Embrace the Process

When houses are ripped from their foundations and young Christian campers are swept away to an unexpected and premature death, questions are asked.

When a fourteen year old boy confesses to a pornography addiction, when a seventy year old Deacon and church treasurer confesses to embezzling church funds, when an infant dies in a crib or an elder dies days before retirement, questions are asked.

When questions have no certain, clear, or obvious answers that do not seem like something one would only hear in Sunday School, it leaves us in a challenging place with our faith. Some simply are able to put their head down, set their jaw and carry on. Some simply cannot do that. They need help. They want answers that actually help them process their issue. Most do not want to nurse their grief, doubts, fears, failures, etc.. Most want to go on with God and be happy and content again. We have to learn how.

Someone told me once that the first time they laughed after a loved one died, it made them feel weird. If a person has to process laughter, they are in a place of uncertainty at best.

You got any questions today? Concerns over past stuff, doubts about today, and fears about tomorrow plague most of us at some point. You know what you are getting ready to read is Sunday Schoolish, but I believe it will be helpful, so read on, please:

Read Luke 5:1-11

I have no interest in "toiling all night and catching nothing" and yet so many wasteful, useless, fruitless hours pass each day, week, month and year. You know I am right. You have spun your wheels and accomplished little just like everyone has in this life. Oh, I am not talking so much about education, career building, wealth accumulation, making a name or leaving your mark, as fine as all that might be. I speak of real life-changing assets.

There is a difference between strength and power. Goliath has strength. David has power. There is a difference between influence and power. The Pharisees and High Priest had influence. Peter and the apostles had power after Pentecost.
There is a difference between the Holy Spirit merely indwelling the believer and filling them with His power.

There is a difference between praying to God and listening to God.

There is a difference between confessing one's sins and repenting from the same.

There is a difference between coming to church and worshiping the Lord.

There is a difference between wanting to go to heaven when you die and trusting God totally with everything, past, present and future.

There is a difference between having questions that you subconsciously hope there are no answers to so you can have an excuse to feel the way that you do, and having questions that you genuinely want answers to so that you can grow, be fruitful, happy and content.

We need Power. The kind of power that only God can give. Power that helps us process, not just ponder, the deed things of faith and life.

Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

I process the things I ponder with the help of the Holy Spirit, for I have been given the mind of Christ, as have you if you have been born again. The natural man/unsaved is clueless. Stop looking for answers to life's hard questions from people groping in the dark.

One more, if I may: there is a distinct difference from one who is saved and one who is not only saved, but spiritual. A spiritual person has intimacy with Christ and is sensitive to the Spirit's direction. God is constantly speaking; we are seldom listening. God is constantly working, does no evil, and always has our best in mind for us. You can trust Him. No temptation too great, no valley too deep, no question unanswerable. Some things take time. Evil is real, but God is good.

So, you waiting for the silver bullet? It ain't coming from me, is it? God is your answer. He will help you. Wait before the Lord and cry out unto Him. Open His Word and ask Him to speak. While you wait, stop speaking. Meditate! Pondering is part of the process, but processing is more than pondering. Processing requires discipline, study, prayer, patience, silence, faith, trust and hope.

The answer you seek might be in the next chapter. So keep digging. It might be the next sermon, so keep listening. Your answer already lies within, so wait on God to reveal it to you through His Comforter that He has blessed us with. He is called the Spirit of Truth and Jesus said He will guide you into all truth. Jesus also said, "All things that the Father has are mine. Therefore, I said that He will take of mine and declare it to you."



In Christ,
Pastor Todd