The Walk is Real: You don’t understand yet…

***Hello everyone! So…it’s been a while since my last post, and I’m extremely sorry about that. We’ve been incredibly busy at the church. All excuses aside, I will try my best from here on out to post a blog on a weekly basis. Now, let’s get to it!***

 

As humans, flesh, people, however you want to put it, we carry a certain understanding of life, scripture, our jobs, and our families. Normally we are ok as long as we are within our understanding. But what happens if we are removed from our understanding? What happens if we are placed in a situation where we understand absolutely nothing? If you’re anything like me in those situations, you get frustrated, impatient, and sometimes even feel a little overwhelmed. I get it. It’s annoying not being able to understand something. You try your hardest. You try your best, but still…NOTHING!

In John 13 we find Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. It’s Peter’s turn and he asks, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” (verse 6; emphasis added) Peter didn’t ask that question because he didn’t know what was going on. I’m sure it was pretty obvious what Jesus was doing. You see, Peter wasn’t asking “What are you doing?” Rather, he was asking, “Why are you doing it?” Why was Peter so surprised by what Jesus was doing? If you read verse 6 again it’s easy to see why he was so surprised. Peter referred to Jesus as “Lord.” Other titles that were associated with Jesus were Messiah, Son of God, Christ, Master, and Light of the World. A normal person associated with titles of such esteem isn’t going to be washing peoples’ feet. That’s why Peter was so surprised. His master was washing his feet when he should be washing his master’s feet. It was untraditional, unseen, and unheard of for a master to wash his servants’ feet. It was an act of humility Peter had never witnessed. Peter had forgotten about another title that Jesus was associated with: Son of Man. That title shows the humility of Jesus, who although being like God, made himself in the image of man to pay the price for our sin(s).

So what was Jesus’ response to Peter’s question? “What I am doing you do not understand, but you will after this.” (verse 7) Imagine you were Peter. How would you have reacted? Honestly, I probably would have given Jesus some attitude. What do you mean, I’ll understand after this? Can’t you just tell me? I think we’re all in agreement my life would be easier if you would just tell me! *Looks at other disciples* Am I right guys? How many of us have had thoughts like that in our present day situations? I get it. No one likes to be in a circumstance that they don’t understand. No one likes problems. That’s just it…we need to stop seeing our problems as problems, and start seeing them as opportunities to trust God. A problem is only a problem if there is no solution, no plan. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has a plan for our lives: “For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'” (NLT) From my experience, I’ve learned that God’s plan for my life differs vastly from my plans. I’m pretty sure that is true for a lot of us. The thing is, sometimes you have to fight for your future. Sometimes you have to fight for your hope, and your good. It is in the plans of God, but we have to work, fight – tooth and nail – to see those plans be fulfilled.  Another thing I’ve learned is that God’s plans go much smoother when I am in line with them. Your life can go much smoother if you just align your plans with the plans of God. Now, I’m not saying your life will be problem free if you align your plans with God’s. Don’t get it twisted. What I am saying is that your life becomes easier when you allow God to take charge. If God knows the plans, and we truly trust Him, then we must continue our walk of faith in the midst of our being unable to understand.

Being a Christian isn’t about knowing it all. Being a Christian isn’t about understanding everything. Isaiah 55:9 says, “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Being a Christian means trusting our creator – the one who formed us in our mother’s womb. It means giving your heart, mind, body, and soul to God in the midst of not being able to understand, in the midst of confusion, in the midst of fear, and in the midst of chaos. God is God regardless of what you are going through. Let him be God in your life.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this! I pray it touches your life, helps you in some way, and remains engraved in your spirit. Remember God already knows it all. All we have to do is trust Him.

 

God bless you,

Pastor Zeke