The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw [water] with, and the well is deep.” —John 4:11
Have you ever said to yourself, “I am impressed with the wonderful truths of God’s Word, but He can’t really expect me to live up to that and work all those details into my life!” When it comes to confronting Jesus Christ on the basis of His qualities and abilities, our attitudes reflect religious superiority. We think His ideals are lofty and they impress us, but we believe He is not in touch with reality— that what He says cannot actually be done. Each of us thinks this about Jesus in one area of our life or another. These doubts or misgivings about Jesus begin as we consider questions that divert our focus away from God. While we talk of our dealings with Him, others ask us, “Where are you going to get enough money to live? How will you live and who will take care of you?” Or our misgivings begin within ourselves when we tell Jesus that our circumstances are just a little too difficult for Him. We say, “It’s easy to say, ‘Trust in the Lord,’ but a person has to live; and besides, Jesus has nothing with which to draw water— no means to be able to give us these things.” And beware of exhibiting religious deceit by saying, “Oh, I have no misgivings about Jesus, only misgivings about myself.” If we are honest, we will admit that we never have misgivings or doubts about ourselves, because we know exactly what we are capable or incapable of doing. But we do have misgivings about Jesus. And our pride is hurt even at the thought that He can do what we can’t.My misgivings arise from the fact that I search within to find how He will do what He says. My doubts spring from the depths of my own inferiority. If I detect these misgivings in myself, I should bring them into the light and confess them openly— “Lord, I have had misgivings about You. I have not believed in Your abilities, but only my own. And I have not believed in Your almighty power apart from my finite understanding of it.”
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Journal JDV & DJR
Good Morning, Lord,
Lord, I understand why Chambers would write a devotional like this for his students, trying to help them with their fears and worries about how they will live as missionaries. And I think I understand how many of us would erroneously wait to see how You were going to take care of us before we step out into faith. But God, I have stepped out into the unknown, full of faith and hope only to fall flat on my face. Was I really following your leading? Or was it a figment of my imagination, or? It has on occasion seemed like a Peanuts cartoon where Lucy pulls the football away just as Charlie Brown runs to kick it…and Charlie Brown falls on his face. How can I continue to step out in faith, seek waters that will end my thirst, or step out of the boat when I have fallen on my face so often?
And God says…”Seek first the Kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and I will supply everything else you need. The scripture does not say that I will supply everything else you THINK you need. Your faith cannot depend on your experience of My delivery system or the outcomes of your requests. My ways are not your ways. You must have faith in Me and My judgment about what it is you need to have an abundant and fruitful life. Step one is to put aside your own notions of what you need, and ask and allow Me to guide your hopes and thoughts about your needs and the outcomes of your requests.
When you come to me with pre conceived notions about what the answers are, you are setting yourself up for the Charlie Brown – Lucy scenario. There are many ways to disappoint yourself and you’ve tried a lot of them. Just know that I love you. I am good. I want the best for you. My timing is not your timing. My thoughts are higher than your thoughts. My plans for you are good (Jer 29:11) As you can see, none of this depends on your expected result. So keep on knocking and seeking me and my kingdom but just stay curious as to how the answers to your prayers will be delivered and what they will look like. Remember Daniel was answered immediately but had Angelic warfare added into the mix, so it took a little longer. Those things still happen you know…
But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Dan 10:13
None of my men got everything they wanted, exactly when they wanted it. Paul asked 3 times about that thorn. In the end, My Grace delivered the answer for him as it will for you too.