Part 3 of SWAGG's June series about resting in God
If you haven't heard yet, I had surgery this past Thursday and it went well. Praise God!! However, my recovery is taking a lot slower than I thought it would. In fact, it has caused me to really simplify what I do each day.
The picture below has been my view for the last few days. Today is the first day that I ate at the kitchen table and actually had enough to really be considered a meal. I'm also trying to spend more than 3% of my time out of bed.
Being someone who desires to constantly be accomplishing tasks, I've had to live with being okay doing only what's absolutely needed.
This makes me think about when Elijah was hiding from King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. The Bible records that God provided for his needs by sending birds that carried food to him and having him live by a river. Nothing else is talked about during this season of Elijah's life. I assume that his life was very simplified at this time, but maybe not in a desired sort of way.
Letting God simplify may not be in the way we desire, but is always beneficial.
We’ve learned about postures that God calls us to have to totally feel His power of restoration and ease. People thirst for both, there aren’t any seemly negative angles to them. However, simplification can be both desired and questioned.
In Matthew, Jesus has a huge issue of feeding a crowd with a little bit of food. Instead of complaining, He takes a posture of thankfulness. A posture of dependence is shown by Elijah. When God tells him that He’s going to provide for his needs, Elijah doesn’t try to do his own thing on top of it. Later, God comes and asks him a question. Elijah vents emotionally to God and is totally open to Him. A posture of openness doesn’t reveal anything new to God, but shows that we’re comfortable enough to let Him in. In Luke, Jesus tells us to view the gift of eternal life with a child-like posture of unwavering faith.
These stories open our eyes to what God simplifies. One, God simplifies problems. After Jesus modeled a posture of thankfulness, He miraculously fed 5,000 men – plus women and kids. He made an impossible situation simple. God simplifies our lives. There are times when God asks us to depend on Him, instead of trying to do it ourselves. This can be hard, for things we view as good might be removed to create space for what God has for us next. Three, God’s willing to simplify who He is. When Elijah broke down and opened up to Him, God put His being in a whisper – not something big or incomprehensible, which He could’ve. God wanted to show that He’s gentle in a way that even a child understands. Lastly, God simplifies the gift of eternal life. If we think about Jesus’ sacrifice, how the God of creation wants to live with us forever, and how all that’s required of us is to have a relationship with Him – that’s insane and our minds probably aren’t even understanding all of it. Yet, God wants eternal life to be simple enough to be received by all.
Here’s what not to do to rest in God: Overthink it – Overthinking creates doubt, not trust. Fight it – God simplifies for good, let it happen. Misunderstand simplifying for making less important – a thing only needs simplification if it’s complex and important enough to be understood.
God’s Guidance:
Matthew 14:16-21 (NIV) – “Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.”
1 Kings 17:2-6 (NIV) – “Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.”
1 Kings 19:9-13 (NIV) – “There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?””
Luke 18:17 (NIV) – “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.””
Application:
1. Pray for a grateful spirit when you’re tempted to complain
2. Choose to open up to God about everything you are feeling and experiencing
3. If you are dealing with doubt in an area of your life, ask God for child-like faith to replace it
Strength Point:
God’s simplification is meant to create space for understanding and opportunity for us, as well as, others that we’re around.
Reflection Question:
Have you ever had a time when you could only focus on the needs of life, what was that like?
Prayer Prompt:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for knowing exactly what I need at all times. You are my great provider. I'm sorry for believing that I know what's best for my life and trying to simplify things on my own. Help me to realize that You know what I should focus on and what I need in this season better than anyone. I pray that I would allow You to simplify all areas of my life, especially _. I want You to be in total control of all my situations and my priorities, not me. Remind me that when you simplify and take things away, it's meant to bring about rest and _. Thank You for having the understanding of how best to simplify my life. I love You, Lord!!
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