Yesterday was a good day—yet also a hard one.
We went to Hope Church to support RV in worship. I expected a morning of praise and encouragement, but instead, I found myself in a conversation that shook me to my core.
I have known this woman for years. She has questioned our path before, gently voicing concerns. But this time was different.
She held nothing back.
"I’ve lost respect for you and Tom as leaders," she said bluntly.
"I would never support your ministries—financially or otherwise."
Her words stung.
She accused us of ignoring wise counsel, dismissing the advice of pastors and others who had tried to guide us. In her eyes, we were being stubborn, reckless, and untrustworthy. I tried to respond, to explain, but it didn’t matter. She had made up her mind.
I asked if we could pray together. She agreed, but when I felt compelled to drop to my knees, I pulled her down with me. I prayed,
“Lord, if I am on the wrong path, speak to me. And if I am not, speak to her.”
When we finished, she looked angry.
"I have never been treated like that before," she said. "You forced me to do something I wasn’t comfortable with!"
Then, without warning, she kissed me on the cheek, told me she loved me, and walked away. I stood there, stunned. It felt like a severing—like a bridge had just been burned between us. And I couldn’t shake it.
A heaviness settled over me, something almost spiritual, like I had been covered in something unclean. I prayed. Tom prayed over me.
Finally, the weight lifted. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something difficult.
After that intense morning, we went to K and S’s house church gathering.
The contrast was night and day. The fellowship, the laughter, the shared love for Jesus—it lifted my spirit again.
Later, we spent time at E’s for family night, enjoying time together.
These moments reminded me: this is where I belong.
This is the work I was called to do.
On Saturday, I got an email from an old co-worker. She had just been laid off from Cogenics—totally unexpected. And the first thing that came to mind? JD’s job offer. This was for her.
So, this morning, I connected them. And as I read her resume, something clicked. That job—the one I thought was tailor-made for me—was actually tailor-made for her. If I had taken it, I would have been miserable.
It was full of tasks that weren’t my strengths but were hers. God had already given me my job—I was already doing it! And today confirmed it: I spent the morning pouring into women’s lives, sharing Jesus, and being used by God.
What could be better than that?
When I got home, there was an email from SS and DM about the house. They needed a 30-day notice and expected May’s rent unless we said otherwise. Tom still hasn’t heard God say, "Go."
So, we wait. And we trust. God is going to provide—He has to.
Our devotional this morning hit right where it needed to.
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me . . . " Matthew 11:29
"Whom the Lord loves He chastens . . ." ( Hebrews 12:6 ). How petty our complaining is! Our Lord begins to bring us to the point where we can have fellowship with Him, only to hear us moan and groan, saying, "Oh Lord, just let me be like other people!" Jesus is asking us to get beside Him and take one end of the yoke, so that we can pull together. That’s why Jesus says to us, "My yoke is easy and My burden is light" ( Matthew 11:30). Are you closely identified with the Lord Jesus like that? If so, you will thank God when you feel the pressure of His hand upon you.
". . . to those who have no might He increases strength" (Isaiah 40:29). God comes and takes us out of our emotionalism, and then our complaining turns into a hymn of praise. The only way to know the strength of God is to take the yoke of Jesus upon us and to learn from Him.
". . . the joy of the Lord is your strength" ( Nehemiah 8:10). Where do the saints get their joy? If we did not know some Christians well, we might think from just observing them that they have no burdens at all to bear. But we must lift the veil from our eyes. The fact that the peace, light, and joy of God is in them is proof that a burden is there as well. The burden that God places on us squeezes the grapes in our lives and produces the wine, but most of us see only the wine and not the burden. No power on earth or in hell can conquer the Spirit of God living within the human spirit; it creates an inner invincibility.
If your life is producing only a whine, instead of the wine, then ruthlessly kick it out. It is definitely a crime for a Christian to be weak in God’s strength.
Joy doesn’t come from an easy path. It comes from knowing that God is working even in the pressure, even in the struggle.
I don’t want to whine through this process—I want to be strengthened by it.
Lord, help me not to “whine” but to take YOUR yoke upon me and give me YOUR strength because mine is so weak!! I know that all of this is producing what YOU need from us and transforming us into tools that are in service to you. Lord, I pray that you would speak clearly to Tom and when it is your perfect timing, we will know what to do. Thank you for your Peace that transcends all understanding and the ability to “wait” on You.
No comments:
Post a Comment