Bumps in the Road
By Sheila Jacobs
Near where I live, there are hay meadows. In the spring the grass is lush and green, but the summer comes, and the long grass is cut and baled. One year, during a cancer scare, I remember sitting on one of those bales and watching little brown butterflies flit around the dry grass. I had been praying so much about the diagnosis; people had been kind, but I hadn’t heard from the Lord. But I did, suddenly, sitting on that bale. I knew that whatever happened to me, it wouldn’t stop God’s purposes and plans in my life.
Thankfully, I was fine. But it left me thinking – whatever happens, it’s always an opportunity to get closer to God. That might be a difficult thought, especially when we’re going through tough times and feel that God is far away, doesn’t care or even, if we’re honest, doesn’t exist.
Doubts and faith
In John 20, we see someone with serious doubts. His friend is dead, he has seen him die, and now his other friends are saying this man is alive after all? Who wouldn’t doubt! Jesus graciously appears to the doubting disciple and Thomas responds with the highest point of faith: ‘My Lord and my God!’ (v28).
When life gets troubled and difficult, and the road seems bumpy, we become get overwhelmed with stress, sadness and despair. But when we look up, above our circumstances, we see One who can make the light shine in the darkness; in fact, he is the Light in our darkness (John 1:5).
A quick glance at the Bible will show us that even the ‘giants of the faith’ had their downtimes. My favourite has to be Elijah, who ran away when the going got tough, sat down and wanted it all to end. He moaned to God, and received restoration and kindness. Then, when he had rested, he heard from God, and received a new commission (see 1 Kings 19). Key to that was listening to the ‘gentle whisper’ (v12).
Listening
God often speaks in the quietness, though we don’t spend time enough trying to hear him. In a crisis, I let God know what’s wrong. I keep on, as if he hasn’t heard or doesn’t understand, rather than saying, ‘OK, you know the situation. I’m just going to believe you do, and thank you. I know I’m not alone in this, you see it all. Speak to me, Lord, because I’m listening.’
The trouble is, it can be difficult to discern the Lord’s voice when we are so busy! Often, we come to him when we’re in trouble or have a crisis situation – much as I did when I had a potential medical emergency. But Jesus wants us to walk with him all the time, in a growing relationship. Think of your closest friends (or friend). How do you maintain and grow intimacy with them? By doing life together, even if it’s just sharing through WhatsApp or on the phone, if physical proximity is impossible. If we stop sharing our lives and values and thoughts and concerns with others, we grow apart – and it’s the same with our friendship with God.
How can we learn to hear his voice, if we don’t give him the space to speak, allowing ourselves the space to hear?
Conclusion
Here’s a plan. Do you want to deepen your friendship with God? Put some time aside for him, either first thing in the morning or last thing at night, if you can. If another time is convenient for you, that’s fine.
Find a place – a special chair, placed in the corner of your bedroom or lounge, or a stool in your kitchen; your place to meet God. If you prefer, you could do this outdoors, weather permitting, in your garden, on a countryside walk, or in a park. Treat it like a ‘date’; a date with Jesus. If it helps, imagine Jesus sitting opposite or with you. Tell him about your day, or the day before; be honest about doubts, faults and failings; forgive anyone who needs forgiving. Forgive yourself if necessary. Think about one or two good things that have happened, and give God thanks for those.
Then spend about five minutes in silence. It might take some time getting used to this, and it could be difficult to concentrate at first. Lighting a candle could help with focus, but isn’t necessary. Have a notepad or journal with you, and see what thoughts, images or words come to mind. If something does, review it: is it something you need to pray about? A person who needs prayer? Or something else? What might God be saying to you?
Finish your time with God by saying the Lord’s Prayer, or a simple ‘thank you, Jesus’.
We all need to hear from God. Life can be going along nicely, but then we hit a bump in the road. We may find doubts and fear and disappointments raining down on us; or we may run to God, and find him waiting with open arms. But what if our whole lives were about putting him first, listening to him for our lives, and the lives of others? When the bumps come, and they surely will, we will feel less likely to doubt our God and fear our circumstances, if our main relationship – with Jesus – is secure and steady!
All Scripture NIV 2011 UK
Sheila Jacobs is single, a writer, editor, retreat leader and mentor. She is an award-winning author of 19 books, including A Little Book of Rest: Walking Out of Anxiety and Fear (Malcolm Down).