Ok, one more to come next week… but I think I want to stop here for today.
Ok, last chapter, I promise this time…
(dedicated to Sara Groves, Bebo Norman and Andrew Peterson who I am listening to in concert at my church as I write this… and especially to Andrew, who sang my very favorite Rich Mullins song on this, the 16th anniversary of his death)
Then, in what ways is the statement we have been looking at true… or at least accurate?
Well, we ended last week with the thought that though God WILL give us more than we can bear. He WILL let us face more than we can bear. But He will never let us face more than HE can bear.
Or, put in other words “In this world you will face trouble… but take heart; I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33)
So, then, how might it apply to tough moments in our lives?
Here is the truth…
There is nothing that you or I will ever face that will force us to lose our faith… our trust… our hope in Christ and His Father and Their Spirit.
Maybe that is what we are trying to tell each other, frail children of dust that we are… “Hey, remember God will never allow you to face something so awful that you will have no choice but to fall away and be lost again in darkness. Will you face trouble? Yes. Will it be more than you could bear alone? Yes. Will I be there to bear it with you? I hope so. Will He who cares for you bear it with you? Yes. Will you feel it? Sometimes and sometimes not. Can you always see it? Sometimes not at all.”
Maybe that is what we are trying to say.
So, when we are “feeble and crushed” when we “groan because of the tumult of our heart,” (Psalm 38:8) we can remember the truth that we cannot always see or feel… that
“God will never leave us or forsake us” (Hebrews 13:5-6) and that
“We can never be separated from the love of God.” (Romans 8:35-39).
Carrying more than I can bear,
Chris
Grateful for you taking on one of the biggest mistruths quoted! I have certainly found it to be true, we do not always feel His presence or Him bearing our burden. We may “feel” forsaken and abandoned at times but we can know, trust and proclaim aloud the Truth that Jesus is with us and understands our pain. Because He was forsaken we never will be. He understands feeling alone, forsaken, and abandoned. He understands pain and grief. Our Savior was a Man of Sorrow, acquainted with grief (Mark 14:34) and that is a comfort to me.
So true, Kim. It is so evident that this is not our home. Have you read the articles on grief too?
Thank you Chris for the leson in life. I am 81 years old, and should be teaching you “leasons in life”. But GOD works in his own way.
I was saved when I was about 9 years old, and I will never forget the circumstances of of the service, nor the Baptism. But then I wondered away, I thought, from God. But have discovered that I couldn’t wonder away from God, I just wondered away from the Church. I always had a feeling that when I was heavy laden, that something or someone was helping me. Now I realize that it was God. I have a lot to learn about the Bible, and maybe how to help people. But I will never wonder away from the Church again. I also think that God had a hand in my finding this Church. THANK YOU GOD. AMEN
James E. (Jim) Moize
wow, Jim, this is wonderfully encouraging… I am sure there are some lessons that you could teach me! I will look forward to it. Thanks so much for these words…
Chris Thank you so much for these messages. I think ppl do need to realize that there is another sentence or two to add to that “God will not put more on you than you can bear”. You have just phrased it so well!
I have been listening to Matt Chandler’s (Village Church) series, ” Recovering Redemption” series. What a great parallel to Womenary study this semester!! In his sermon on Sept 8 at the 37:26 mark he drives your message home. This whole series plus Womenary has given me a new and very humbling view of just what God did for me on the cross.
Thank you for being faithful to your calling,
Blessings to you and yours !
Sent from my iPad