Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.” Matthew 20:17-19
I wonder what the disciples thought this time when Jesus foretold of His death. Undoubtedly sorrow. Did they notice His last words, “And the third day He will rise again,” and feel a surge of hope? Or were they oblivious? Jesus predicted His death so specifically – He would be betrayed to the chief of priests and scribes; He would be condemned and mocked; He would be scourged and crucified; and finally He would rise again. Who else would have dared to make such claims? And what did the disciples think about it? Did they trust and believe? Or did they doubt and wonder if He spoke the truth?
And what do I think? What is my response when God tells me something?
Anything is possible with Me.
“Yeah, sure, okay.”
I want you to do this.
“What? Me? No way!”
Yes.
“God, You don’t understand. There is no way I could ever do that.”
Oh, ye of little faith….
Jesus’ prophecy about His death came true. If such an amazing thing as that could happen, then why should I doubt what He tells me?
I’m calling you to this area.
“Whoa. Wait a minute, God; that is way out of my comfort zone.”
So?
“So, I really don’t think I can handle it. It’s, well - - it’s way over my head.”
Don't you remember that what's over your head is under My control?
“Yeah, but….”
But, what?
“I just don’t think that I can do it.”
*sigh* When will you learn, Lauren? You aren’t alone in this. I’m with you every step of the way.
“Yes, I know.”
Then why don’t you act like it?
“Ouch.”
Well, isn’t that the truth? You know the facts; you know the truth. But you don’t live the
truth.
“I hadn’t thought of it that way before.”
No, I know you hadn’t. But now I’m going to ask you something else. Do you believe that everything I say is true?
“Yes, God; I do.”
Everything?
“Well, yes.”
No doubts; no qualms?
“No, God; I completely believe that Your Word is true.”
Then why do you doubt that the words I speak to your heart are any less true than the ones I have written in My Book?
“Oh.”
Don’t you see, Lauren? What I say to you is truth. If I call you to go somewhere and do something, I’m not joking. And do you seriously think I’m going to dangle a tantalizing opportunity in front of your nose but just of out of reach; stand back and say, “Go for it,” and then watch you struggle in vain to get there? For pity’s sake, Lauren, I’m not heartless. I think you should know that by now. If I want you to get somewhere, I’m going to give you the means for doing so. I don’t care if it’s going to college, counseling at camp, writing a novel, learning how to cook, riding in the Olympics, or trudging through a foot of snow to do extra chores – if I want you to do something, then I am going to do all in My power to make sure that you can do it. But you have to trust me, Lauren. I can’t do a thing if you refuse to trust Me.
“Wow. That’s convicting.”
It is, isn’t it? But do you understand now?
“I think so.”
You have to quit hanging on for dear life to what you think you know. I know a lot more than you do. So trust Me. Let go. Jump – I promise I’ll catch you. Close your eyes, take My hand, and follow Me – when you open your eyes again you won’t believe where you’re at. Stop worrying and fretting; those poisoned arrows of the Enemy are just going to mar you heart. I’m Your Shield, you know. Don’t forget that. I am the impenetrable Strong Tower. When life gets to be too much for you to bear, hole up in Me and I will comfort and tend you – I am the Healer too, if you’ll remember.
Lauren, will you trust Me? I know you’re afraid, but you don’t have to be. If you trust Me, then I guarantee that you’ll find all you’ve been longing for. Joy. Peace. Love. Acceptance. Satisfaction. Contentment. A life beyond your wildest imagination. Just trust Me, Lauren. Trust Me.
I wonder what the disciples thought this time when Jesus foretold of His death. Undoubtedly sorrow. Did they notice His last words, “And the third day He will rise again,” and feel a surge of hope? Or were they oblivious? Jesus predicted His death so specifically – He would be betrayed to the chief of priests and scribes; He would be condemned and mocked; He would be scourged and crucified; and finally He would rise again. Who else would have dared to make such claims? And what did the disciples think about it? Did they trust and believe? Or did they doubt and wonder if He spoke the truth?
And what do I think? What is my response when God tells me something?
Anything is possible with Me.
“Yeah, sure, okay.”
I want you to do this.
“What? Me? No way!”
Yes.
“God, You don’t understand. There is no way I could ever do that.”
Oh, ye of little faith….
Jesus’ prophecy about His death came true. If such an amazing thing as that could happen, then why should I doubt what He tells me?
I’m calling you to this area.
“Whoa. Wait a minute, God; that is way out of my comfort zone.”
So?
“So, I really don’t think I can handle it. It’s, well - - it’s way over my head.”
Don't you remember that what's over your head is under My control?
“Yeah, but….”
But, what?
“I just don’t think that I can do it.”
*sigh* When will you learn, Lauren? You aren’t alone in this. I’m with you every step of the way.
“Yes, I know.”
Then why don’t you act like it?
“Ouch.”
Well, isn’t that the truth? You know the facts; you know the truth. But you don’t live the
truth.
“I hadn’t thought of it that way before.”
No, I know you hadn’t. But now I’m going to ask you something else. Do you believe that everything I say is true?
“Yes, God; I do.”
Everything?
“Well, yes.”
No doubts; no qualms?
“No, God; I completely believe that Your Word is true.”
Then why do you doubt that the words I speak to your heart are any less true than the ones I have written in My Book?
“Oh.”
Don’t you see, Lauren? What I say to you is truth. If I call you to go somewhere and do something, I’m not joking. And do you seriously think I’m going to dangle a tantalizing opportunity in front of your nose but just of out of reach; stand back and say, “Go for it,” and then watch you struggle in vain to get there? For pity’s sake, Lauren, I’m not heartless. I think you should know that by now. If I want you to get somewhere, I’m going to give you the means for doing so. I don’t care if it’s going to college, counseling at camp, writing a novel, learning how to cook, riding in the Olympics, or trudging through a foot of snow to do extra chores – if I want you to do something, then I am going to do all in My power to make sure that you can do it. But you have to trust me, Lauren. I can’t do a thing if you refuse to trust Me.
“Wow. That’s convicting.”
It is, isn’t it? But do you understand now?
“I think so.”
You have to quit hanging on for dear life to what you think you know. I know a lot more than you do. So trust Me. Let go. Jump – I promise I’ll catch you. Close your eyes, take My hand, and follow Me – when you open your eyes again you won’t believe where you’re at. Stop worrying and fretting; those poisoned arrows of the Enemy are just going to mar you heart. I’m Your Shield, you know. Don’t forget that. I am the impenetrable Strong Tower. When life gets to be too much for you to bear, hole up in Me and I will comfort and tend you – I am the Healer too, if you’ll remember.
Lauren, will you trust Me? I know you’re afraid, but you don’t have to be. If you trust Me, then I guarantee that you’ll find all you’ve been longing for. Joy. Peace. Love. Acceptance. Satisfaction. Contentment. A life beyond your wildest imagination. Just trust Me, Lauren. Trust Me.
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