Do you ever have one of those days where your heart is heavy and you have no clue why?
For one, it's a great day in a great week. You are being actively challenged in life, and rising to the occasion. Your relationships are good, or, at least, to be expected. Your old habits may present themselves now and then, but you are resisting, or receiving God's grace and pushing forward.
In the zone. Not bored, not depressed, not hurting, not anxious. Joyful, even. Peaceful, even. In a way. And yet, a heavy heart.
So you take it to God. Spend some extra time praying and meditating on his word. Opening the lines of communication and talking to God, asking questions, even as you go about your day. Share your heart with a few trusted friends, the usual wise counselors, ask some questions and answer many in return.
And yet still nothing. A few possible candidates identified. Maybe you're processing something in the past, mulling over something yet approaching. Maybe you're empathizing with some friend or distant family member. Yet nothing really hits the epiphany, so you commit that stuff to the Lord in faith and move on. Heavy still.
Ever have one of those days?
I'm having one today. I just can't put my finger on it. God's not telling me, or I'm just not hearing him, so I guess all I can really do is persist. Take another tactic and write it out. And just wait, share, listen.
Friends, if you have anything burdening your heart, please feel free to share with me. I'd love to lift you up in prayer while I'm in this place.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:22-28
4 comments:
Yeah, Nick, I hear you. I'm sorry you have had an unidentified heaviness. Sometimes those can be the worst.
That passage from Romans is one of my favorite from the Bible. I especially like the "groaning" of both our spirits and all creation. I, too, have a burden on my heart today. Conversely, I can think of some reasons it might be, but still the deeper truth is that things are simply just not how they should be in the world at large. I actually think what Paul is hitting on here in that passage is the heart that Jesus seems to hint at in "the Lord's Prayer." The beginning is the whole "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as in Heaven" part. In Greek, those statements are in the imperative which means it's basically a command to God. The only way that makes since to me is that Jesus is presupposing a heart that is so burdened with the weight of the misalignment of the world at large that it bursts with a blunt plea to God to come make things right, the way He meant them to be, like it is in Heaven.
Around the turn of the 1st century, St. Iranaeus said in response to gnostics who criticized the Bible in lieu of the darkness in the world that God was letting man take the hard road to maturity. Maybe that is why Jesus hasn't come back yet? In spite of 2000 years of ppl expecting Him to? All I know, is the more my heart is weighed down by the brokeness in this world, the more I'll appreciate Kingdom come... and the more I "seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness..." now.
Any way, I wasn't trying to spit out random Bible knowledge on your blog, bro, I just really resonate with your heart and am sort of conversing with you in this spirit. Truly, I appreciate the camaraderie in knowing a fellow man of God is wrestling with similar tension. I would love your prayer, brother. Can I pray for you for any thing more specific?
Hey Justin, thanks for the comment. Great stuff there, I've really come to appreciate your thoughtfulness and candor. Sorry for my delayed response, I've been traveling rather a bit the last few days and am even now packing for tomorrow's flight to Hong Kong.
"The hard road to maturity," I like that. It's really what this life is all about, isn't it?
And, for the record, God is faithful as ever and did shed some light on that day's particular burden.
You're going to Hong Kong??? You lucky, lucky dog! I envy you so much.
I'm glad to hear that God did shed some light on your heaviness of heart. Its wonderful that you were so purposeful and persistent to seek Him out for wisdom. That's wonderful, Nick.
Prayer for me: to know God's faithfulness and strength.
Have fun in Hong Kong!
Hong Kong?!? That is awesome, my friend. Have fun there!
I'm glad hear that God shed light on that day's heaviness, too.
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