The End from the Beginning!
Joke: Do you know where the first baseball game is mentioned in the Bible? No, where? In the “big inning” God created the heavens and the earth. Just in case – I know that is not the correct version of the verse in Genesis 1:1. It’s a joke. Not a great one but ……
Just last Sunday, May 19, 2024 something very profound happened to me at church. I enjoy worshipping Jesus, singing praise and losing myself in the presence of the Lord. Last Sunday as I worshipped, I understood that the city where I was visiting and attending church was the place a very difficult test started for me. The test was personal, hurtful, sobering, and it lasted for 6 years. I also realized in that service on 5-19-24 that the test was over and that the end had come in the same town where it started. The city where this transaction with the Lord was taking place is not one I frequent often. But, I don’t think my being there on that Sunday was a coincidence.
My Father used the worship time to help me know He had delivered me and would continue to deliver me from the pain and negative impact of the test I had been through. I am done with it. The situation is not where I want it to finally be, but it is a healing relationship moving in the direction of restored love. It is one worth fighting for, not fighting over. Jesus fought alongside me to help me love in spite of the hurt I felt, the shame I experienced, and the hopelessness I knew at the onset of the trial. Jesus was faithful to me and all those involved.
I wonder if you know that Jesus understands our need for Him more than we do. I wonder how much healing I could have experienced and much earlier if I had run to Him every time I felt the pain of the trial. That is eventually what happened. I quit trying to fix it and just ran into the presence of the only One Who could fix it. I left it with Him over and over. I mourned and He comforted me. Finally, last Sunday, I felt that I no longer needed to wrestle with it. I felt free from it.
If the pain tries to return, I know what to do and where to go. Pray that I will.
How about you, my friend? What pain or burden are you carrying? Let it go and keep letting it go to Jesus. He can handle it. Jesus can carry it for you. By God’s grace you may be free of it one day soon. You never know what a difference a day can make. (I Peter 5:7; Matthew 11:28-30)
Rather than worry, I prayed. Rather than live in sorrow and regret, I praised and worshipped my Lord Jesus. It feels good to be free. He knew the end from the beginning. It took me awhile to believe He knew it and would handle it. Praise His holy name and bless God for His love.
Be ready to what He leads you to do on your end of the situation to keep the gate open for reconciliation or to God’s financial provision or to move you to a new job, but know that He knows the end from the beginning and can be trusted every time, all the time.