My last post, paired with a recent reading in Matthew, have spurred this life lesson that I'm learning.
The jist of my last post was this: being thankful produces joy.
Well that's all and well and easy when life is breezy, but what about when people disappoint you, your efforts are not fruitful, when your hopes are dashed?
Jesus. Son of God. Savior of the world. I would think that his ministry was pretty effective; was he ever disappointed in people? In his efforts? Does it ever talk in the Bible about Jesus being disappointed?
In Matthew 11, Jesus talks about Korazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum - three communities that he had visited, done miracles in and proclaimed truth. He then laments about how these communities "hadn't repented of their sins and turned to God". These are places that Jesus made an intentional effort to visit, reveal himself, invest and pray over. And they still turned away. From Jesus himself.
Failed attempt.
Disappointment.
Hope, not availed.
The next paragraph in Matthew 11 Jesus prays to his father, a prayer of thanksgiving. He gives thanks to God for the way things had played out in Korazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum because he know God is sovereign and knows best. He also judges them, which, as Jesus, he has the right to. But this: In the face of failed efforts, of disappointment, Jesus is thankful. He knows that God is in control.
The next paragraph in Matthew 11 is Jesus saying this: "Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest. Take my yolk upon you, let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yolk is easy to bear and my burden is light".
I can't ignore the irony here.
1. Jesus recognizes failure. People have let him down.
2. He chooses to be thankful and recognize God's sovereignty.
3. He identifies himself as the source of finding rest for souls. He calls the disappointed, the discouraged, the tired to himself - to his arms of rest and protection. He invites us to lay our burdens and disappointments at his feet, to let them go.
This is am amazing lesson to learn from Christ - he practiced it so clearly here. To the tee!
How are you feeling disappointed these days?
Who are you worried about?
Who has let you down?
Where have you failed?
What gifts has God given you amidst these situations - what has his grace been?
What can you choose to be thankful for?
Find the freedom in the fact that no matter our failures, God is not held back. WE NEED TO TRUST THIS.
Have you gone to Jesus with these failures and disappointments?
Give Jesus your burdens.
Let him hold you up and guide you through this.
It is very interesting that I am learning this now - now, when life seems to be rolling steadily and honestly, very nicely. God is really rolling out the carpet for us in Vancouver right now, there hasn't been any stumbling blocks in this whole process of starting up life here. For this I am thankful... and also realistic - this will not last! HA!
Getting back into the work and life that we're in, with East Van youth and people in general, life in general, I know that great challenges and disappointments and failure are just around the corner. I am in the business of doing life with humans. This is inevitable. I AM going to sin, fail, screw up and effect people in this way. Others ARE going to sin, fail, screw up and this will effect me.
I want to keep this lesson at the forefront of my mind and heart. To be prepared and ready for, well, humanity and life... Which is full of brokeness and beauty, challenge, truth, love and growth.
Bring on life, in all its everythings.
The jist of my last post was this: being thankful produces joy.
Well that's all and well and easy when life is breezy, but what about when people disappoint you, your efforts are not fruitful, when your hopes are dashed?
Jesus. Son of God. Savior of the world. I would think that his ministry was pretty effective; was he ever disappointed in people? In his efforts? Does it ever talk in the Bible about Jesus being disappointed?
In Matthew 11, Jesus talks about Korazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum - three communities that he had visited, done miracles in and proclaimed truth. He then laments about how these communities "hadn't repented of their sins and turned to God". These are places that Jesus made an intentional effort to visit, reveal himself, invest and pray over. And they still turned away. From Jesus himself.
Failed attempt.
Disappointment.
Hope, not availed.
The next paragraph in Matthew 11 Jesus prays to his father, a prayer of thanksgiving. He gives thanks to God for the way things had played out in Korazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum because he know God is sovereign and knows best. He also judges them, which, as Jesus, he has the right to. But this: In the face of failed efforts, of disappointment, Jesus is thankful. He knows that God is in control.
The next paragraph in Matthew 11 is Jesus saying this: "Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest. Take my yolk upon you, let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yolk is easy to bear and my burden is light".
I can't ignore the irony here.
1. Jesus recognizes failure. People have let him down.
2. He chooses to be thankful and recognize God's sovereignty.
3. He identifies himself as the source of finding rest for souls. He calls the disappointed, the discouraged, the tired to himself - to his arms of rest and protection. He invites us to lay our burdens and disappointments at his feet, to let them go.
This is am amazing lesson to learn from Christ - he practiced it so clearly here. To the tee!
How are you feeling disappointed these days?
Who are you worried about?
Who has let you down?
Where have you failed?
What gifts has God given you amidst these situations - what has his grace been?
What can you choose to be thankful for?
Find the freedom in the fact that no matter our failures, God is not held back. WE NEED TO TRUST THIS.
Have you gone to Jesus with these failures and disappointments?
Give Jesus your burdens.
Let him hold you up and guide you through this.
It is very interesting that I am learning this now - now, when life seems to be rolling steadily and honestly, very nicely. God is really rolling out the carpet for us in Vancouver right now, there hasn't been any stumbling blocks in this whole process of starting up life here. For this I am thankful... and also realistic - this will not last! HA!
Getting back into the work and life that we're in, with East Van youth and people in general, life in general, I know that great challenges and disappointments and failure are just around the corner. I am in the business of doing life with humans. This is inevitable. I AM going to sin, fail, screw up and effect people in this way. Others ARE going to sin, fail, screw up and this will effect me.
I want to keep this lesson at the forefront of my mind and heart. To be prepared and ready for, well, humanity and life... Which is full of brokeness and beauty, challenge, truth, love and growth.
Bring on life, in all its everythings.
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