Doubt in the rocky places

 Lessons from the seed falling on rocky ground

 "...the soil was so shallow and held so little nourishment and moisture, the heat of the sun soon withered the sprouting seed so that it died. It is always easier to begin a thing than it is to finish it." Barclay commentary on Mark 4:5-6  1  
Such it is with writing, including blogs, discipling new believers in fact anything of importance started.

What is the key that keeps us from finishing? ( I have many unfinished, unpublished blogs this year)

"Others, like the seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root they last only a short time and when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away." Mark 4:16-17 NIV 
Why does "joy fall away?"

 “If for any cause whatsoever we doubt His (unconditional) love, then our joy be darkened….” 2

The "rocky place", where "trouble and persecution come", has to do with doubt and doubt takes away joy.
"Don't doubt that love, know that He loves us unconditional. You just need to bring worries, sins, inabilities, anxiety and guilt to Him"  The Lord Prays for His Own, p. 242

 Do you believe:

1. That  God is sovereign in dark, troubled and persecuted places.
2. That God has a plan to bring you and I through any difficulty.
3. That He can give us the ability to meet His calling.
4. That God might not abandon us when we most need Him. 

In what circumstances of your life do you need to have Jesus turn doubt into joy?

Listen to what he has to say to you, let Him heal you and set you free.

 

1. William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible Series, The Gospel of Mark, (Philadelphia: The
Westminster Press) p.92
2   Marcus Rainsford, The Lord Prays for His Own, (Chicago: Moody Bible Institute, 1978), p.240-241

  

Lions in our midst trying to destroy peace

"Daniel in the Lion's Den" by Briton Riviere 1892 (depicting Daniel 6:16-24)

picture in our home bought in Florida antique shop years ago

What is your reaction to this picture?

“The Lord is near. Be not anxious about anything, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:5b-7

The messiness of the garden brings me no peace. A bank has been cut in preparation for another rock wall. Island time waits for everyone, but in the meantime there are piles of dirt everywhere and plumbing parts. Someone came yesterday to prepare forms for the footing. Other projects in the yard, waiting for help, are also unfinished. I have no peace when outside is a mess. I handle larger problems better but don't recognize the lions hiding behind anxiety in everyday life.

Although I have not experienced great persecution as believers elsewhere in the world who are suffering because of their faith, I have had a taste of what it might feel like. When regularly radiated for cancer, the technicians, because of my frozen shoulder, had to strap my arm to a post and move the post back . Every day for 8 weeks I experienced torture-like pain. I prayed silently for help. The Lord said, "turn your eyes on me, I care for you." So I sang to myself while the machine hummed. Soon, "the things of this earth became strangely dim." The lion of cancer did not destroy my peace here.

I ask Jesus,

•  "Why do I have such anxiety, lack of peace about the outside mess?"He says, "You're looking too much at the earth."
• What in my life are You pointing to? Where else have I experienced this lack of peace?" It is usually linked to a past difficult time. "Where Jesus were you then?" 

Listen closely to what he has to say. What truth do you hear from him?."You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." John 8:32