What we want, what God says

Today: Jeremiah 42-45

"Sometimes what we want isn't what we get.
Sometimes what we get ain't really what we want..."

A few months ago I was singing along with the lyrics to this song in my car (Dave Barnes' "What We Want, What We Get"). Little did I know that I was on the verge of getting some news...some really disappointing news...the same week. Something that I REALLY wanted, REALLY prayed for and REALLY thought was going to happen--didn't. To be honest, it made made me sad-mad-disappointed-scared all at once. I was back to square one.

I cried. My parents brought me dinner (LOVE them!). And I prayed again, "Why, God? Why? I'm one of your kids--and I really wanted XYZ to happen. Did I do something wrong?"

And God was silent.

Honestly, I felt hurt--like the God I trusted let me down.

In those moments, well-intentioned people say things like, "Things happen for a reason" or "God must have something else that's just right for you." I believe those sentiments, but I don't exactly want to hear them in the middle of my sad-mad-disappointed-scared stage.

God was telling me to be patient and to trust Him--to keep aiming for what I want, but to not bulldoze through on my own and make a quick decision without His blessing. I'm still trying to work on that lesson. :)

In today's passage, I thought it was interesting that God's people faced a similar challenge. God gave them some instruction via the prophet Jeremiah. But it wasn't the message they wanted to hear. Instead of listening, they did the exact opposite--and God wasn't happy.

It's important for us to remember that what we want and what God wants aren't always the same things--and what God says and what we want to hear aren't always identical, either. Does God love us still? Absolutely. But here's one thing that makes me feel better in my sad-mad-disappointed-scared stage: God knows and sees a lot more than I do. Perhaps things don't always work out the way I want them to because 1) I'm not God and 2) God has extra information and wisdom--His delay or denial of my requests could be for my protection or growth. And perhaps the idea that "there's something else that's just right" will actually become reality at some point. In the meantime, I'm trying to trust what God already said.

Tomorrow: Jeremiah 46-48

Gone fishin'

Today: John 19-21

I don't know what it is about fishing, but some people absolutely LOVE it. They find it relaxing. Satisfying. Peaceful.

For others, fishing is work. It can be boring. It can take hours. Sometimes there are no results. Fishing can even be dangerous. (My Dad sometimes watches a show called "Deadliest Catch" that illustrates that point pretty well!)

But even though it may be dull or dangerous, real fishermen (and women) can't imagine NOT fishing.

Fishing is discussed in the Gospels quite a bit. When Jesus first met some of His disciples, they were fishing--some of them earned a living that way and left their jobs to follow Him.

Today I noticed that the last time Jesus saw some of the disciples (after His resurrection), they were fishing again.

Does that seem significant to anyone else?

As a writer, when I see the repetition of a similar situation in a story or movie (think the little girl in red in "Schindler's List" or the color red in "The Sixth Sense"), it usually means something. In this case, I had a few interesting observations about the meaning of this fishing scenes, some of which are explicitly shown in the text.

• When Jesus first meets the disciples fishing, He calls them to follow Him. When He sees them fishing after the resurrection, He's calling them again...to lead.
  
• The first time Jesus calls the disciples, they leave their work and their jobs as fishermen. I have no idea what that meant to their family budgets, but I'm guessing it wasn't easy. In contrast, when Jesus sees the disciples fishing after His resurrection, He performs a miracle and helps them obtain 153 big fish--probably a nice boost to their incomes. I love this because it shows how God takes care of (even the practical) the needs of His people.
  
• When Jesus first met the disciples, He basically asked them to stop fishing. In this second example, He instructs them to start fishing...for men (people).

I think fishing for people may be like fishing for...well, fish.

Sometimes, it's very rewarding--you realize that you played a part in helping someone know God or His love. You make a difference in a life and another person is changed forever.

Other times, it's exhausting. You may listen, love, encourage or serve someone else without ever seeing the results or benefiting yourself.

And I won't beat around the bush...sharing love and God with people can be dangerous. Some have literally died doing it and others have been devastatingly hurt (physically and/or emotionally).

But can you imagine NOT fishing for people? Not loving people? Not a chance.

Tomorrow: Acts 1-3