When God doesn't give all the answers - 3 verses, 2 songs, 1 book

Oh, we have so many questions.  We cry out to God asking why? how? when? We want healing, breakthrough, answers.  We see these questions asked over and over in the Bible; we are not alone in our questioning.  Moses and Gideon had these same questions.  Moses even begged God to choose someone else to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Three times we see the questions asked and in each of these places God gives the same answer:

"But I will be with you..." Exodus 3:12

"My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Exodus 33:14

"But I will be with you..." Judges 6:16

 Do we trust God enough to let His presence be enough?

 I struggle with this.  I know that my perspective is so skewed and that my view of God's greatness can be so limited.  I want answers; God is El Roi; the God who sees me.  He is El Shama, the God who hears me.   So why doesn't he fix it? Ah, but then I read that he is also Adonai, Sovereign God Most High.  He is El De'ot the God of knowledge and wisdom, All-Knowing, Omniscient.  

Do we trust His knowing is enough to rest in His presence?

 

Remind Me You're Here

 

Close

  

 

My oldest daughter gifted me a book from my to-read list.  It's a beautiful book by Lisa Whittle titled God Knows: when your worries and whys need more than temporary relief. It is a book full of reminders that God sees, He knows and He can be fully trusted.  One of the final thoughts she shares is this:

"I've learned not to underestimate God's powerful hand 

in His quiet and still presence.  Just because we cannot see or 

understand does not mean things aren't being done....God is not

far, unaware, unfeeling." 

 

 

"God's intimate knowledge of our lives, combined with His deep

abiding love for us, means that sometimes He chooses to keep things

from us."

March Music Roundup

 I haven't shared any songs in awhile so I thought I'd share some that have been a blessing to me recently.  These are mostly newer to me artists.  

A friend introduced this song by Katy Nichole to me,  

Sarah Reeves is a singer my husband heard on a podcast he follows and shared her music with me.  

Lydia Laird is one of my favorite to listen to; I love her voice and the lyrics to her songs are wonderful.  

Jeremy Rosado is a singer we heard at a festival in the fall and I was so blessed by his testimony, love for others and lyrics.    

We are Messengers isn't new but this song has really blessed me.

 

In Jesus Name by Katy Nichole

 

Details by Sarah Reeves

 

This I know by Lydia Laird

 

Come & See by Jeremy Rosado

 

 Close by We Are Messengers

 

 

Bonus: This song was released by Dolly Parton after the passing of her husband (Carl Dean) of almost 60 years!  What a beautiful tribute and testament to a long-lasting marriage. 

If You Hadn't Been There by Dolly Parton 

 

Waiting & line-cutters: Revisiting Jarius

 

 **For more thoughts about Jarius see my post titled Stay from Dec. 2020**

I have a confession to make....one of my biggest pet peeves is people who cut the line.  There are legitimate cases and those are fine but recently it seems to be getting worse.  I find it so selfish and inconsiderate.  A certain local store seems to attract this type of shopper.  The ones where one person gets in line and then another person with an entire cartload of merchandise cuts the line to meet up.  Does it really affect my life overall, no, but I still find it infuriating.  

One day I was in the shower and my mind went to these recent events.  As I was thinking over this, God brought to mind the account of Jarius and the woman with the issue of blood.  Boom...convicted!

Look at the passage in Mark 5:21-43; it's a little long but take some time and read through it.

Here's Jarius; coming to Jesus because his daughter is dying.  Jesus agrees to go to Jarius' house. Jarius trusted that Jesus could heal is daughter!  Jesus had agreed to go to Jarius' house!  All looked to be okay.  But then Jesus stops.  A woman had touched Him and He stops to have a chat?  I can only imagine the desperation and impatience that Jarius was feeling.  Then it gets worse.  While Jesus is talking to this woman Jarius receives the news that his daughter had died.  

What? But Jesus agreed to come?  Why would He agree to help and then let her die?  How could Jesus give such seemingly false hope to Jarius?  Honestly, my blood would have probably boiled, I probably would have had some not-so-nice thoughts towards this woman.  Sure she was sick but his daughter was dying!  How could Jesus prioritize this woman over a dying child?  

Here's what we forget...Jesus NEVER forgets us.  His timing is NEVER wrong.  It is SO hard to wait.  Jesus wasn't frantic or in a rush, because He has conquered death and holds the keys (Revelation 1:18). It's easy to look at this passage and think that Jesus prioritizes certain people over others but He holds all His children with the same love.  He knows far more than we do, He wasn't concerned about timetables because He rules the times, seasons, death & life.  

In both of these cases Jesus shows His authority and He is glorified.  Only He can heal not only from physical ailments but heal hearts (vs. 34 “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”) and only He can conquer death ( vs. 41-42 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.)

How often do we pray about something, look into Scripture, read God's promises and believe that yes, Jesus has promised to answer.  But then we wait, sometimes things get worse, we feel desperate, we get angry, confused, we cry out "Why do I see other's being healed/delivered while I sit here in this situation watching it get worse."  "Where are you God?", "I've read Your promises...why aren't You fulfilling them in this situation?"  Dear reader, bring all of that to God!  Cry out to Him!  He can handle it, but remember, His timing is ALWAYS perfect, He is ALWAYS with us, He ALWAYS fulfills His promises..in His perfect way! Those "line-cutters" aren't a surprise to Him and will never change His perfect purposes and plans. 

A couple thoughts that actually just came to me as I was reading this passage:

- Both Jesus and Jarius are concerned for their daughters! This is the only place in Scripture where Jesus calls someone daughter.    And Jesus is able to heal both.  So as I think of how desperate Jarius wanted healing for his daughter, how wonderful to see Jesus concern and care for His daughter. 

- He brought both from death to life through faith (the woman spiritually, the girl physically) showing His authority and power in every aspect of life. 

- Jarius wanted Jesus to lay hands on his daughter to make her well.  The woman trusts the same touch of Jesus to make her well.