again.
All who come to him with repentance and by faith gain eternal life, instead of the death we deserve. Are you ready to trust him and ask for his help in this life? If yes, tell him, ask him, surrender to him. Watch what he does in your life when you give your life absolutely and totally to him! It’s amazing! You don’t have to walk this path alone. He knows thousands of ways to take care of the impossible. Jesus loves you so much. He died for you, and will walk with you.
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Always remember, that this world is a better place with you in it.
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