Cal Sullivan
Over the recent few weeks, I have been so busy with life with all its deadlines, problems, and logistical challenges. On top of this it’s been the usual week of turmoil around the world. I’ve honestly had no time, or rather let’s be honest made no time, to talk and listen to God.
With last Sunday’s service and sermon, it felt like Jesus put a hand on my shoulder and said ‘slow down, stop!! Listen, listen to me’.
Sometimes we are in such a hurry going about our business and our worries that they begin to consume us – feeding off our energy and creating anxiety, which then creates more worries. The process becomes circular and destructive.
It’s at times like these that we need to put on the brakes and stop. Stop and breathe. Take time to reach out to Jesus for His peace and His understanding,
In our Monday smallgroup we are busy with the Psalms. One of the things that we are taught is how to let God minister to us through the word. For the purpose of this study it’s not about working through the text like a study, but rather to quieten ourselves to the world around us, to read the word of God, and to let God speak to us through the word ministering to us.
By making time for Jesus and just being quiet, it was like a fog lifted - like the air after a spring rain, fresh and invigorating, creating hope and a sense of peace.
God reminded me of few things I was taking for granted:
He is merciful:
When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:16-17)He is strong a pillar to lean on, He gives me strength when I am weak:
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)He is trustworthy, unchanging:
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)He knows me personally:
He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. (John 10:3)He loves me:
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)He is Hope:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
By spending time with Jesus, I find that He comforts. He gives us peace, clarity, joy and hope for the future, despite what the world or circumstance may say. He gives us purpose knowing we are not doing this alone.
