our Faith which we would
rather not have to deal with
more-often-than-not overwhelming
our comfort-level of Trust
leaving us grasping for answers
that do not readily appear even
after exhaustive pleading to
the Lord to whom we have firmly
committed ourselves / believed in
His Love for us but Who now seems
alarmingly distant / very quiet
resulting in and often yielding to
temptations of doubt / fear /
anxiety which leads to us just
'trying harder' to Trust which
puts you firmly on the 'treadmill of
self-reliance' and into the 'revolving
doors' of frustration / discouragement /
self-pity / more effort to Trust
while not 'understanding' what's
going on or how to 'solve this
predicament' and just 'putting our
head down / putting one foot in
front of the other with teeth tightly
clenched in resolve to come out
of all this in one piece' or worst of
all....giving up believing that 'all
this doesn't really work' to which
I say....you're right..it doesn't...but
then ask you...is there another Way?
yes...there is a Template to Follow...
it is the 'Way of the Cross' which
began in the Garden's Agonizing
Resolution to Accept Calvary's Price
for the Forgiveness of our Debts...a
Pattern of Death-to-Self...Humility...
Surrendering to the Father's Will...
Acknowledging our utter weakness...
our inability to overcome the
Pride of the Fall by ourselves...
our Full and Final Dependence
upon His Strength to bear this Cross...
Joining our Offering with His for
the sake of those we Love...
Trusting in His Merciful Love...
Accepting this Trial in Faith that He
Knows what He is doing even if we
are struggling to see His Purposes...
Relying upon Him to Give us
His Perseverance / Patient Endurance...
it is Essential that we tell Him of our
deepest anguish...transparently
reveal our true self to Him even
though He already knows it all
for only then can He address our
true self Wounded from Eden...
the World and our Sinful Complicity...
that which we often hide from others...
sometimes even ourselves when we
don't want to face the pain...
All is Grace...Salvation...Redemption...
Resurrection...Pentecost...Purification...
Sanctification...Heaven...face to Face
with Father...Son...Holy Spirit...
Eternal Joy and Peace...All is Grace...
so too is our Daily Life in Christ...
every Trial...every Challenge...
every 'Revelation of His Love'...so...
Don't just 'try harder'...Let go of
'self reliance'...Ask for every little
thing we need...Grace to...Accept
our 'Neediness'...Rely upon Him not
ourselves...Be Transparent...Be open
to Share our Inner Self with others in
the Lord...Keep our eyes upon Him...
Trust Him...Believe His Word...Pray -
not less but more...Overcome
temptations...Faith in His Will for us...
His Plans / Timing for this Situation..
Love especially when we don't feel
we can right now....Draw us Closer
to Him through this Trial...Teach us
what He wants us to Learn.....Surrender /
Acceptance of this Trial...Thank Him
for His Abundant Graces...Faithfulness...
this Present Situation...Knowing that...
we are Not Alone and that 'All things work
for Good for those who Love Him and
are Called According to His Purpose'...
Reflection / Discussion:
-What is the 'Template' for dealing with Trials?
-How does your experience of Trials compare to the above description?
-Talk about your experience of a significant Trial in your life.
-What is your experience of 'self-reliance' vs dependence on the Lord?
-Why is 'humility' essential in the Christian Life?
-How are you 'broken' by Eden / World / our Complicity of sin?
-Find supportive relationships if you don't have any.
-Do you have a daily prayer time / Scripture prayer time? Why / not?
No comments:
Post a Comment