Renewal with God Combats an Unresponsive Heart
Spring has churned up a longing for revival. I desire renewal. My heart yearns for a defined purpose with a step-by-step guide. I want clarity. Where I see change and consistently rely on God.
When I pray, sometimes I find my heart longs for what was. A return to what seemed a simpler time. Not easier times, but I knew the expectations. Where there was a step-by-step process in my day (during my illness) so I could thrive.
Life is abundantly better now. I am healthier, stronger, and my faith deeper. But I still get stuck questioning God about the purpose of the pain and the waiting.
I breathe. God knows my heart.
As I write this, my eyes are drawn outside. My brain unable to process the majesty. Eagles. Not one, not two, but three. All fishing. Right on our shoreline.
God is using nature to get through to my questioning heart. He does that.
He is here. He sits with me in my questions. But He doesn’t leave me there.
He sees my need for Him.
He knows my need for renewal.
Spring brings a renewal of nature and preparation of hearts for Easter. A reminder of God’s relentless pursuit of His children. His relentless pursuit of you and I.
God took the initiative and gave us the gift of Jesus before we recognized our need for Him. Jesus is the renewing gift, even if we’re unresponsive to Him.
In Hebrews 3:12 God speaks of unresponsive hearts—an apathy that draws us away. Sin draws us away and makes us unresponsive. Unresponsive sounds harsh, but it’s honest.
And there it is—my sense of what is out of balance. My continued return to the questioning draws me away, making me unresponsive to Jesus. Ouch.
Getting stuck in the questions prevents you and me from moving forward in faith.
Too much ruminating stunts our relationship with God.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t question, but don’t get stuck in the questions. We won’t receive all the answers. At some point, we must move forward in faith.
He asks us to trust Him.
Scripture tells us we are part of God’s house IF we hold fast to our confidence, hope, and faith. We hold onto faith as we’re teachable, humble, gentle, and loving.
He is faithful as we question, doubt, and when we get stuck. But He calls us out of the quagmire, so we cling to Him.
Jesus will sustain and comfort us through the questions. When we are honest, with a teachable heart, the Holy Spirit empowers us to step beyond the questions and move forward with Him.
Are you stuck in unanswered questions?
Our faith journey is challenging. It’s not linear and growth is uncomfortable. It is two steps forward, one step back. We are human, fallible, and yet…
God created us to be curious. To seek Truth. To seek Him.
Friends, when you struggle and question, bring your questions to God first. Then bring your struggles to your family of faith. Don’t struggle alone. Jesus created you for community.
An honest loving friend is a balm for the soul.
When the eagle dropped a dead fish on my patio last week (Read my Facebook Post), I had been praying and meditating over Hebrews 3. God kept drawing me to the phrase unresponsive hearts. Now I know why.
None of us wants an unresponsive heart. But it happens. Our choices can deaden us to the Lord.
Life can make us unresponsive.
This is not God’s design.
Jesus is faithful even when we are unresponsive to Him.
Jesus is faithful to provide even when we don’t recognize His provisions.
Jesus is faithful to be with us even when we stray.
Jesus is faithful even when I _________. (Fill in the blank)
Jesus is faithful. Always. Forever.
He loves you. He hears you. His hand is reaching for you.
My prayer for us all:
Lord Jesus, help our hearts be open and soft towards you today. Give us the strength to release our questions into your loving hands. We desire to approach you humbly with a teachable heart, but it’s complicated. We are grateful you are waiting with open arms and welcome us just as we are.
Thank you for being so real my friend. I, and your readers, truly appreciate your vulnerability. Your words matter. Love you!