Dear Friends,
On Sunday, we talked about how all of human history is heading toward life and God's blessing on all the earth. Even though many awful things happen, God's plan is moving purposefully forward for our good. Isaiah 28:24-25 (NIV) illustrates this truth using an example from farming.
When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually?
Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?
When he has leveled the surface,
does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?
Does he not plant wheat in its place,
barley in its plot,
and spelt in its field?
The plowing of the farmer is like times of loss and destruction in our lives and in the world as a whole. Sometimes, what exists now must be torn apart in order to prepare for what is to come later. This can be extremely painful and even seem unbearable at times. But it doesn't go on forever. When the farmer, plows, breaking apart the soil, he does so only for a time. Then he plants carefully selected seeds that grow into a harvest that is brought in at the proper time and in the proper way. Likewise, when God breaks apart our lives, he does so only temporarily and only for the purpose of bringing about new growth that moves us toward the end goal of vibrant life in him.
There's nothing wrong with asking for hard times to end and for God to quickly bring times of blessing and healing. These are always good things to ask for. And, as we will talk about this coming Sunday, God hears and responds to such prayers! But, sometimes suffering continues for much longer than we would like. And it is important in these times to recognize that what we are going through is not without purpose and that the best thing we can do is put our trust in God and lean in to his work in us, submitting ourselves to his purposes.
I have always found that it is in the hardest seasons of my life that I have grown the most. I would never chose to go through these times again, but I am deeply grateful for what I have learned and how I have been shaped through them.
What are you going through that is hard right now? Take a minute right now to talk to God about what you are going through. Tell him about your experience and your feelings the way you would tell a close friend. Then ask God to show you what he wants to teach you and how wants to grow you through this experience. Listen for God's answer. Then, invite him to come and work in your heart and in your life.
Love in Christ,
Michelle
