Brother, do I get that one! LIke you said, it is a *constant* struggle within my own head/heart to find and maintain contentment, joy, peace, etc. And to somewhat relate us to the reading, I think at least part of it is the fact that: 1) we're in a transition time, leaving behind the life that enslaved us and moving toward our permanent home that he's prepared for us.. 2a) it's just reality that life on this journey will include lack of resources - which requires a trust in the God who saved us and called us out... 2b) even when he provides and meets all of our needs, we have to put so much more effort into it - just surviving this journey he called us to requires a lot more effort, a lot more faithfulness to His way/His plan/ His instructions... 3) the people "living in our tent" can often frustrate us with their own issues or their own frustration with the journey... 4) there's always that sneaky suspicion that I probably won't survive the journey and see the goal before my time is over
...I think these are are legitimate reasons for a normal, reasonable person who's paying attention to what's going on around them to struggle with complaining. *Also, it didn't occur to me until now that "the complaining" that led to the snakes/serpents was going on even back here with the quail and the gossip and leadership challenge and recon report...
...I also think that the God we serve is ok with our honesty, with us making legitimate requests for help, whether it's for our survival, the tools/resources we need to get the work done (like Kilz!)... or the time and energy to do it.., or the good health required to just keep going, let alone putting the work in... or the insight/skill to get the job done the right way... or the patience/humility to do it again when we find out we did it wrong the first time (that describes me well)... . I think he's ok with us being frustrated, or weary, or discouraged. I think that's why Jesus chose the words he did at the end of Matthew 11. It's a lot of work do it right...but we can do it when we do it with him, following his example, according to his instructions. ...and even if guys like us don't survive the process, we're training our kids to walk the road and follow the one who can get them there. Not only that - if this road I'm on is the death of me, I'm making the journey with the One Who raises the dead...and that is a hopeful, inspiring thought to me. - jeffrey
Ex 11:11ff...Moses was stressed out, and hit his breaking point. He couldn't handle it anymore - being a nanny for millions of whiners (that seemed to be his perspective in the moment). So, in a similar way to what his did later with Elijah, the LORD gave Moses a job to do (appoint more leaders to carry the load). Moses' response at the end of it was not sullen or "forgotten" - proof that he did not want the spotlight at center stage... instead he was happy that the LORD was using other people to get the work done. ...that's a lesson for me. It's sometimes a struggle to cheer on other people as they succeed, especially in doing "kingdom work"...but when I remember that it's about the King (not his servants), and that these servants are my siblings as we all serve our Father, then I (like Moses) can be happy for them, for the lives they're changing, and mostly, for our great God who gets the glory. - jeffrey
Brother, do I get that one! LIke you said, it is a *constant* struggle within my own head/heart to find and maintain contentment, joy, peace, etc. And to somewhat relate us to the reading, I think at least part of it is the fact that:
ReplyDelete1) we're in a transition time, leaving behind the life that enslaved us and moving toward our permanent home that he's prepared for us..
2a) it's just reality that life on this journey will include lack of resources - which requires a trust in the God who saved us and called us out...
2b) even when he provides and meets all of our needs, we have to put so much more effort into it - just surviving this journey he called us to requires a lot more effort, a lot more faithfulness to His way/His plan/ His instructions...
3) the people "living in our tent" can often frustrate us with their own issues or their own frustration with the journey...
4) there's always that sneaky suspicion that I probably won't survive the journey and see the goal before my time is over
...I think these are are legitimate reasons for a normal, reasonable person who's paying attention to what's going on around them to struggle with complaining. *Also, it didn't occur to me until now that "the complaining" that led to the snakes/serpents was going on even back here with the quail and the gossip and leadership challenge and recon report...
...I also think that the God we serve is ok with our honesty, with us making legitimate requests for help, whether it's for our survival, the tools/resources we need to get the work done (like Kilz!)... or the time and energy to do it.., or the good health required to just keep going, let alone putting the work in... or the insight/skill to get the job done the right way... or the patience/humility to do it again when we find out we did it wrong the first time (that describes me well)...
ReplyDelete.
I think he's ok with us being frustrated, or weary, or discouraged. I think that's why Jesus chose the words he did at the end of Matthew 11. It's a lot of work do it right...but we can do it when we do it with him, following his example, according to his instructions.
...and even if guys like us don't survive the process, we're training our kids to walk the road and follow the one who can get them there. Not only that - if this road I'm on is the death of me, I'm making the journey with the One Who raises the dead...and that is a hopeful, inspiring thought to me.
- jeffrey
Ex 11:11ff...Moses was stressed out, and hit his breaking point. He couldn't handle it anymore - being a nanny for millions of whiners (that seemed to be his perspective in the moment). So, in a similar way to what his did later with Elijah, the LORD gave Moses a job to do (appoint more leaders to carry the load). Moses' response at the end of it was not sullen or "forgotten" - proof that he did not want the spotlight at center stage... instead he was happy that the LORD was using other people to get the work done.
ReplyDelete...that's a lesson for me. It's sometimes a struggle to cheer on other people as they succeed, especially in doing "kingdom work"...but when I remember that it's about the King (not his servants), and that these servants are my siblings as we all serve our Father, then I (like Moses) can be happy for them, for the lives they're changing, and mostly, for our great God who gets the glory.
- jeffrey