I got mountains. Boy, let me tell you I got mountains. Uncertainty in school, in life, money issues, debt, sickness, worry, lack of faith and so much more. Boy do I got mountains. But, despite that, all of the worries, I always get through it. Maybe you have a mountain? Worry, sickness, family issue. We see the here, and now. But we never look to the tomorrow. Sure, Jesus said not to worry, o course but I am not telling you to worry about tomorrow, or the future. No, I am saying look to the end of the storm. Look to where God leads you, because sure, man may have your back at times, but God always has your back, even when it doesn't seem like it.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:33-34
This is a response from my Brother in Christ George (as I post these on my facebook as well) on this.
Perspective is everything. What lens we are interpreting reality in is very important. I just want to add a few points to your note.
1.) perspective
We all have mountains. Sometimes pretty big ones that seems so impossible to cross over. But how we view these mountains, our perspective, is important. I think of how Paul or Jesus looked at their mountains. Hebrews 12:1-2 talks about the joy set before Jesus. Jesus acknowledged his pain but didn't focus on it. True happiness was set before him, at what his suffering would accomplish. It was not based on momentary circumstances. He kept his focus on God. Paul also did the same. The tell him he's going go die if he goes to Jerusalem but he says he's willing to die for Christ. He wasn't focused on his pain because he knew a greater good would come from it and he knew that it didn't make Jesus' Death on the cross skip over him. The promise of new life was his through faith no matter what pain or suffering he was enduring.
2. They both acknowledged their pain
I think of Paul in 2 Cor 12 with the thorn in his flesh. He prays for God to take it away 3 times. He didn't just sweep it under the rug even though he had a good perspective on it as shown above. Same with Jesus in the garden. He asks God if there is another way. At that time he didn't want to suffer the way he knew he was going to. He brings that to God. Keep a healthy biblical perspective on suffering yes, but dint ignore or sweep the problems under the rug either.
3. Last point. Realize that life is all about the glory of God. ThAts the point of everything. 1 Cor 10:31 and Philippians 2 talks about that. It's all for him. So God is going to do whatever brings him the most glory but also going to work it out for our good as Romans 8 says. So the rest of Jesus' prayer is not my will be done but yours. He understood the two points made in three and was willing to endure what ever would accomplish those.
1.) perspective
We all have mountains. Sometimes pretty big ones that seems so impossible to cross over. But how we view these mountains, our perspective, is important. I think of how Paul or Jesus looked at their mountains. Hebrews 12:1-2 talks about the joy set before Jesus. Jesus acknowledged his pain but didn't focus on it. True happiness was set before him, at what his suffering would accomplish. It was not based on momentary circumstances. He kept his focus on God. Paul also did the same. The tell him he's going go die if he goes to Jerusalem but he says he's willing to die for Christ. He wasn't focused on his pain because he knew a greater good would come from it and he knew that it didn't make Jesus' Death on the cross skip over him. The promise of new life was his through faith no matter what pain or suffering he was enduring.
2. They both acknowledged their pain
I think of Paul in 2 Cor 12 with the thorn in his flesh. He prays for God to take it away 3 times. He didn't just sweep it under the rug even though he had a good perspective on it as shown above. Same with Jesus in the garden. He asks God if there is another way. At that time he didn't want to suffer the way he knew he was going to. He brings that to God. Keep a healthy biblical perspective on suffering yes, but dint ignore or sweep the problems under the rug either.
3. Last point. Realize that life is all about the glory of God. ThAts the point of everything. 1 Cor 10:31 and Philippians 2 talks about that. It's all for him. So God is going to do whatever brings him the most glory but also going to work it out for our good as Romans 8 says. So the rest of Jesus' prayer is not my will be done but yours. He understood the two points made in three and was willing to endure what ever would accomplish those.
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