This week was hard. Let’s not pretend because we are Christians, that we are somehow magically exempt from struggle.
1 Peter 5:10 (CSB) says, “The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.”
And yes, the struggle is real. Not being funny guys. Seriously, with Covid 19, financial strain, family illnesses, personal failings, addictions, political fallouts, and… now my cat is sick. I get that some don’t quite understand the feline/family relationship, but it is strong in this house. It appears that he is not too far gone, though down half his body weight, but it requires a total change in diet. And let’s face it, whether human or feline, no one looks forward to a total diet upheaval. AKA grandpa is on a low sodium diet, yet still wants to salt all his food. So, with that being said, my cat does not like his new (and btw, completely foul smelling!) kidney friendly food. In the reflection of the saying “just take your medicine”, I tried to coax him into understanding the importance of the change. But yet, my fur-baby refuses, clearly longing for the other (normal smelling) tasty food he had experienced in prior times.
But aren’t we all the same? Even after the Exodus, and the miracle of their escape by the mighty hand of God, the Israelites longed for the ease of prior days. Their reality was that they longed for the time before. They had good meat (Ex. 16:3), fish (Num. 11:4), and …wait for it… onions and garlic (Num. 11:5). Yummo!… and they wanted it again. But. This. Manna.
God does not always provide for our comfort. Think Paul and his thorn (2 Cor. 12) – But He provides for our needs. 2
Matthew 6:25-26 (NIV) “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Now pause, as with any “therefore”, we must look at what came “before”. The bulk of Matthew 6 – which remember, is part of Jesus’ “sermon on the mount”- discusses giving to the needy, prayer, fasting, guarding yourself, and serving two masters. We must look to what Jesus told us. We must follow the guidance He gave… especially in times of struggle. Hence the “therefore I tell you do not worry”.
Today, even through the hardship, even through the emotional and perhaps physical pain (please remember, not everybody gets to work from home and provide for their families and put food on the table), remember the Lord is with you. Take comfort in Him. Give comfort to others. But mostly, think about the fact that this whole world, and all the men and women he formed to be so specifically unique, all belongs to Him.
Just as Peter concluded in his letter to “a people for His possession” (1 Pet. 2:9),
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world. The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while. To him be dominion forever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:6-10)
Amen!
Prayers and Petition 