A bloody business - another prophecy fulfilled, this one was not something to look forward to. What a horrible scene to imagine.
It should get our attention that God did not spare Mary and Joseph, or his Son, from struggle and stress.
Nor does our connection to Christ guarantee us easy lives. Christians aren't supernaturally resistant to trouble. (74)
Have you figured this out yet in your own life?
I have. I am not immune to the effects of sin within myself or surrounding me in the world.
I also work part time in my home hair salon. It's an unusual phenomenon that while I work on the outward appearances, some clients share with me the tangles of what's on their inside. It seems it's not just their hair that gets tangled and knotted. It's their lives - their marriages, their kids, their extended families, their health - you name it. I listen more than anything. If there's one thing I've learned from this is that everyone has a story. Many of my clients are Christians and their struggles are real and hard.
It's impossible to know what plans God has for us through dealing with these struggles. But we know he has one, and that it will work out for our good. He also promises to be our strength!
We can't say that every trial in a Christian's life is meant to teach that person to appreciate grace more, but that's often the surprising blessing of our thorns. (75) So true! It's when I've been brought to my knees in humble weakness that I'm drawn to the arms of my Saviour. But God knows I've been that pathetic fly, too - banging against the windowpane. I am thankful for God's patience with me!
When it comes to letting my kids suffer and learn to deal with difficulties, I recognize that this is not a bad thing. I've had my moments though of jumping in too soon, avoiding situations and trying to solve problems that aren't mine to solve.
But my overall prayer and desire is that they are in heaven with me eternally. When all is said and done, that's the only thing I want. Now, it would be nice to see them have blessing and happiness here on earth and I pray for that too. But if the end goal is for them (and us) to spend an eternity in heaven with Jesus, things may have to get messy sometimes. The messy may in fact be a means to draw them (and us) back to Jesus. Jesus knows what is needed!
And so I too pray, "Lord, when suffering comes to my children - and it will, because they are sinful beings in a sinful world - draw them closer to you because of it. Strengthen their faith. Develop their perseverance. Let their suffering make them a blessing to others." (76)
I'm sure Mary and Joseph would have appreciated an "I Dream of Jeannie" moment and with a flick of Mary's ponytail, been whisked away to someplace safe. Saved themselves the trouble of the journey, you know? God knew they needed the journey. And so do we or our ponytails would work magic, too! He equips us for the journey. God doesn't always spare us from evil with a miracle, but he doesn't abandon us either. He gives us all that we need for our earthly lives, and when life itself comes to its swift end, he has prepared a better home for us in heaven. (77)
Mothering Like Mary
I thought Michelle's perspective as a mother with young children was honest, realistic and encouraging! Having survived that season in life, I have the experience knowing that it is just that - a season. It does go by fast even though some there are days that creep by. Raising babies is important, hard work! Setting their spiritual foundation will equip them for life to come!
Ponder
What are your biggest parenting challenges right now? What promises of God do you rest on?
My big challenge right now is knowing how best to parent my child a thousand miles away. As a teenager, he has become very independent and is on the cusp of adulthood! But not yet! It takes wisdom knowing how best to guide without it being too much. Letting him fail and learn hard lessons. Celebrating his victories from afar! I'm not in on his everyday challenges and don't always know the "what" to pray for. I trust that the Holy Spirit knows those things and guides my prayers.
I find comfort in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, " declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
1 comment:
This chapter might just have been my favorite so far! Rachel, you touched on some of my favorite parts quite beautifully!
The fleeing – I was struck by the fact that God was guiding their life for his purposes, not to make it easy or pleasant. Two hundred miles? With no time to prepare? How? “Once warned, Mary and Joseph had to use ordinary and inglorious means to protect this glorious Son.” (p. 74) This has applications to our lives, certainly. Motherhood is messy! The paragraphs that follow in the book do continue down that path a bit. Thank you, Sarah!
The prayer in the middle of page 76 was wonderful: "Lord, when suffering comes to my children - and it will, because they are sinful beings in a sinful world - draw them closer to you because of it. Strengthen their faith. Develop their perseverance. Let their suffering make them a blessing to others."
As one who works hard at deliberately and daily serve my children fruits and vegetables, I really appreciated the point of the 2nd to the last paragraph on p. 76. Do I fill my boys' ears and hearts with God's loving plan of salvation with due daily diligence? I confess that some days I do not. It is good to be reminded that "Just as the devil tried to snuff out Jesus' life, he will also hunt our children with hell in his eyes. [YIKES!] He'l try to convince our children that suffering isn't the result of living in a sin-filled world but the fault of a God who doesn't care or who cannot help. The devil will fan his deck of temptations before the faces of our children, saying, 'Go on, pick one!'"
I think I might need to read page 76 weekly for the next year.
- Mothering -
Michelle and I are very different. Unlike her, I NEED the deep digging into God’s Word on a daily basis just to survive. I don't seem to be able to subsist on Sunday church and shore devotions in between. And I do wonder about the idea of being a mom first. I think perhaps it can be taken too far. Being a wife, being a child of God, nurturing other relationships... It's all a balancing act. But what a blessing that her husband encourages her by allowing her to be a mom first! I do admire Michelle's wisdom in recognizing that there are seasons in life - focusing on mothering right now, acknowledging that there will be other times in her life for other endeavors she enjoys.
- Ponder -
I think our children by nature want life to be pleasant and easy – don’t we all? But I believe they are learning that it’s not so. We try not to shield them from this lesson… too much. I am certainly also tempted to feel this way. At the end of the day when I’m tired – mentally, physically, emotionally – but the to-do list is far from complete, I think “does it really have to be this way?” I get bitter and cranky. I expect that now I should have a little more control over my daily schedule so that I can avoid this. When the boys were infants and toddlers and preschoolers, it was easy for me to see that I just needed to press on. Our survival pretty much depended on it. ☺ This chapter reminded me that I shouldn’t expect that I can ever schedule discomfort out of my life.
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