There are times in life that we have to cry sometimes. We simply have to stop, pause, cry it out, yell it out if we have to, heck sometimes you might have to kick and scream but when you get it all out of your system, you get back to it. Such is life! Some of us cry, yell, kick and scream a little longer than others but it’s all a part of the process. The important thing is to remember don’t become complacent wallowing around in your pity for too long. It doesn’t change the outcome but it surely can dim your light or cause one to loose heart or give up hope.
Have you ever been there? How did you make it through? Some of us may be there now or headed in that direction. Is this something we can avoid, skip over, or simply ignore? Unfortunately it is a part of life that you cannot skip or find a convenient detour BUT you can tighten your straps and find comfort in knowing the Captain (our Lord) has not jump ship. He has not left us abandoned at sea. In fact He is close to us in times of troubles.
Today’s Scripture is coming from Luke chapter 18, verses 1 through 8. This passage of Scripture in my Bible is entitled, “Parable of the Persistent Widow.” In this story the widow wears the unjust judge down by being persistent. She goes to him repeatedly seeking justice and asking for her rights. Though he makes it clear that he not only does not care about people and he doesn’t care about God ; he is warn down be her persistence. Verse 5 says, But this widow is bothering me. I will see that she gets her rights, or she will both me until I am worn out!”
For my parents reading today’s message, do you have a child like this? How does that child or children wear you down or make you give in to their requests? My youngest William is like that. He can get on my very last nerves sometimes but I love him dearly. That child will sit here and ask, beg, plead, and every thing in between until you break down and take him to the gym, take him to CVS for the pimple patches I Clare don’t work, or take him to Krispy Kreme because the neighbor up the street just had to mention that the hot sign was on (sorry I was having flashbacks). Nonetheless the Bible tells us to not grow weary. What else does it say?
I was looking at a comment yesterday that Faith posted about repetition. She said God loves repetition. I want to use that statement as context for today’s message. When we sit here and we think about this persistent widow in Luke chapter 18, can you think about how her prayer life must have been? If she was as persistent in prayer as she was persistent going to this unjust just, no wonder God answered her prayers. She didn’t grow weary, she didn’t loose heart- she stayed consistent until she got the desires of her heart.
How many of us are exercising the power of purposeful repetition? I’m not talking about just saying something repeatedly to hear yourself with no actions, thoughts, or meaning behind it NO I’m talking about repeating Scriptures that will help you in times of adversity, and having clear focus in mind. God knows when we do stuff in vain verses when our heart is in it. He is no fool!
There are a lot of things going on in our community, in our country and in our nation. Folks are standing their ground and speaking up for peace. People are using their voices to speak out on Satan’s attempts and all this foolishness with ICE and politically driven tactics that show how corrupt and unjust some folks truly are. Truth be told we can get lost in all of this on top of things that may be aching us in our own personal lives (finance problems, health problems, car issues, being overworked and underpaid, etc.) It’s easy to get caught up in all of this but God calls us to remain steadfast and be in prayer.
I once heard a Pastor say, “Let’s pray Heaven down. Don’t stop praying until the circumstances change.”
I don’t know about y’all but I still have A lot of praying to do. I find myself like a child wandering around in need of her mother or father- seeking God in every way. I find myself at a cross roads many times in life where I don’t know whether to go right or left and so all I can do is pause and pray and look up! I look up because no matter how dark my days look, no matter how it looks like every thing is stacked against me…I know there is purpose for it all. And although I don’t know God’s plan I have peace knowing I’m in His plan and all of the suffering won’t be in vain.
Ya’ll God has a way of humbling you too! Some times we get a little “too big for own britches” or sometimes we act like we don’t need God that much but like the story of the Pharisee and tax collector in Luke 18, beginning at verse 9…some of us have to humble ourselves before God. While some of us are walking around saying I, I, I…me, me, me; God has put you in a place where you have to put self aside and be there for your brother, sister, or neighbor.
God is an all-knowing God and He knows what we stand in need of. The Bible teaches us that God hears us and He will respond. He might not respond the way we want Him to or when we want Him to BUT His timing is ALWAYS perfect and His plan is ALWAYS right whether we can see it or not.
There may be one asking right now Lord how long do I have to go without a car, a spouse, a good paying job, a better house?! Lord how long or why me or why us? Instead of asking those questions, ask God to give you strength to endure. Ask God to comfort you while in the place you are in. Ask God to give you peace that surpasses all understanding for in due time, He will answer by and by.
I don’t know who I’m talking to today or maybe God had me write to speak to my own heart but I want you to know God is calling us to be like the persistent widow in Luke 18. God is calling us to pray, He is calling us to endure, He is telling us to not loose heart.
Ephesians 1:9 reads, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”
The same way God did it before He can do it again!
This is your midweek reminder that God is still in control! Keep pushing forward, keep praying, keep praising, and keep thanking God for what He has done, is doing, and getting ready to do.
I want to end today’s message with a song of encouragement. In 1995, Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans sung a song entitled, “Count on Me.”
I can see it’s hurting you
I can feel your pain
It’s hard to see the sunshine through the rain
I know sometimes it seems as if
it’s never gonna end
But you’ll get through it
Just don’t give in
…
I know sometimes it seems as if
We’re standing all alone
But we’ll get through it
Because love won’t let us fall