MESSY MESSAGES

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

A messy situation is one of the primary ways God awakens our need for him, grows our dependence on him, shapes our character, and draws us closer to Himself. - Cindi McMenamin

We sure don’t like those “messes” though. Do we?

More often than not when they arrive we “cry out” to GOD with questions of “WHY” or worse yet we sarcastically cast a gaze to heaven and utter a “REALLY GOD” sigh of exasperation.

But GOD said there would be messes.  Jesus told us Himself.  Don’t believe me, check out John 16:33 and let me know what you find out.

And while we don’t like the messes, Cindi’s quote offers hope and insight!

If you and I know our messes are a way to experience GOD more intimately, to develop us more in His image, to bring us nearer to His power, His grace, and His sufficiency then messes can be “good”; messes can be enlightening even helpful. 

So bring them on!

We are not the first to be called to learn from our messes; to sense and experience GOD more deeply because of them. Paul shared this same truth with the church at Corinth.  They were in some messes, many of which their “own doing” and Paul pointed out to them that their messes did indeed contain a message; a purpose and a plan; to bring them nearer to GOD and to bring greater clarity and dependence on HIM!

2 Corinthians 7:11-12

…isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You’re more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you’ve come out of this with purity of heart.

I get it.  Logically I get it.

But when we are in the mess it is very hard to see GOD let alone believe that he cares.  But HE does.

Psalm 56:8 (MSG)

You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, Each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book.

So we can be assured that GOD is with us every step of the way in our messes.  In fact He just revealed that He does some of His best work in our messes.  He reveals Himself, often does the impossible, validates His deep affection for us and changes us!

Our challenge is to TRUST GOD in, through and with our MESSES.  That is not an easy trick for the “self-sufficient” lot we claim to be.  But we MUST.  We must.  In spite of the fact that trusting in the trial seems so hard, those who do, those who remain LOYAL to GOD in the mess are granted an amazing reward!

James 1:12 (MSG)

Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.

So the message today is “when the mess comes, look for the message”.  Trust Him.

“Trusting God completely means having faith that He knows what is best for your life. You expect Him to keep His promises, help you with problems, and do the impossible when necessary.”  - Rick Warren

Even in the mess!

 

Have a blessed day!

I love you all

Freedom Church