I woke up this morning to a disappointing text from a friend. It wasn’t a big thing, just a “no” to a favor I had asked. The “no” was kind, said with love, and with a good reason behind it. It wasn’t a “no, never,” or an “of course not”; it was an “I really would love to, but I have many plates I am spinning right now and I just can’t.” Nevertheless, it left me with a slight twinge of disappointment.
As I was brushing my teeth, Romans 8:31 popped into my head, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” I laughed to myself because that was a bit dramatic of a verse for my “guardian” to pull from the recesses of my childhood in this situation. As I was laughing and shaking my head at myself (and brushing my teeth—rubbing my head and patting my tummy ain’t got nothin’ on my pre breakfast brain), all of those childhood first Bible lessons started flooding into my brain:
- Daniel in the Lion’s Den
- Noah and his ark
- Philippines 4:13
- Esther 4:4
- Joseph and his coat
- Jesus on the cross
- Psalms 23
I don’t know why all of these seemingly “cliché” things flooded my mind, but I let them. I leaned into them, and the gift from the Lord of His Word and His Truth overwhelmed me in the kindest and most familiar way. The child inside of me was reminded that Jesus welcomed the little children to come to Him. Then, almost immediately, the adult in me was reminded of what Jesus said: “Come to me, all who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” A gentle comfort washed over my soul, and I knew that the twinge of disappointment had just tapped into what had been two weeks of carrying a heavy burden—two weeks of feeling back on my heels, unsure, and burdened by the hurting hearts of people I love. I know we all feel that way sometimes, for one reason or another: either we ourselves are burdened, disappointed, or overwhelmed, or someone we love is feeling those things and we, in turn, carry their burden in hopes of lightening their load.
In God’s sweet, gentle kindness this morning, I sat at his feet as a child, reciting all the Bible verses I first learned, and I was reminded that the Bible is filled with stories of people facing disappointment and trials. It is full of scriptures that are great reminders. (I know that the stories and verses I mentioned above have so many meanings and some are so much more complex and meaningful when read in the full context, but I am writing as they were handed to me this morning—as a child and without the full context beyond Sunday school and nighttime prayers.)
Daniel and his friends stood up for what was right, and they were thrown into the furnace. They didn’t shrivel up or back down from their beliefs, and when it seemed their ridicule and punishment would be the end, the Lord instead walked beside them through the flames, and no harm came to them.
As Noah followed God’s orders, he was mocked and ridiculed. What he was doing seemed so absurd in the eyes of men, but he kept his head down and did what he was asked. And in the end, he and his family were saved.
Philippines 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This was maybe the third scripture my dad had me memorize, and how many times, like so many others, did I quote this to myself in many situations that seemed overwhelming?
Esther 4:4, “you were created for such a time as this.” A sweet and empowering reminder that God knew all the days I would face before He ever knitted me together in my mom’s womb. He knew of the burdens I would carry; He knew that men would “say all manner of evil against you falsely”; He knew I would hurt when my loved ones hurt. He knew that a small text this morning would disappoint me in a way that was out of proportion because it landed in the middle of a season of burdens and disappointment.
Then came Joseph and his brothers, turning their backs on him and selling him into slavery, and I remembered the way he continued to serve the Lord and forgive his brothers, holding no ill will against them.
I remembered my sweet Jesus on that cross, having been betrayed by a friend and having endured the false accusations and insults (not to mention the pain). Jesus, Himself, knows burdens and disappointment, and when He calls me to rest in Him, it is from a place of knowing.
And then Psalms 23, the second scripture I remember my dad teaching me, which begins, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want,” and then it goes on to paint a beautiful picture of God’s provision for his little dumb sheep by the clear waters, in the shade, with yummy clover. The chapter goes on to say (and I can hear my little girl verse reciting it without real understanding beyond just words), “He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. . . my cup overflows.”
And my cup overflowed this morning with gratefulness that the Lord knows me so intimately, He knows every hair on my head, He knows each time my heart is disappointed, He sees me when I am hurting, He calls me to rest in Him when I am weary, “He restores my soul” (back to Psalm 23).
He restores my soul. . .
When you face trials of many kinds. . . “Consider it all joy. . . whenever you face trials of many kinds. . .” (James 1:2-4 as it continues on)
“In this world you will have trouble, but take heart. . .” (John 16:33)
“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. . .” (Revelation 2:10)
“Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you.” (1 Peter 4:12)
God knows each day. Jesus promised us that we would face trials, and He can comfort us with empathy because He did. And I get to rest and have no doubt that He, my Father, my King, my Savior, will restore my soul. I am only told to “take heart” and to “be still.”
Thank you, Lord, for my sweet Sunday school reminder this morning.
