Handling Resistance

I have to be honest.  I've struggled in writing this post.  This is now my fourth draft and each one has been very different.

This week in my "Greater" study, I read in 2 Kings 2:8-37 about the woman from Shunem.  The story tells of a generous woman who is told she will have a son despite the fact that her husband is old.  Was her reaction happy? Not really. When Elisha told her of her upcoming pregnancy, she says to him, "O man of God, don't deceive me and get my hopes up like that" (verse 16).  Elisha's word comes true, and within the year, she delivers a son.  When the boy was older, he suddenly falls ill one day and dies.  She reacted by directing her anger at Elisha, God's prophet, "Did I ask you for a son, my lord? And didn't I say, 'don't deceive me and get my hopes up'?"(verse 28). In the end, the boy is healed and is brought back to life.

Yes, the story ends on a happy note, but God pointed something out to me through the story of this woman.   How do I react when things don't go as planned when I'm following Him?  Am I like the woman from Shunem saying "I told you so" to God when things get tough?  Our reflection verse for this week was "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them" (Romans 8:28). Now this is a familiar verse to me, but as I looked at it this week in light of what I had learned about myself, I realized that I don't know if I believed in this promise.  Don't get me wrong, this is an amazing promise and gives great hope, but as I truly look at myself, I realized that it has given me more doubt than hope in the past.

For me, when things go wrong, I look at this verse and point the blame at myself.  1) I must not love God enough because things didn't go as planned, and 2) I must have misunderstood what God was trying to tell me.  I know it seems ridiculous, but I when things are going wrong, I'm not usually thinking straight.  And I do tell God "I told you so", not about what has happened, but about using me in His plan.

At this point in the process, I'm a little scared for my own reaction to future set-backs.  Here I am seeking to follow God's greater plan for my life and I'm realizing that I start freaking out when things go wrong.  Now I'm understanding why the woman from Shunem told Elisha not to get her hopes up!

But thank God for a friend who pointed me to truth in the midst of my crazy thoughts :)  She directed me to a quote in the book that says "the path to greater things is rarely the path of least resistance."

So after breathing, praying, and breathing again, I realized that every time I've faced resistance, I've come out stronger.  If I don't go through resistance, how will I be able to handle the greater plans that God has for me.  I need not fear the future rough patches because with every passing day, I am becoming less and He is becoming more in me, and He knows the future.

I hope you found my ramblings to be enlightening to you in some way, and if nothing else, a good reminder of how God is in control!

Except...insecurities?

Elisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?"
"Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a little oil."
                                                                 2 Kings 4:2



Not Enough.  Do you ever feel like that sums up how you feel? Not enough money. Not enough time. Not enough energy.

I can guarantee you that you're not alone.

But does God ever ask more from us than what we have? No, He asks us for what we do have, which is exactly what Elisha asked the widow in the above scripture.  While I encourage you to read the whole story in 2 Kings chapter 4, I'll give you the background.  The widow in the story has creditors pounding on her door, asking for money she doesn't have.  So she approaches Elisha, pleading for help, feeling like she has no more to give. She's not sure how she will pay the debts and feed her family.  From her perspective, she can only see what she is lacking and a hopeless situation.  Not enough.

Except.  That one word. Why did she mention the little bit of oil? What made her think to mention it? I don't know for sure. She might have been using it as an example to Elisha to explain just how little she has. Who knows.  But God used what little she felt she had, to provide for all of her needs.  If you go on to read the rest of the story, Elisha tells her to collect as many jars as she can and pour the oil she did have into each of the jars.  She did as he told her to and every jar was filled.  She was blessed with enough oil to sell, pay off her debts and provide for her family.

As I look at what this widow offered, I wonder what I have, no matter how little, that I need to give to God?  Do I think what I have is not enough?

Sometimes we are trying so hard to do bigger and better things, especially since that is the way of the world, that we forget that we aren't asked to be bigger and better.  We are only asked to be who we are and take little steps of faith in following God and allow Him to be God.  He works His power through the weak.  When we are weak, He is strong.

In my last blog, I talked about my "issues".  My pessimist nature.  My lack of go with the flow. My controlling tendencies.  What I didn't mention is that I know these are just cover-ups for my insecurities.  I second-guess myself constantly.  How I dress, talk, walk, parent.  Even how I drive.  Yes, it's that bad sometimes.  But what I'm beginning to realize is that those insecurities can be used for God.  Sound a little crazy? Maybe, but I truly feel that the more open and real I can be about my insecurities, the more I will heal from them and maybe help others along the way.  I don't want to be insecure, but what if God has allowed this in my life in order for me to reach others because I can truly say that I know how they feel.

So while I might feel that I don't have enough speaking skills, or writing skills (I'm working on that as you read :), or anything that might be what I think God wants from me, I feel like my weaknesses are where God can work through me today.

What is your little bit of oil? What is God looking for you to allow Him to work through in your life?

At Once.

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed me.
        Matthew 4: 19-20


I have been reminded over and over lately of what faith in action looks like.

On Sunday, the sermon was about Gabriel appearing to Mary and revealing God's plan that directly involved her (Luke 2:26-38).  I came away in awe of this humble teenage girl who willingly said "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered.  "May is be to me as you have said."  She knew the consequences here on earth of what this would mean for her, but stepped out in faith to accept her role in the great plan of God to save the world.  A friend of mine wrote about Mary in her blog last week and gave me an even deeper look into who this young girl, favored by God was.

The verses above where Jesus called Simon Peter and his brother Andrew to follow Him amaze me as well.  Jesus was probably not a stranger to these men.  They would have possibly started to hear about His preaching in the area, but who knows if they had actually heard Him speak. Yet without hesitation, they dropped, literally, what they were doing and followed Him when He called.

So why, when God calls or whispers or nudged me, do I hesitate? Why do I feel I have to get everything in order and make a smooth transition into what He wants me to do? Why do I worry about what the consequences for me will be at the hands, or mouths, of others? What makes these Biblical characters so different than me?  Yes, they were encountering an angel and the Son of God, but would that make a difference if an angel appeared to me and revealed what God was calling me to do?

Probably not, and here's why.

I'm a self-proclaimed "realist", which we all know translates to pessimist.  I am the type to over pack for a trip, near or far, just in case the worst happens.  I tend to get hung up on rules and by-the-book way of doing things.  I have what I call "controlled fun" and like "approved surprises".  I don't like giving up control, and yes, that means even to God.  Maybe all this translates to why I hesitate when putting my faith into action.  My head knows that God is fully and control, but to follow Him where I don't know the outcome scares me.

So now that I've aired all my little control issues that are keeping me from "at once" following God's call on my life, what are your nets you need to cast aside? Is it fear of the unknown? Afraid of people's response? Fear of rejection? I'm challenging myself, and you, to take one thing that has been held back from God and just letting go and trusting Him.