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Grace Nuggets, Simple reminders of God’s great love for you.
‘Grace Nuggets.’ Simple reminders of God’s great love for you.
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Romans 5:6
None of us want to be helpless. Other words that define helplessness are incapable, vulnerable, defenseless, or weak (to name a few).
Which of those descriptive words would you like to be known for? Which of those words would you want on your epitaph? “Here lies ‘xxx’, He was incapable in life to accomplish anything.” Pretty sure that isn’t what any of us would hope for.
We live in a world that celebrates strength. We live in a world that applauds independence. We live in a world that pities the weak.
While the Bible speaks often of God’s love and power, it seems as though His power is most accessible when we are at our weakest.
It’s hard to think that way though, isn’t it? It’s in our weak times that the voices of negativity scream the loudest. It’s in our times of vulnerability that we may tend to withdraw into a shell of protection or act out in order to defend our integrity. It’s when we feel incapable that we tend to lean on a victim mentality (If they hadn’t done that to me, things would be different)
I wonder if God sees our times of helplessness as times of waiting? When we feel helpless the natural thing to do is look for help.
We really have three options, three sources to help us in those times of helplessness. Our first ‘go to’ us usually ourselves. Society tells us to ‘look within ourselves’, to ‘follow our heart’. But God warns us that the heart is deceitful above all things.
The second option is to look to others. I don’t think I need to tell you the dangers of that! People let us down. Even within the church there are those who are users and abusers, who use religion as a weapon to destroy.
The last option is one that is the best but also the hardest and that is God. Jesus’ disciples had seen him perform miracle after miracle, but when he was in the boat sleeping they feared for their lives. Yet, at just the right time, Jesus was there as to calm the storm.
God’s timing isn’t comfortable but it’s always best. God’s timing brings success, my timing, well, let’s just say it’s caused problems.
It’s when we are helpless that he shows himself best. When you feel totally helpless, spend time with the one who has the strength , wisdom and power to see you through the storm.
It was Saturday morning. It was Sabbath day, and every good Jew would find them their way to the temple to offer up sacrifice, to worship, to spend time with their God.
I wonder what the followers of Jesus did on this sabbath day. Most sabbaths in the last three years they would be in the temple or listening to Jesus teach. But now he was gone.
I’m sure they were full of emotion. Fear that they were the next ones to be crucified. Confusion as to what happened. Loss of hope. For some there was guilt for abandoning him. For all of them and overwhelming sense of grief.
Yet, well, their hope seemed a locked behind a stone in a dark, cold tomb. They didn’t realize that in God‘s silence He was working.
We aren’t exactly sure what Jesus did during the time that he was in the tomb, but we know that God was working. Death was being destroyed.
Peter tells us, Jesus was preaching to those who had gone on before. Most importantly, a battle raged between death and life, forgiveness, and sin, Satan and God himself.
It’s Saturday, but Sunday’s coming.
You may be doubting God’s working in your life right now.
You may be full of confusion and grief and doubt and anger and guilt in a whole plethora of other emotions.
Remember this, hold tight to your faith. Because in the darkness of the tomb, God was working. And in the darkness of your life right now, God is working.
This may be your Saturday. But remember, God is working and Sunday’s coming.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 