We often feel like people are “in our way.”

Humans can be very inconvenient and irritating, there’s no doubt about it.

Have you ever been annoyed with someone? Perhaps they were smacking their food while eating and it was irksome to you. Perhaps they were driving 10 miles an hour under the speed limit in the left lane. Maybe you were simply stuck in line at the store exasperated by the fact that apparently today is the day when everyone decided to shop for 3 months worth of groceries, and all you need is a teensy-weensy lemon because the recipe calls for 2 teaspoons of grated lemon rind. Perhaps you’re feeling especially annoyed because “that person” is doing that thing again, and you know they know how much you hate it when they act like that.

Why is God doing this to you? Why are these people here!?

God ordains and orchestrates for humans to appear in your life in order to loving unsettle you – forcing you to reckon with your frailty and helplessness. You claim to be a loving person, but in these moments you find in yourself no power to love these people. God is graciously NOT agreeing with you! God compassionately doesn’t concur that these people are the problem, but instead is helping you see that YOU are the problem. God is mercifully assisting you in this way because GRACE doesn’t mean anything to anyone except in the context of vulnerability and neediness. Humans are not “in the way” …they are anchors and alignment-ers.  God sovereignly situates people in your life to slow you down and straighten you out – so that you can HEAR the MUSIC of the Gospel …that sweet song that says, “you are weak, but He is strong …you are unlovely, but YES! Jesus loves you! …And this you know! Because the Bible tells you so!

 

 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. – Heb. 11:1

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? – Rom. 8:24

…as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. – 2 Cor. 4:18

…for we walk by faith, not by sight. – 2 Cor. 5:7

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. – 1 Pet. 1:8

And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. – Isa. 8:14

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. – 1 Cor. 2:2

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. – Gal. 6:14

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Heb. 12:2