John 16:31-33 (NLT)
Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe?
But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.
What is your new Norm? Has your life been scattered? Are you walking your own way, alone? Of course, the Father is always with us. We know He is there. If we listen close His still small voice is there, but it takes a still heart, a calm mind to hear.
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Life changes! Jesus reminds us, we WILL have trials and sorrows. What was normal before, will not be normal now. What is normal now, will not be normal in the future. So, HOW do we take heart?
This requires patience, perseverance, acceptance, forgiveness, and love. Our focus MUST be on God and His plan for our life. If we focus on where we are, we may stumble around, wander, and end up in the same place, or worse. Could we get lucky, maybe, but why take that chance?
I encourage you to focus on the future. Focus on Christ, on love (and therefore forgiveness, patience, perseverance), and on those we can help. When you are driving, do you focus on the seat next to you? I sure hope not! You look down the road, where you are headed. You plan ahead, consider the turns it will take to get you there, watching the street signs and signals.
I'll conclude with a quote: "Are you living to be loved, or to be love?"
Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe?
But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.
What is your new Norm? Has your life been scattered? Are you walking your own way, alone? Of course, the Father is always with us. We know He is there. If we listen close His still small voice is there, but it takes a still heart, a calm mind to hear.
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Life changes! Jesus reminds us, we WILL have trials and sorrows. What was normal before, will not be normal now. What is normal now, will not be normal in the future. So, HOW do we take heart?
This requires patience, perseverance, acceptance, forgiveness, and love. Our focus MUST be on God and His plan for our life. If we focus on where we are, we may stumble around, wander, and end up in the same place, or worse. Could we get lucky, maybe, but why take that chance?
I encourage you to focus on the future. Focus on Christ, on love (and therefore forgiveness, patience, perseverance), and on those we can help. When you are driving, do you focus on the seat next to you? I sure hope not! You look down the road, where you are headed. You plan ahead, consider the turns it will take to get you there, watching the street signs and signals.
I'll conclude with a quote: "Are you living to be loved, or to be love?"
