04/06/2020
Here's something that I feel compelled to share. (Got a nudge so here goes..)
I was listening to a live stream today from my church about the Palm Sunday. If you know that story behind it, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and crowd gathered praising him, cheering and HOPING that he will do what they knew of him, perform miracles, save them or whatever it is that they wanted from him.
He didn't end up doing exactly what they wanted from him though.
5 days later, they crucified him.
Here's the takeaway from this...
We all want God to show up for us in a way that we FEEL and want for him to show up, especially during this time. We have a vision, a plan, a prayer that we want and hope that he will fulfill for us.
The thing is... we don't see the BIG plan that he has for us. We don't see the bigger picture. We only see OUR own limited picture.
And... we don't get what we want, pray and hope for.
However...
Let us consider this...
That God comes through for us in a way that we NEED him right now. Not how we want him (how we think, feel, hope) but what HE KNOWS WE NEED right now. Because he knows the bigger plan for each one of us.
So, right now, as we are going though this, for some of us, it's tough, it can be scary, it can be fearful, maybe we lost a loved one already because of the virus.
And right now, he gives us exactly what he knows we need right now. For some of us...
..it's more time with our kids (because we haven't really been WITH THEM that much before this virus).
.. it's more time in the bible (because we lost the relationship with him)
..it's more time at home (if you are alone, maybe he knows you need to grow in being with yourself. If you are with your significant other, maybe there's tension and this time can teach us how to communicate better)
.. it's more time outside in the nature (you have no idea how many people I saw walking today with their dogs, riding bikes with their kids and so forth).
and much more...
So, reflect at this time and ask, what is it that during this time, during the quarantine, I am suppose to learn and GROW or CONTRIBUTE to others, or even myself?
And maybe, that will change the entire perspective for you.
Hope this helped.
Polish Peter
P.S.
I will tell you this... looking back at my tough times in my own life, like my divorce in 2011, I see now how God gave me exactly what I NEEDED at that time, not what I wanted. During that period, I grew the most I have ever grown in my life. And, he was there, walking alongside of me, THE ENTIRE TIME! And he is there with you NOW!
picture: taken from the service at Kensington Church in Michigan.