The Big M (4) – ‘dad will we have finished building the house by the time I’m the Jman’s age(9)?
Doubling your age to the completion of a project is huge…5 years is a looong time to a 4 year old!
I know how he feels – at the end of a long hard week with virtually no progress in building, health and financial issues and an ever approaching deadline it can seem impossible.
At times it is hard to cling to hope through the sickness, pain and trials. But I’m finding more and more, despite the current circumstances and the ever near prospect of having to walk away – that if we are truly relying on and trusting Him (in our hearts not just our minds) – we can experience true peace. No matter what is going on around us. No matter how daunting, hurtful or problematic things are.
If He doesn’t heal, we can’t work – if He doesn’t provide, we can’t afford to keep going – if He doesn’t encourage, we will give up – if He doesn’t give truth, we will operate from lies – if He doesn’t transform, we stay the same – if He doesn’t give life, we die…
The project may never get finished, this situation may never be resolved, the finances may never free up, the sickness may never end…but He is in control. His goodness, His character, His truth, His peace.
The object of our attention should never be the ‘goal’ but He who planted the vision in the first place. If it’s His plan, it’s His problem.
Lord help me look to you, not for what I think I need, but for who you are. You alone are worthy. I want to give you all the glory. I’m humbled, excited and peaceful, despite the physical. Thank you so much for loving us and being such a loving, forgiving God. It’s a pleasure to know you, a joy to serve you and a life to worship you with.
Colossians 3:1-11 (NLT)
1 * Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 * For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 * And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
5 * So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an b idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 * Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 * You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 * But now is the time to get rid of c anger, rage, malicious behavior, d slander, and dirty language. 9 * Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 * Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 * In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, e slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.