God Is Patient
Read Psalm 51 and Psalm 86:15.
The years 2020 and 2021 had a lot of events that impacted the soul in ways they never had before. We were pulled away from our jobs, families, and friends. Disconnection from everything we loved became the new norm. It’s time to reconnect.
Throughout this time of disconnection, it’s likely your relationship with God and his church has taken a hit. Maybe you have gotten used to Sunday being just another day, or maybe you lost so much that it was easy to think God had forgotten about you. You felt God wasn’t showing up for you. That’s when the real questions started to arise. Questions like, “Is God punishing me? Am I not Being faithful enough, or praying enough, or trusting enough?”
Take heart! If God is big enough to create the heavens and the earth, he is big enough to withstand your questions. Remember this, God is patient, and he loves you.
No action, deed, question, or sin could make God stop loving you because it was never good behavior that caused God to love you. It was always grace. The nature of God is one of a calming presence who’s slow to anger, quick to forgive, and steadfast in his ways. Whenever God sees what you’re going through, he doesn’t just imagine what’s happened. He’s been there too. Jesus came on earth and lived a life just like you and me. He slept. He ate. He grew in wisdom. He went to his mother when he scraped his knee. He was betrayed by a friend, hated by his own city, and killed, despite living a blameless and pure life.
Today, let’s spend time thinking about the things that have come between God and us. Are hurt, anger, or grief making you feel distant from him? Are you letting disappointment with leadership keep you from connecting with him? Or maybe it’s not so serious, and honestly, you just haven’t been making an effort. Whatever the reason, today is the day to reconnect.
Prayer:
Father, so much has happened in the past few years. Sometimes it feels like we are waking up from a dream. We have spent so much time just getting through. As we begin this journey of reconnecting, help me first to reconnect with you. Open my eyes to the thoughts and habits that have separated us, and give me the faith and energy to move forward. In your mercy, restore to me the joy of my salvation. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.