Series: Blessed Be
*James 1:12 ESV
Isaiah 43:1a-3a ESV
Imagine if you will that you are outside standing atop a hill and you are kneeling and praying.
Recently things haven’t been going according to plan. You thought you had everything figured out but suddenly everything fell apart.
It feels like every relationship in your life is crumbling. What’s strange is that you don’t know why. You try to do everything right.
So why does everything feel so wrong?
You came to this hill today because it’s the highest point near where you live. Because it’s quiet here you had hoped you’d be able to hear God.
All you can hear is the wind.
James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
You’ve read that verse many times before but today it seems to be real, like God is speaking it TO you.
You’re confused because how can God be saying you are blessed when on the outside your life is just a mess?
Seriously, just last week things looked okay in your life.
Then there was a big fight…a disagreement really and all of your friends were yelling and somehow you get blamed for something you didn’t do.
The hardest part is that when you tried to explain what happened, two people you thought you could trust spoke out against you.
Why would they do that?
I mean, it really hurt!
Then WOW you didn’t see this coming your best friend didn’t stand up for you. She knew the truth and she just walked away.
So…that’s why you’re up here on the hill. You thought maybe if you could get away from everything you could figure out what went wrong!
You decide to be silent you and try not to think. You just want to hear God.
You have no idea what to do next and how to get out of the mess you’re in.
You decide to wait and listen.
Then you remember the verses you memorized last week from Isaiah:
Isaiah 43:1a-3a says, ““Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
You believe you are redeemed in a way but right now you don’t FEEL redeemed.
You are passing through a trial and you feel alone.
You feel overwhelmed.
You’ve never been through anything like this before where every friend let you down and you had no where else to go. In your circle of friends no one stood up for you.
You really do feel like you are walking through fire.
Then you close your eyes and you can hear the stillness.
Then the Spirit of God comes giving peace and serenity.
The voice whispers words of love. Then you are told you are redeemed.
You belong to God. God claims you.
You know that whatever happens, whatever trial comes you won’t be alone. You will never be alone.
Somehow you know you can face anything.
Spiritual Practice: Redeemed
You are redeemed. Embrace it. Claim it. You are a child of God and you will never be alone.
In God, Deborah