Another sermon-based topic, which has been brought home in more ways than one through conversations with friends this week - conversations in which I did not initiate the topics discussed.
As children, we are very often (incorrectly) taught that disapproval of things that we do (eg. punishment if we are naughty) means that we are rejected as a person. This usually happens because we are not reminded that we are accepted - especially at the time when our actions are/were disapproved of.
Part 1 of this topic was intended to illustrate a story from the Bible - but there are many other stories that make it very clear that disapproval does NOT equal rejection - and that God very definitely loves each one of us, even if he disapproves of the choices that we make. This is the whole basis for what Jesus did on the cross. If one reads about Jesus life, one will see clearly that He walked among sinners - talked to them, and furthermore ate with them (had fellowship with them) - but in no way did their actions and choices rub off on Him - He was still sinless.
There are three perspectives that we can use to observe this story.
Firstly, consider the relationship between Jesus and his critics - the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. The critics have an agenda - as usual. They want to catch Jesus out, and Jesus knows it. They appeal to Moses' law - but they abuse it at the same time. The law says that both parties caught in adultery should be stoned - not just one - so, where's the guilty man? If Jesus says that they should stone the woman, he breaks the prevailing Roman law which forbids this, but if he says they should not, then he breaks Moses' law. Jesus' answer is therefore all the more brilliant, because it ignores both laws (without breaking them), and invites his critics to get serious and consider their own state. If we are all serious about our lives, we will all find ourselves guilty, one way or another.
Secondly, consider the relationship between Jesus and the woman (and by inference, God's relationship with us). We observe in the story that Jesus refused to condemn the woman. This can be confirmed through looking at John 3:17, which states: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (KJV) Jesus COULD have judged the woman, but this was not His role here on earth, and so He did not do so. At the same time, he did not condone her sin. He told her to 'go and sin no more'. He had compassion on her as well - because He would have known that she was a victim of circumstances - a pawn in the plot of His critics. Therefore His words offer her forgiveness, acceptance (of her as a person), and a fresh start. This interaction demonstrates why Jesus needed to go to the cross. He freely withheld judgement, and forgave people's sins - because He was going to pay the price of their sins Himself.
Thirdly consider the relationship between us and others. We need to accept that we are accepted. Too often, we feel that we need to win others' acceptance - and that of God, but this is false. We also need to accept those people (Christian and non-Christian) who we disapprove of (their actions). Jesus shows us very clearly that it is possible to hold high moral standards while accepting those who break those same standards. Also, we need to accept other Christians whose beliefs may not be the same as ours. We need to be kind, compassionate, and as forgiving of others as Christ is of us - unconditionally, and unending.
"Many of us will never feel a real peace with God about our own personal salvation until we break the stranglehold of this childish confusion." - David Seamands
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Acceptance or Approval? (1)
What Happened Today ...
At the first light of dawn, an ordinary-looking man walks down the dusty streets, and makes for the steps of the temple, where he sits down. He isn't dressed anything fancy - just in ordinary clothes - maybe even poor. He looks kind, though - the type of person one sees from a distance and wishes one could get to know better.
As we watch, he greets one or two people now and then, smiles at others ... and as the hours pass, a crowd grows around him, as he begins talking to first one, two, and then many people. Those closest to him are seated on the dusty road, while those further away are standing around the edges. Curious, we sidle closer to listen to what he is saying, and we are amazed at what we hear. This man is very practical, but he speaks with a wisdom beyond his young years - he cannot be much more than 30 years old. Very soon we too are seated in amongst the crowd, waiting with baited breath on his every word, hoping, just hoping that we may be able to be like him as we go about our daily lives.
Suddenly a commotion starts at one edge of crowd. People start to be shoved aside, and there are some angry voices as people get elbowed and trod on. It seems to be a group of the big shots from the temple - teachers of the law, and Pharisees - dragging amongst them a rather bedraggled woman. Most of the men are carrying rocks - some carry several small ones, while others are needing all their strength to carry theirs. This is definitely going to be interesting - but why such a commotion. Finally they clear a space for themselves near the teacher - for he cannot be called anything else - and everyone in the crowd heaves a sigh of relief that relative peace has come again. But then the jostling starts again, as the men argue amongst themselves. The reason for this is soon made clear, as one of the younger ones is pushed forward, together with the woman, to stand close to the teacher.
"Teacher," the young Pharisee says (for that is who he is), looking down on our teacher with haughty, accusing eyes, "this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"
The crowd gasps. I hear mutterings of "Where's the man who was with her?", "I wonder what the teacher's going to say to that?!", and "What a prick! He thinks the world must bow down to him ... we'll show him!" from the crowd around me, but as I keep my eyes on the teacher, he doesn't even acknowledge that he has been spoken to. In fact, as I watch, he bends down, and starts to use his finger to write on the ground. From where I'm sitting, I cannot see what it is he is writing - wish I could!
The young Pharisee asks his question again - a little louder. Does he think the teacher is deaf? I wonder. I know for a fact that he is most definitely not! Suddenly all the Pharisees and teachers start arguing amongst themselves again - and shouting at the teacher. They're still saying the same thing, really.
Slowly, he finishes writing on the ground, looks at it carefully, and then rises to his feet. The crowd around me falls silent, wondering what he will do now - and so does that gaggle of ... Pharisees. The teacher turns to the bunch standing by him, and looks at each one of them carefully - including the woman.
"If any one of you is without sin," the teacher says - and it's clear that the 'you' is the group standing around the woman - "let him be the first to throw a stone at her." And with those words, he again crouches down on the ground, and continues to write.
The crowd around me is now deathly silent. We don't want to get involved with this at all. We know that people who have sinned must die by stoning, but we don't think this is very fair. As some around me expressed - and I've been asking the same question - where's the man in the story? They cannot expect to only punish the woman? And also ... as I think about it more, it seems that this is a test. Those Pharisees don't like the teacher, you see. They never have. He is so wise, and us people who don't understand everything we hear in the temple - we understand this man. He explains the scriptures to us, and tells us how to live good lives. He also tells us how we can believe in God - in a simple way, not complicated and fancy like the Pharisees.
We can see that those Pharisees and the other teachers who are standing by the woman are having a hard time of it. Living in this town, we've seen many people stoned, and these men are just bruising to do it to this woman. But they've asked the teacher's advice, and from where I am, I can see they're all really really angry with him. But first the oldest of them leaves, and then they all leave, one by one, until the youngest is gone, and only the poor woman is left standing there. All this time, the teacher's just been crouched down there, writing on the ground. Suddenly he seems to notice that all is silent. He looks up from the ground, and sees just the woman standing there. He stands up and looks at her. Even from where we are sitting, we can see that his kind face is sad.
"Woman, where are they?" he asks her. "Has no-one condemned you?"
"No-one, sir," she says to him, her eyes downcast. I can see that she's very scared of him.
"Then neither do I condemn you," the teacher says - and everyone around me gasps. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
(Based on John 7:35-8:11, with speech text taken from the NIV.)
Feel free to reproduce this story, but if you do so, please append my name to it. Thank you.
At the first light of dawn, an ordinary-looking man walks down the dusty streets, and makes for the steps of the temple, where he sits down. He isn't dressed anything fancy - just in ordinary clothes - maybe even poor. He looks kind, though - the type of person one sees from a distance and wishes one could get to know better.
As we watch, he greets one or two people now and then, smiles at others ... and as the hours pass, a crowd grows around him, as he begins talking to first one, two, and then many people. Those closest to him are seated on the dusty road, while those further away are standing around the edges. Curious, we sidle closer to listen to what he is saying, and we are amazed at what we hear. This man is very practical, but he speaks with a wisdom beyond his young years - he cannot be much more than 30 years old. Very soon we too are seated in amongst the crowd, waiting with baited breath on his every word, hoping, just hoping that we may be able to be like him as we go about our daily lives.
Suddenly a commotion starts at one edge of crowd. People start to be shoved aside, and there are some angry voices as people get elbowed and trod on. It seems to be a group of the big shots from the temple - teachers of the law, and Pharisees - dragging amongst them a rather bedraggled woman. Most of the men are carrying rocks - some carry several small ones, while others are needing all their strength to carry theirs. This is definitely going to be interesting - but why such a commotion. Finally they clear a space for themselves near the teacher - for he cannot be called anything else - and everyone in the crowd heaves a sigh of relief that relative peace has come again. But then the jostling starts again, as the men argue amongst themselves. The reason for this is soon made clear, as one of the younger ones is pushed forward, together with the woman, to stand close to the teacher.
"Teacher," the young Pharisee says (for that is who he is), looking down on our teacher with haughty, accusing eyes, "this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"
The crowd gasps. I hear mutterings of "Where's the man who was with her?", "I wonder what the teacher's going to say to that?!", and "What a prick! He thinks the world must bow down to him ... we'll show him!" from the crowd around me, but as I keep my eyes on the teacher, he doesn't even acknowledge that he has been spoken to. In fact, as I watch, he bends down, and starts to use his finger to write on the ground. From where I'm sitting, I cannot see what it is he is writing - wish I could!
The young Pharisee asks his question again - a little louder. Does he think the teacher is deaf? I wonder. I know for a fact that he is most definitely not! Suddenly all the Pharisees and teachers start arguing amongst themselves again - and shouting at the teacher. They're still saying the same thing, really.
Slowly, he finishes writing on the ground, looks at it carefully, and then rises to his feet. The crowd around me falls silent, wondering what he will do now - and so does that gaggle of ... Pharisees. The teacher turns to the bunch standing by him, and looks at each one of them carefully - including the woman.
"If any one of you is without sin," the teacher says - and it's clear that the 'you' is the group standing around the woman - "let him be the first to throw a stone at her." And with those words, he again crouches down on the ground, and continues to write.
The crowd around me is now deathly silent. We don't want to get involved with this at all. We know that people who have sinned must die by stoning, but we don't think this is very fair. As some around me expressed - and I've been asking the same question - where's the man in the story? They cannot expect to only punish the woman? And also ... as I think about it more, it seems that this is a test. Those Pharisees don't like the teacher, you see. They never have. He is so wise, and us people who don't understand everything we hear in the temple - we understand this man. He explains the scriptures to us, and tells us how to live good lives. He also tells us how we can believe in God - in a simple way, not complicated and fancy like the Pharisees.
We can see that those Pharisees and the other teachers who are standing by the woman are having a hard time of it. Living in this town, we've seen many people stoned, and these men are just bruising to do it to this woman. But they've asked the teacher's advice, and from where I am, I can see they're all really really angry with him. But first the oldest of them leaves, and then they all leave, one by one, until the youngest is gone, and only the poor woman is left standing there. All this time, the teacher's just been crouched down there, writing on the ground. Suddenly he seems to notice that all is silent. He looks up from the ground, and sees just the woman standing there. He stands up and looks at her. Even from where we are sitting, we can see that his kind face is sad.
"Woman, where are they?" he asks her. "Has no-one condemned you?"
"No-one, sir," she says to him, her eyes downcast. I can see that she's very scared of him.
"Then neither do I condemn you," the teacher says - and everyone around me gasps. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
(Based on John 7:35-8:11, with speech text taken from the NIV.)
Feel free to reproduce this story, but if you do so, please append my name to it. Thank you.
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
What is beauty?
I'm going to diverge from the grace theme for a bit to briefly look at something that is close to my heart. This will by no means be a complete discussion on the topic, and I'm liable to return to it at some point in time. Ladies, read carefully, and guys, take note ...
So, what is beauty? Is it the size-6 blonde smiling from the cover of the fashion magazine, who has perfect features and a perfect body? What if you get to know that blonde, and she is a shallow, conniving individual who has nothing good to say about anyone around her and thinks only of herself? Would you still consider her to be beautiful? I would argue not, because to be around her would be aggravating and draining.
A glance in a dictionary (the Random House Dictionary) provides this definition:
"the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest)."
It is the last part of this definition that I wish to draw attention to. A few years ago I read the book 'Captivating' by John and Stasi Eldredge. I do not necessarily agree with the entire book, but it certainly made me sit up and think. Numerous conversations with friends have certainly validated much of what the book says - but those points weren't ones that I disagreed with anyway. One thing at least, however, has certainly rung true with me - and events of the last two years have convinced me 100% of this - the concept of beauty - which if you read the book is a very diverse concept.
I know many women who are insecure about who they are - and the list certainly includes myself! I am not talking about women who are unsuccessful - many of those on the list are very capable in their professions - or who do not have model-inspired looks. Instead, I am concerned with women who are either dominating, desolate, or indulging. Controlling and depressed can also be fitted into this list, but they tend to fall under one of the three already mentioned. In each of these cases, the women, in their insecurity, seek to find security in a number of ways, none of which fulfil the desire to be thought of as beautiful, and in fact which drive people away. To elaborate, this can include controlling relationships, lacking trust, being naive, bereft of a sense of self, accepting abuse, relying completely on others, timidity, addiction, creation of fantasy worlds, and numerous others.
Most often than not, the cause of such insecurity, and such results, is wounds that we as women have received as children - most often from parents who themselves are wounded by their own parents, and from other friends and adults. Wounds such as abuse (most often), rejection, or simply bad parenting methods.
I do not wish, here, to try to attempt to find a solution to such issues - that is better left to psychologists - but simply to recognise the problem, and convey that the world (and men in particular) NEEDS women to be beautiful. And by this, I mean inviting, vulnerable, tender, merciful, fierce, and devoted. This type of beauty speaks to people, saying that 'all will be well', it invites, nourishes, comforts, inspires, and finally, transcends time and space.
So, what is beauty? Is it the size-6 blonde smiling from the cover of the fashion magazine, who has perfect features and a perfect body? What if you get to know that blonde, and she is a shallow, conniving individual who has nothing good to say about anyone around her and thinks only of herself? Would you still consider her to be beautiful? I would argue not, because to be around her would be aggravating and draining.
A glance in a dictionary (the Random House Dictionary) provides this definition:
"the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest)."
It is the last part of this definition that I wish to draw attention to. A few years ago I read the book 'Captivating' by John and Stasi Eldredge. I do not necessarily agree with the entire book, but it certainly made me sit up and think. Numerous conversations with friends have certainly validated much of what the book says - but those points weren't ones that I disagreed with anyway. One thing at least, however, has certainly rung true with me - and events of the last two years have convinced me 100% of this - the concept of beauty - which if you read the book is a very diverse concept.
I know many women who are insecure about who they are - and the list certainly includes myself! I am not talking about women who are unsuccessful - many of those on the list are very capable in their professions - or who do not have model-inspired looks. Instead, I am concerned with women who are either dominating, desolate, or indulging. Controlling and depressed can also be fitted into this list, but they tend to fall under one of the three already mentioned. In each of these cases, the women, in their insecurity, seek to find security in a number of ways, none of which fulfil the desire to be thought of as beautiful, and in fact which drive people away. To elaborate, this can include controlling relationships, lacking trust, being naive, bereft of a sense of self, accepting abuse, relying completely on others, timidity, addiction, creation of fantasy worlds, and numerous others.
Most often than not, the cause of such insecurity, and such results, is wounds that we as women have received as children - most often from parents who themselves are wounded by their own parents, and from other friends and adults. Wounds such as abuse (most often), rejection, or simply bad parenting methods.
I do not wish, here, to try to attempt to find a solution to such issues - that is better left to psychologists - but simply to recognise the problem, and convey that the world (and men in particular) NEEDS women to be beautiful. And by this, I mean inviting, vulnerable, tender, merciful, fierce, and devoted. This type of beauty speaks to people, saying that 'all will be well', it invites, nourishes, comforts, inspires, and finally, transcends time and space.
Monday, 24 August 2009
When prayers fall on deaf ears
Please note: I will not write out all scriptures here, otherwise this will get way too long. Please refer to a Bible.
On Sunday we had a sermon on this topic, and I wanted to share some of the thoughts arising from the talk. I know it's helped me to put many things in perspective, and I pray that it will also help whoever reads this.
First, let's consider the closing passage from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount - Matt 7:24-27. This is where Jesus contrasts the house built on rock to the house built on sand, the conclusion being drawn that we will build our houses (lives) on rock (solid ground, safe etc) if we do the things Jesus exhorts us to do in the sermon that precedes this imagery.
The problem with this is that it falls down when we start experiencing trouble in our lives - something can be tormenting us, causing us a great deal of pain, and when we cry out to God,- it seems as though He's not there - we wonder where that rock is, never mind the shifting sand ... it feels like there's absolutely nothing there.
The speaker, who himself has been through troubles, attempted to share an answer to this 'nothingness', which he had found, if not a solution, at least a comfort through the trials. This answer, or comfort, is found in Paul's testimony, as related in 2 Corinthians. The passage here is 2 Cor 12:1-10 - where Paul speaks of pleading with God to take away a 'thorn in the flesh' - and God's answer is effectively 'No' - instead, He says "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (NIV)
Before I go further, I want to consider Psalm 22. This was written by David - and he was clearly in such a spot - going through trials, praying, pleading, trusting ... and yet he was getting no answer from God except silence. This is a psalm well worth a read - if only to know that one is not alone, that other people have felt exactly the same and asked the same questions. I will just quote the first few lines here:
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?
Oh my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, and am not silent."
Clearly this can be akin to Paul's 'thorn in the flesh' - David is being tormented - and this is a metaphor that, I think, all people can relate to. And as with David, so with Paul - they plead with God that He will come quickly to relieve them from the torment, that He will take away the pain. And yet, in verse 9, God clearly says 'no' - that He will not remove the torment.
This should serve as a reminder that there are two answers to our prayers - 'Yes', and 'No'. However, what it should also remind us is that the yes's and no's can come in very different forms to what we may imagine how our prayers should be answered. Many times we wait and wait for an answer - when all along, God has already answered our prayer - we just haven't heard it. To illustrate, there is a couple, where the wife becamed deeply depressed. The husband has prayed for years that the wife may be healed - as this depression affects not only the wife, but the husband, children, family and friends. But healing has not occurred - and this is the answer to the prayer - "No".
Now let's consider what Jesus said to Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." We live in a fallen world which is not fully under God's will. This is not by accident, but rather, this was planned, so that people may freely choose whether or not to love God. Now, when we ask for a torment to be taken away, what we are in reality asking for, is for His kingdom to come in a situation - because this is the promise at the end of the Bible in Revelations - that there will be no more sickness, no more crying, no more pain. What the Bible promises us, in other words, is that, one day, God will answer a resounding "Yes!" to every prayer prayed - but until then, we live in a necessary time of grace - when people can still respond to his offer of salvation (and are not punished NOW for their sins), and also, when His grace needs to be (and IS) sufficient in our time of torment. Until He says yes, suffering, sickness and pain will be with us.
Revelations 21:1-5 reads (and this is one of my favourite sections of the Bible): 'Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."' (NIV)
We are still living in the time of the old order. In essence, what God is saying is, "at this time, in the old order when my rule is not complete, my grace is sufficient for you." Or, to put it another way, "Enough for you is the grace of me". It is evident from Paul's testimony that, from this answer to his pleas, he found the strength and courage to face the difficulties of his time. And these are comprehensively listed in 2 Cor 11:23-29. Furthermore, Jesus says that His power is made perfect in weakness. In other words, when we are weak, we are strong in Christ, and we should therefore boast in our weaknesses, because when we are weak, then Christ shines through and He is strong in us. It is completely converse to our need to feel strong. However, this is a promise for our whole lives - for every situation we find ourselves in where we are in torment - that God's grace will be sufficient.
There are three types of trouble that we can expect to receive in this, the 'old order' of things:
1. permitted by God - both two and three can only occur if 1 is true - it is permitted by God.
2. being a human being living in the old order - this can encompass sickness, death of a loved one, or the choices of those around us which, when made, hurt us.
3. being a Christian in the old order - when we receive punishment and/or abuse from others because of our relationship with Jesus.
but Jesus says, in John 16:3s, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (KJV)
In conclusion, the scene of human weakness is the best possible stage for a display of divine power. There is however, a warning for times of strength: when we are strong, humanly speaking, then we are weak - we are then at the most danger of relying on ourselves, and not on God.
So, if we again consider the passage from Matthew 7, then we see that it is when we are battered by the storms - and we will have many storms that will batter us down in weakness - when we are weak, then we have a rock - even if we cannot feel that rock, the rock is the promise that God will one day answer 'Yes' to our prayers.
The following are the lyrics from a song that carry this message well.
Because of You
words by Paul Oakley
There’s a place where the streets shine
with the glory of the Lamb
There’s a way we can go there
we can live there beyond time
Because of You, Because of You
Because of your love Because of Your blood
No more pain no more sadness
no more suffering no more tears
no more sin no more sickness
no injustice no more death
Because of You because of you
Because of your love Because of your blood
all our sins are washed away and we can live forever
now we have this hope because of you
Oh we’ll see you face to face and we will dance together
in the city of our God because of You
There is joy everlasting,
there is gladness, there is peace
there is wine ever flowing,
there’s a wedding, there’s a feast
Because of You because of you
Because of your love Because of your blood
all our sins are washed away and we can live forever
now we have this hope because of you
Oh we’ll see you face to face and we will dance together
in the city of our God because of You
On Sunday we had a sermon on this topic, and I wanted to share some of the thoughts arising from the talk. I know it's helped me to put many things in perspective, and I pray that it will also help whoever reads this.
First, let's consider the closing passage from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount - Matt 7:24-27. This is where Jesus contrasts the house built on rock to the house built on sand, the conclusion being drawn that we will build our houses (lives) on rock (solid ground, safe etc) if we do the things Jesus exhorts us to do in the sermon that precedes this imagery.
The problem with this is that it falls down when we start experiencing trouble in our lives - something can be tormenting us, causing us a great deal of pain, and when we cry out to God,- it seems as though He's not there - we wonder where that rock is, never mind the shifting sand ... it feels like there's absolutely nothing there.
The speaker, who himself has been through troubles, attempted to share an answer to this 'nothingness', which he had found, if not a solution, at least a comfort through the trials. This answer, or comfort, is found in Paul's testimony, as related in 2 Corinthians. The passage here is 2 Cor 12:1-10 - where Paul speaks of pleading with God to take away a 'thorn in the flesh' - and God's answer is effectively 'No' - instead, He says "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (NIV)
Before I go further, I want to consider Psalm 22. This was written by David - and he was clearly in such a spot - going through trials, praying, pleading, trusting ... and yet he was getting no answer from God except silence. This is a psalm well worth a read - if only to know that one is not alone, that other people have felt exactly the same and asked the same questions. I will just quote the first few lines here:
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?
Oh my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, and am not silent."
Clearly this can be akin to Paul's 'thorn in the flesh' - David is being tormented - and this is a metaphor that, I think, all people can relate to. And as with David, so with Paul - they plead with God that He will come quickly to relieve them from the torment, that He will take away the pain. And yet, in verse 9, God clearly says 'no' - that He will not remove the torment.
This should serve as a reminder that there are two answers to our prayers - 'Yes', and 'No'. However, what it should also remind us is that the yes's and no's can come in very different forms to what we may imagine how our prayers should be answered. Many times we wait and wait for an answer - when all along, God has already answered our prayer - we just haven't heard it. To illustrate, there is a couple, where the wife becamed deeply depressed. The husband has prayed for years that the wife may be healed - as this depression affects not only the wife, but the husband, children, family and friends. But healing has not occurred - and this is the answer to the prayer - "No".
Now let's consider what Jesus said to Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." We live in a fallen world which is not fully under God's will. This is not by accident, but rather, this was planned, so that people may freely choose whether or not to love God. Now, when we ask for a torment to be taken away, what we are in reality asking for, is for His kingdom to come in a situation - because this is the promise at the end of the Bible in Revelations - that there will be no more sickness, no more crying, no more pain. What the Bible promises us, in other words, is that, one day, God will answer a resounding "Yes!" to every prayer prayed - but until then, we live in a necessary time of grace - when people can still respond to his offer of salvation (and are not punished NOW for their sins), and also, when His grace needs to be (and IS) sufficient in our time of torment. Until He says yes, suffering, sickness and pain will be with us.
Revelations 21:1-5 reads (and this is one of my favourite sections of the Bible): 'Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."' (NIV)
We are still living in the time of the old order. In essence, what God is saying is, "at this time, in the old order when my rule is not complete, my grace is sufficient for you." Or, to put it another way, "Enough for you is the grace of me". It is evident from Paul's testimony that, from this answer to his pleas, he found the strength and courage to face the difficulties of his time. And these are comprehensively listed in 2 Cor 11:23-29. Furthermore, Jesus says that His power is made perfect in weakness. In other words, when we are weak, we are strong in Christ, and we should therefore boast in our weaknesses, because when we are weak, then Christ shines through and He is strong in us. It is completely converse to our need to feel strong. However, this is a promise for our whole lives - for every situation we find ourselves in where we are in torment - that God's grace will be sufficient.
There are three types of trouble that we can expect to receive in this, the 'old order' of things:
1. permitted by God - both two and three can only occur if 1 is true - it is permitted by God.
2. being a human being living in the old order - this can encompass sickness, death of a loved one, or the choices of those around us which, when made, hurt us.
3. being a Christian in the old order - when we receive punishment and/or abuse from others because of our relationship with Jesus.
but Jesus says, in John 16:3s, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (KJV)
In conclusion, the scene of human weakness is the best possible stage for a display of divine power. There is however, a warning for times of strength: when we are strong, humanly speaking, then we are weak - we are then at the most danger of relying on ourselves, and not on God.
So, if we again consider the passage from Matthew 7, then we see that it is when we are battered by the storms - and we will have many storms that will batter us down in weakness - when we are weak, then we have a rock - even if we cannot feel that rock, the rock is the promise that God will one day answer 'Yes' to our prayers.
The following are the lyrics from a song that carry this message well.
Because of You
words by Paul Oakley
There’s a place where the streets shine
with the glory of the Lamb
There’s a way we can go there
we can live there beyond time
Because of You, Because of You
Because of your love Because of Your blood
No more pain no more sadness
no more suffering no more tears
no more sin no more sickness
no injustice no more death
Because of You because of you
Because of your love Because of your blood
all our sins are washed away and we can live forever
now we have this hope because of you
Oh we’ll see you face to face and we will dance together
in the city of our God because of You
There is joy everlasting,
there is gladness, there is peace
there is wine ever flowing,
there’s a wedding, there’s a feast
Because of You because of you
Because of your love Because of your blood
all our sins are washed away and we can live forever
now we have this hope because of you
Oh we’ll see you face to face and we will dance together
in the city of our God because of You
A Child of Mine
I received this from a friend, and it's been so useful I felt it's worth a share.
A Child of Mine
“I’ll lend you for a little time, a child of mine” He said.
“For you to love the while he lives and mourn for when he’s dead.
It may be six or seven years, twenty two or three,
But will you, till I call him back, take care of him for me?
He’ll bring his charms to gladden you and should his stay be brief
You’ll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return;
But there are lessons taught down there I want the child to learn.
I’ve looked the wide world over in my search for teachers true,
And from the throngs that crowd life’s lanes I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love nor think the labour vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call to take him home again.”
I fancied that I heard them say: “Dear Lord, thy will be done.
For all the joy the child shall bring the risk of grief we’ll run.
We’ll shelter him with tenderness, we’ll love him while we may.
And for the happiness we’ve known, forever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for him much sooner than we’ve planned,
We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.”
A Child of Mine
“I’ll lend you for a little time, a child of mine” He said.
“For you to love the while he lives and mourn for when he’s dead.
It may be six or seven years, twenty two or three,
But will you, till I call him back, take care of him for me?
He’ll bring his charms to gladden you and should his stay be brief
You’ll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return;
But there are lessons taught down there I want the child to learn.
I’ve looked the wide world over in my search for teachers true,
And from the throngs that crowd life’s lanes I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love nor think the labour vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call to take him home again.”
I fancied that I heard them say: “Dear Lord, thy will be done.
For all the joy the child shall bring the risk of grief we’ll run.
We’ll shelter him with tenderness, we’ll love him while we may.
And for the happiness we’ve known, forever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for him much sooner than we’ve planned,
We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.”
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