Acts 2:22-26
Now, listen to what I have to say
about Jesus from Nazareth. God proved that he sent Jesus to you by
having him work miracles, wonders, and signs. All of you know this. God
had already planned and decided that Jesus would be handed over to you.
So you took him and had evil men put him to death on a cross. But God
set him free from death and raised him to life. Death could not hold him
in its power. What David said are really the words of Jesus,
“I always see the Lord near me,
and I will not be afraid with him at my right side.
Because of this, my heart will be glad,
my words will be joyful, and I will live in hope.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This
morning, I was trying to help Nathan work a rather difficult jigsaw
puzzle. He kept saying, “Don’t help me, Debbie…I will do it myself.”
So I sat down to watch…and ever-so-subtly (or so I thought!), I would
slide a couple of pieces toward him that I had interlocked. Soon, I
heard Nathan begin to sniffle. “What’s wrong, Buddy?” I asked. “You
don’t love me anymore!” “Why, of course I do!” I reassured him. “Why
would you think I don’t love you?” “Because you don’t think I can work
this puzzle by myself…and I can!”
I sat and watched him
struggle with the pieces. Nathan tried to work “from the inside out,” so
I would suggest that this piece or that one might make a border.
Finally, he began to get the hang of it. More than once, I had to
squelch my urge to “assist”. It was hard to watch that little guy
struggle with this task. I knew that I could help him work that puzzle
in no time. But at the same time, I knew that he had to do this…he had
to endure the frustration of learning to do it himself. And when he was
finished, I “high-fived” him and praised him…and his little face beamed
with pride.
I know it’s a stretch to use this illustration to
comment on today’s scripture passage. But here’s the thing. God could
fix so many things in our lives…but sometimes He understands that we
have to struggle with them while He looks on so that we grow in our
faith and more perfectly appreciate His love and care. God knows our
heartaches and difficulties before they happen – just as He knew that
Jesus would suffer horrific torture and abuse at the hands of the Roman
soldiers.
Did God cause this to happen? Does He intend
for us to get sick, lose our homes and jobs, go off to war, have
terrible accidents and get involved in toxic relationships? Does God mean
for us to struggle or be orphaned, abused and mistreated? The answer
to all of these questions is a resounding, “NO!” But God allows these
things in order to demonstrate to us and others His incredible power to
rescue us…to comfort us in our pain and suffering…to heal us and set us
upright mentally, physically, and emotionally. In this manner, God sets
us free and raises us to life over and again. God will NEVER leave us!
So
while some would contend that God deserted His Only Son and left Jesus
to suffer and die, scripture tells us that this was not the case. Yes,
He knew what would happen…but He also knew the next chapter…and the
next. And God knows what happens in every chapter of your life and
mine…and He wants us to count on Him to “slip us the next piece of the
puzzle”…to heal us and repair our brokenness.
Because of what
God did for Jesus, we have hope and confidence that He will do these
things for us. We have joy that we are the children of such a powerful
and mighty God who loves us so very much that He will never let us
falter…if only we will trust Him. Hard to do sometimes? You betcha!
Worth it all in the end? Absolutely! Are you trusting God to help you
with your “life puzzles?” Isn’t it time you did?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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