Day 34: Wallowing in Self-Pity and Fear

Luke 24:13-53; Genesis 44-45; Psalm 35

Jesus asks the two men why they are so slow to understand and believe what scriptures say.  It is true that God promises both suffering and good, he promises to be faithful and provide, he promises hope to those who believe, and yet we struggle with life, as if we have to do it all by ourselves.  Like the two men finally said, they knew, deep down, who Jesus was and what he meant.  So they stopped worrying and wallowing in pity and doubt and set off to spread the message, to live their lives boldly.  We need to do the same!

Jesus gives the same experience to the disciples:  they cannot believe and yet he reminds them that he told them all about life and faith and salvation, they just needed to believe it.  And once they understood that, they were elated and went boldly to praise God and spread the news.  Jesus's promises are good, his ways are good, and we know that we can trust in him.  So, may God help us to live it out, to believe it even when it’s hard to believe.

We need to stop wallowing in our own self-pity and life-junk, and set off to tell people about Jesus!  We need to stop being so afraid and live like we believe Jesus is ALIVE and God is on our side!

I love the story of Joseph and his brothers.  It is a story of selfishness and jealous that became sacrifice and love.  It is also a story about the Lord, and how he used the situation to carry out his bigger plan.  This is also a story of salvation.  The brothers messed up, sent away the one that would someday save them , and then when they had been humbled, he revealed himself and gave them the best in the land.  I'm starting to really LOVE the Old Testament.  Who knew?!  (Well, God did.)