Sitting at my desk in our Michigan farmhouse, I am mesmerized by the dark clouds rolling south outside of my window. There is a light dusting of snow on the ground, a sure sign of a season slowly changing from fall to winter.
It’s only been a few months since we moved into our 200-year-old farmhouse. I had already figured out before arriving what my life in Michigan should look like—so I hit the ground running.
My plan was excellent and practical.
So why has my plan not been working for me? I have been working hard, yet going nowhere. Spinning my wheels, getting frustrated. I would describe my experience as both humbling and frustrating.
A dear friend encouraged me to stop striving and to still myself in the presence of God. Another friend reminded me to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Mostly out of sheer exhaustion, I was able to recognize the wisdom of both suggestions.
So, this morning I decided to read the book of James.
“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.” (James 4:13-16 NIV)
Just as the rolling black clouds are only within view for mere seconds, or the tall grass in the field outside my window has turned from green to brown, here for a little while and then gone—so are we here for just a little while.
Who am I to think that I know what is best for my short time on earth? Not only do I not know what will happen tomorrow, but I also don’t know what will happen 30 seconds from now.
Humbling.
Forgive me, Father, for putting my trust in myself and not in You.
In moments of feeling exhausted, and at the end of ourselves, it can be challenging to know how to pray or even how to be still in God’s presence. I am (slowly) discovering that laying aside pride and acknowledging my need for the family of God who is willing to get into the trenches with me has been necessary. It is not a sign of weakness to admit that we do not have all the answers or that we need prayer and counsel from fellow believers.
The book of James concludes with what is titled “The Prayer of Faith.” In this powerful concluding chapter we read, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)
Or as memorized from my teenage years from my King James Bible: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
If, like me, you have found yourself struggling to find your stride or struggling to get your legs under you, we can learn together what it looks like to be the body of Christ—both in serving others as well as allowing others to minister to us.
As for me, I have no idea what tomorrow holds. But today I am bringing my faith back to its foundation, anchored in the Word. And in the Word Jesus teaches us exactly how we are to pray…
“This is how you should pray:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily
bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven
our debtors.
And lead us not into
temptation,
but deliver us from the evil
one.””
(Matthew 6:9-13 NIV)
Stay the course…
Sheila
