Help My Unbelief

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Day Eleven

During Lent we come face-to-face with parts of ourselves we would rather ignore. As difficult as it is, it’s a beautiful work of the Spirit as we allow God to graciously reveal to us where we are still in need of forgiveness and healing, those places we have attempted to hide out of shame and regret. As the saying goes, “God loves us just the way we are, but he loves us too much to leave us that way.” Lent is a time when that truth becomes real in penetrating and transformative ways.

But as the Spirit probes our soul, we often find that it is not just sin that comes to the surface, not just a rebellious streak or a willful spirit. Sometimes, as we are brought to deeper places of honesty within ourselves, we come face-to-face with something we know is there but are maybe even less willing to admit: doubt.

As painful as it is to reckon with our sin, it is at least something we know we all struggle with. Paul knew the struggle and wrote about it. Jesus was fully human and isn’t shocked at all that we deal with it. Sin doesn’t come as a surprise. But doubt is a different animal. In many Christian circles doubt is seen as a unique spiritual weakness and fault, one we are shamed into denying should it ever rear its ugly head. How many of our churches are filled with people secretly struggling with seasons of doubt who are afraid to admit it, who then put on a mask of “everything is great” when around their church friends and family, the very people who should be most open to walking alongside us in those times?

At a church elder meeting some years ago a Pastor of Congregational Care shared that there were many in that congregation who were going through times of “messy spirituality,” and asked the elders to be praying for God to be close to those people as they wrestled with their faith. One of the elders spoke up and questioned the use of the term “messy spirituality,” arguing that it was incompatible with true Christianity. The implication was that they should be praying for these people to get their “faith act” together instead of asking God to be real and near to them.

That is not biblical.

When Christians talk about doubt in the Bible, they tend to focus on the parts that paint it as something to be denied and discouraged. They quote James 1:6, or they point to the person whose doubt was memorably recorded in Scripture, and our subsequent reading about it in a negative light ended up changing the way we remember him forever—Thomas. Never mind that Thomas wasn’t the only disciple to question the resurrection of Jesus—the others also didn’t believe until he appeared to them. In fact Thomas should probably be commended for being brave enough to name his doubts and confront them head on.

There are others in the Bible who doubted as well, people we tend to look to as heroes of the faith. Moses, Gideon, Abraham, and Sarah, to name a few…and yet we don’t condemn them for their uncertainty. King David wrestled with his faith on more than one occasion, and we even have records of these times scattered throughout the book of Psalms, such as Psalm 13:

“How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?”—Psalm 13:1-2

Doubt is not defeat. As the 19th century Scottish evangelist Henry Drummond said:

“Doubt is looking for light.”

Doubt is looking for light. It’s acknowledging the places in our lives where the light doesn’t make sense right now, or where the light is simply hard to see. We can be brutally honest with Jesus about our doubt, just as we’re brutally honest about our sin. It is not failure to acknowledge doubt, it is failure to ignore it. We can learn a good lesson from the despairing father who said to Jesus in Mark chapter 9:

“I believe; help my unbelief!”—Mark 9:24 (NRSV)

We can live in that tension and even grow from it. And we can emerge from seasons of doubt with a faith that is stronger and more resilient. As Tim Keller has written:

“A faith without some doubts is like a human body with no antibodies in it.”

As we make our way to Jerusalem with Jesus, we may even find ourselves doubting the journey itself. Whatever the doubt we’re struggling with, we begin to find the answers when we choose to acknowledge it and name it before the one who, as he did with Thomas, will meet us there and turn those doubts into places of encounter and worship.

O happy fault that gained for me the chance to know You, Lord
To touch Your wounded side and know the joy of my reward
I know, I know, and I believe You are the Lord
I know, I know, and I believe You are the Lord
Help my unbelief

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Questions for Reflection

1) “I believe…help my unbelief.” When in your life have you most resonated with those words? If your answer to that question is, “Right now,” are you able to hear Christ’s invitation to name your doubts honestly and without shame? Wherever you find yourself on the spectrum of faith and doubt, spend some time in prayer acknowledging to God where it is most difficult.

2) Here is a larger version of the quote by Tim Keller. What about these words stands out most to you? Do you find yourself resisting it at all? Use it as a launchpad for thought, discussion, or prayer.

“A faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience of tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic. A person's faith can collapse almost overnight if she has failed over the years to listen patiently to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflection.”—Tim Keller

3) Are there people in the biblical narrative who have helped you understand doubt and wrestling with faith? What about their story impacted you?

4) As we think about Jesus, “the fullness of the Godhead knit with our humanity,” what can in we find in his divine nature that can help us be honest about our doubts and struggles? What can we find in his human nature that can do the same?

5) Read and reflect on this verse. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”—Psalm 94:19 (NLT)

Is He Worthy?

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Second Sunday

There are days the brokenness just seems to be too much. As we make our way to Jerusalem with Jesus, taking time to contemplate the weight of our sin and the depth of his sacrifice, there are days when it threatens to overwhelm us. Add to that the hurt and pain of a broken world, reflected these days in stories and images from Ukraine that tear at your heart and soul, and there are times it seems beyond our ability to bear.

It is.

It is absolutely far too much to bear, but for some reason we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that’s what we’re called to do. That’s what brings us to a breaking point—when we allow the weight of all the brokenness to nearly crush us because we think it’s ours to carry.

It’s not.

Then just when we feel we can’t take another step in our Lenten journey, we come to Sunday. Another “mini-Easter” that reminds us that the the final word doesn’t belong to our sin, and it doesn’t belong to the cross. Just as it doesn’t belong to the forces at work in our world that seek to drown out the truth of what Christ has done. The final word belongs, for now and always, to God.

In the fifth chapter of Revelation, John has a vision of a scroll sealed with seven seals, the opening of which will initiate the final judgments of the end times. Scholars are not always in agreement regarding the actual contents of the scroll. Some believe it is a written account of the prophecies about to unfold when the seals are broken, others believe it’s a copy of the Hebrew Torah, still others think it’s a record of the sins of humankind. Some link it to similar scrolls in the Old Testament (Daniel 12:4, Ezekiel 2:9-10) with hidden messages about what lies ahead for humanity as God’s work of salvation draws to a close.

Whatever the exact contents of the scroll, what is certain is that it is of such importance that for a moment the angels (and John) are concerned that nobody is worthy of breaking the seal and revealing its contents.

“And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.”—Revelation 5:2-4 (NIV)

The scroll contains, in some form, a revelation of God’s divine plan for the final redemption of the world, a plan that seems at times to be close to defeat because of sin’s weight and the enemy’s schemes. Only one who can claim victory over those is worthy to open the scroll, and just when all seems lost that one appears to take his rightful place and carry out his prescribed work:

“Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’”—Revelation 5:5 (NIV)

Jesus alone is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll, worthy because he is the Lamb who was slain, the one who took sin and death upon himself and forever destroyed their hold over God’s children. In John’s vision he is worshiped as he takes the scroll, with a new song ringing out across the heavens:

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”—Revelation 5:9-10 (NIV)

In a fallen world, and in the face of our own fallenness, we need reminders of the worthiness of Christ and the sufficiency of his work. That’s what the “mini-Easter” of Sunday does for us. When we are discouraged, echoing John and the voices who feared nothing could be done to bring about our redemption, we need to be told again that something has already been done by the only one who is worthy. He alone is able to take the brokenness upon himself by virtue of his sacrifice, and he alone is worthy to rob it of its power by virtue of his resurrection. And one day, he alone will return to welcome the ones he has purchased for God into his presence forever. Reminded of this truth, we can join our voices with the heavenly choir:

“You are worthy!”

Is anyone worthy?
Is anyone whole?
Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?
The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave
He was David's root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave
Is He worthy? Is He worthy?
Of all blessing and honor and glory
Is He worthy of this?
He is

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Questions for Reflection

1) Among the questions asked in this song is: “Do you feel the shadows deepen?” What shadows are deepening in your life? How are you holding those shadows before God? How does the statement “He is worthy” speak into those shadows?

2) The majority of the lyrics in this song are questions. How are questions worshipful? What questions would you bring to God as an offering of worship today?

3) The choir of Revelation 5 sings to the Lamb, “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God.” How do you understand those words as they apply to your life? What do you think it means to “be a kingdom and priests” serving God?

4) The book of Revelation is often treated like a horror story, when in truth it is meant to be a word of hope to those who are discouraged, drifting, and distressed. How does the knowledge of Jesus’ final victory impact your experience of this particular season?

5) Read and reflect on this verse. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created and have their being.”—Revelation 4:11 (NIV)

Walk With Me

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Day Ten

A lot of our focus during Lent is on the fact that we are walking with Jesus. It’s such a powerful image for these 40 days—heading to the cross with Christ, where he will sacrifice his life for us, and where the call to die to ourselves and take up our own cross comes to greater focus and clarity. But there is another truth about our journey that is worth spending time thinking about:

Not only are we walking with Jesus…he is also walking with us.

We are invited on this journey by the Lord himself. It is not forced on us, and it is not offered to us reluctantly. This is why he came: to extend the invitation, “Walk with me.” It is his delight to be our companion, to share our joys as we share in his, to share our sorrows as we share in his. He desires to be involved in every part of our lives, meaning there is no stretch of our journey he can’t transform with his presence if we allow him to.

But his transforming presence is not something to be taken for granted. He will never force himself into areas of our lives we don’t offer to him freely and without reserve. Jesus awaits our invitation. Just as it is all joy for him when we answer his call, “Walk with me,” it is also all joy when we ask him in return, “Walk with me,” offering all of our lives and every step of our daily walk into his care.

In Luke chapter 24, Jesus appears after his resurrection to two of his followers making their way to the village of Emmaus, but they are kept from recognizing him. The men are distraught, trying to make sense of the horrible things that had just taken place in Jerusalem and the news that Jesus’ body was no longer in the tomb. And what does Jesus do? He walks with them, he offers himself as their companion and proceeds to teach them (after a small admonishment) about the promises of Scripture that have been fulfilled. By the time they reach the village, they are encouraged and captivated by what he has said. Later they remark that their “hearts were burning within them” as he shared the story of Scripture, which was really a sharing of himself.

Luke doesn’t mention the look on Jesus’ face while he spent time on the road with them, but it wouldn’t be surprising if there was a small grin on his face as they began to understand. After all, he hasn’t come just to be a teacher or a leader, he has come to be a friend to those who follow him (John 15:15). As a friend, Jesus takes joy when those he loves find truth, comfort, and peace in the knowledge of who he is and what he as done for us.

During Lent we say to Jesus, the friend for sinners, “Walk with me. Be my companion, my guide, my teacher, and my friend.” Even beyond Lent that invitation is crucial, especially in seasons when we find the path difficult and the spiritual terrain rocky and unsteady. As the Psalmist says:

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”—Psalm 23:4 (NIV)

Today as we consider Christ’s desire to walk with us, even through the most difficult seasons of life, we join our voices with those who have known that companionship at a powerful level. The spirituals sung by those subjected to the brutal and evil practice of slavery are a testimony to God’s presence in suffering, and as we make our way to the cross they give witness in a way like no other.

Walk with me, Lord
Walk with me
Walk with me, Lord
Walk with me
While I'm on this tedious journey
I need You, Jesus, to walk with me

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Questions for Reflection

1) The requests made of Jesus in the spiritual are both extremely simple and extremely profound:

Walk with me…hold my hand…guide my feet…be my friend.

Which of these resonates most with you personally and why?

2) Can you identify with the language of the “tedious journey?” What does that word say to you, and what about it rings true? What does it mean to invite Jesus into even that which is “tedious?”

3) Prayerfully consider if there are areas of your life where you have yet to say to Jesus, “Walk with me, Lord…even here.” What might be behind any resistance you sense in that area? What would it look like to offer even that resistance in prayer?

4) Imagine you are walking along a path like the disciples in Luke 24, and Jesus were to appear by your side. What might he find you worried and confused about, and what word might he speak into that worry and confusion?

5) Read and reflect on this verse. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.”—Psalm 23:6 (ESV)

Psalm 121: He Watches Over You (Copy)

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Day Nine

Jesus wasn’t the only one heading to Jerusalem.

During Lent we remember how Jesus “set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51), starting down the path that would lead to his betrayal, arrest, and death. At the same time he and his disciples headed down that road, there were no doubt others alongside them. It was time for the Passover, and there would have been large crowds of Jews also heading to Jerusalem for the commemoration of their liberation from bondage in Egypt. Those same crowds would be there to welcome Jesus when he came into the city on what we call Palm Sunday, shouting with excitement and hope that a new deliverer like Moses had perhaps come into their midst.

Imagine what it must have been like to be on that road to Jerusalem with Jesus and those journeying for the festival. Was there a sense of anticipation already in the air? Did pilgrims along the way glace over at this itinerant rabbi from Nazareth and whisper among themselves, “That’s him! That’s Jesus, the one many say will set us free!” What kind of conversations took place as they stopped for the night around a fire and a meal? What did they hope for? What did they pray for?

Tradition has it that Jewish worshipers making their way to Jerusalem for the three major festivals each year would sing songs from the Hebrew psalter as they approached the city, hymns of pilgrimage that would echo in spiritual terms the physical journey that they took. In our English bibles these psalms are labeled the “Songs of Ascent,” since Jerusalem was situated on a high hill. They are found in psalms 120-134, and for many Christians around the world these songs are an important part of their Lenten journey.

This theme of ascent is evident in the opening verses of Psalm 121:

“I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”—Psalm 121 (NRSV)

“Where does my help come from?” Who knows what those who might have been singing on the way to Jerusalem that fateful year might have had in mind as those words crossed their lips? Would their hearts and minds be focused on personal needs, or would they perhaps have been thinking of the fate of Israel, which had been under the thumb of so many oppressors even before Rome? Whether their thoughts were of themselves, their family, or their nation, no doubt the reminder that the same God who made heaven and earth is still watching over his people provided much-needed comfort.

The songs of ascent are words of encouragement for a weary pilgrim. Weary not only from the journey but from life. They remind the singer that God is our help, the one who protects us and guides us. In these songs the call for help goes out, the reminder of who God is sinks in, and the eyes of the troubled ones look up.

For followers of Jesus today, troubled eyes look to more than just the various hills of Jerusalem for a reminder of their help. They look to a specific hill outside Jerusalem, a hill where the one whose right hand never leaves us allowed the hands of his only son to be pierced on our behalf. And it is because of what happened on that hill outside of Jerusalem that we today can declare with certainty alongside the pilgrims of old the same unassailable truth: that in our going out, in our coming in, today and forevermore, the God of the universe is watching over us. We lift our eyes up to the mountain of Calvary, and we know beyond the shadow of a doubt where our help comes from.

He watches over you
Like a shade from the sun by day and the moon by night
He watches over you
No evil can ever invade the covering of Yahweh

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Questions for Reflection

1) In your experience, what does it mean to “lift your eyes to the hills?” What are ways that you have found God to be your help, and what aids you in keeping your eyes on that important truth?

(In the Eastern Orthodox tradition they include a song of ascent in their daily devotions during Lent—something worth considering if you need an “eye-lifting” assist)

2) It is a mind-blowing thought that the God who created the heavens and earth, the one who flings galaxies into space, knows us intimately, watches over us, and cares for our every need. Have you ever spent time simply meditating on this amazing truth? If not, spend some moments with God and dwell in the knowledge that there is one who is so far beyond us, yet desires to draw so near to us.

3) “No evil can invade the covering of Yahweh” is an interesting translation of Psalm 121:7, which is often rendered, “The Lord will keep you from harm.” How does that verse sit with you? Does it comfort you and ring true for you? Or have the difficulties of this world made verses like this hard to grasp? Spend some time in honest reflection and prayer, offering to God your needs and your questions, asking him to reveal his trustworthiness to you in a new way.

4) The setting of Scripture to music is a wonderful gift to the church. Are there worship songs or hymns you can think of that include words of Scripture in a powerful way? If engaging with Scripture in this way is meaningful for you, how might you build it into your devotional walk with God?

5) Read and reflect on these verses. Let them lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

"Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.”—Psalm 125:1-2 (NIV)

Mighty Is The Power Of The Cross

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Day Eight

There’s a story told about a priest in England, many years ago, who felt a call to become a missionary to a dangerous country, a place where declaring (much less preaching) Jesus as Lord would put your life at imminent risk. As he made his way to the coast where he would board his ship, the priest found himself sharing a train compartment with a wealthy businessman, who took an interest in the young man of God’s story. After hearing it all, the businessman looked at him with great concern in his eyes.

“Young man,” he said, “I applaud your enthusiasm, but I must protest. It seems so futile to go to a place where spreading your faith could cost you your life. You’re so young, with so much energy and passion, with so much of your life ahead of you. Surely God could find a place for you to serve where you won’t find yourself threatened with death?”

The young priest thought a moment, then quietly took out the cross he wore around his neck and held it out in front of the businessman and said only one thing.

“He did this for me. Can I do any less for him?”

He did this for me. Can I do any less for him? That profound statement followed by a profound question has such a powerful message for us on this Lenten journey. During these days, we follow Jesus to the cross where he died, and we meditate on his call to die to ourselves so that we may find true life in him. That is the heart of Lent.

The image of Jesus on a cross is a difficult and disturbing one, but it’s also an important one. In Protestant circles, where the cross is always shown to be empty, the emphasis is on the resurrection. “Our cross is empty,” they might say, “because Jesus didn’t stay on it. He was buried, and then he rose again. That’s our focus.” And they are expressing an undeniable truth: the resurrection of Jesus is where Christianity begins. Had Jesus stayed dead, his name would have been simply added to the pantheon of false gods that were common in 1st century Palestine, and then eventually forgotten. But he didn’t stay dead, and it’s good and right that we have a visible reminder of that.

But how important it is that we also allow ourselves to meditate on the importance of what happened on that cruel instrument of Roman torture and execution. We need to take it in without giving in to our desire to empty the cross of its inhabitant, the one who loved us enough to go through that for us. Paul emphasized the importance of this in his first letter to the Corinthians:

“And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”—1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (NIV)

Later in that epistle Paul will talk about the resurrection of Jesus. He will state without hesitation that there is no salvation without the empty tomb (1 Cor. 15:17). But it’s also true there is no empty tomb without the cross. Jesus rose because he was first willing to die for us and our sins. And when we allow ourselves the time needed to cast our eyes on that death, we are reminded of the depth of God’s love for us. As Paul says in Romans:

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”—Romans 5:8 (NIV)

As we contemplate this amazing truth during Lent, and as we listen for the ways God is stirring our souls to take up our cross and follow him, what else can we say?

He did this for me. Can I do any less for him?

Mighty, awesome, wonderful Is the holy cross
Where the Lamb laid down His life
To lift us from the fall
Mighty is the power of the cross

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Questions for Reflection

1) Do you keep a cross with you, or on you in some way (necklace, carry in your pocket, etc.)? How can we build into our lives and our churches an intentional time of focusing on the cross?

2) Read this quote by A.W. Tozer and think/talk about how it resonates with, or even provokes you. What is he saying here, and what in this teaching might we find helpful in our Lenten meditations?

“Though the cross of Christ has been beautified by the poet and the artist, the avid seeker after God is likely to find it the same savage implement of destruction it was in the days of old. The way of the cross is still the pain-wracked path to spiritual power and fruitfulness. So do not seek to hide from it. Do not accept an easy way.”—A.W. Tozer

3) Have you ever found a piece of art or depiction of the cross to be particularly striking and inspiring? What about it stirred your soul?

4) The lyrics of the song are framed as a series of questions, which then find their answer in the cross of Christ. As you spend time gazing on the cross, what questions come to your heart and mind? How does the cross speak to them?

5) Read and reflect on this verse. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”—Galatians 6:14 (NIV)

Wilderness

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Day Seven

There is an old saying, attributed to Jewish tradition, that speaks to times of trial that come before someone is ready to serve God in all fullness:

“The Holy One, blest be His name, does not elevate a man to dignity until he has first tried and searched him; if he stands in temptation then he raises him to dignity.”

In the life of Jesus, this theme is echoed in his 40-day journey into the wilderness after being baptized by John, the 40-days that have shaped our Lenten calendar:

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”—Matthew 4:1 (NKJV)

Many people reach this part of the story and want to firmly hit the pause button. “I thought God doesn’t lead us into temptation,” they protest, and not without good reason. The idea that God the Father leads Jesus into a place where he will be tempted by the devil seems unfathomable. And yet the gospel writers are clear it was the Spirit’s work leading Jesus into the wilderness.

Perhaps part of the problem lies in translation, because the same word in Greek can be translated as “temptation” or “trial.” But even if we choose the latter and distance God from the word “temptation,” we are still left with the reality that God allows his only Son to be driven into a wilderness where he will be physically weakened and spiritually provoked. He will be tested in a way that pushes him to the very limit. Does God really allow that for his children?

The answer, as much as we might not like it, is “yes.”

Think of Abraham being asked to sacrifice his son Isaac, or Joseph being sold into slavery in Egypt, or Daniel serving in the court of Nebuchadnezzar. Think of Naomi and Ruth, widowed and facing an uncertain future. And it’s not just individuals—the Hebrew people face a test of trust after being freed from slavery, and when they fail that test they find themselves wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.

Like the Hebrews, sometimes we find ourselves in barren places because of choices we have made, but even there God is at work. The simple truth is this: God allows wilderness seasons in the lives of his children. But there is an even more important truth: God allows them for a reason, and that reason is grounded in his love and his ultimate desires for us.

For Jesus, the temptation in the wilderness is all about his God-ordained mission. The devil offers him shortcuts, alternate ways to achieve glory and power, but Jesus refuses. He trusts God. He stays true to the path he had been placed on since birth…a path that will ultimately lead to the hill of Calvary and a cruel, Roman cross. Jesus knows that there is no other way but the way of sacrificial love, and when he emerges from the desert he is acutely aware of who he is and what he was sent to do.

That’s what happens in the wilderness, and in that we see why God might allow these moments in our own lives. Wilderness seasons test us by asking us what it is we truly rely on, what it is we really trust. When everything else is gone, when the comforts and consolations are all stripped away, what will we cling to? Will we seek shortcuts, or will we, like Jesus, hold fast to what we know is true about God?

God is.
God loves.
God provides.
God transforms.
God sustains.
God guides.

As we follow Jesus to the cross, seeking the way of self-denial, God may call us into the wilderness. But take heart. He knows what he is doing. Yes, what happens there will test us, but more importantly it will shape us. As it says in the first chapter of James:

“My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.”—James 1:2-4

Lent is the way of the wilderness, but this is not bad news. In God’s purposes it is nothing but joy.

Even in the wilderness
I know I'm not alone
Even in the desert place
Your river overflows
Even in the wasteland
Through the darkest valley, there is hope
'Cause even in the wilderness
You won't let go

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Questions for Reflection

1) Think about the times in your life you would describe as “wilderness seasons.” If you can see how God was using those times to shape you and build your trust in him, spend some time giving thanks for those gifts. If you still struggle to see where his hand was at work in those times, how might you bring those times to him in prayer? Is there someone else you can invite into that conversation?

2) Read through the three temptations Jesus faces in Matthew 4. How would you describe and name the temptations he faces? How would you describe his response? What might we learn from his response about the temptations we face in difficult, trying times?

3) Read through this journal entry by Henri Nouwen (which seems very timely to situations we face today). Reflect on how it describes a time in the wilderness…what is happening? What is the invitation? How does his response speak to you?

“You are living through an unusual time. You see that you are called to go toward solitude, prayer, hiddenness, and great simplicity. You see that, for the time being, you have to be limited in your movements, sparing with phone calls, and careful in letter writing….The thought that you may have to live away from friends, busy work, newspapers, and exciting books no longer scares you….It is clear that something in you is dying and something is being born. You must remain attentive, calm, and obedient to your best intuitions.”—from Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom, HarperOne, 1999.

4) The lyrics of the song say this about a time in the wilderness:

But right here, right now
Is where I start to know You better
So right here, I'll stay

How do we come to know God better in the wilderness? How does that knowledge shape us?

5) Read and reflect on this verse. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”—Isaiah 43:2 (ESV)

Consecrate

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Day Six

A study that came out a few years ago tried, as best they could, to calculate the amount of information the average American consumer encounters in a given day, month, or year. They took into account all the various places from which we get information these days: phones, computers, tablets, e-readers, and televisions, and determined that consumers in that given year had consumed about 1.3 trillion hours of information, an average of almost 12 hours per person per day—and that wasn’t even including work. Breaking it down even further, they said the average consumer took in 34 gigabytes of information from various sources in a normal day, and in that information processed approximately 100,500 words.

And that was a few years ago. No doubt the number has gone up since then.

We are an information-driven society, and even though we’re a much more visual culture than we used to be, words still rule the day. Whether we’re reading them, listening to them, or crafting them, so much of our lives often seem to be controlled by words.

Words are good. They’re how we communicate, how we get things done, how we express our feelings and frustrations and move forward. They form the basis for so much of what happens in any given day, they help us create and deepen relationships, and they inspire us to new and wonderful things.

Words can also wound. They can be used to hurt another person, hide the truth, and spread rumors. The Bible often reminds us of their power, and the responsibility we must accept when using that power:

“Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”—Proverbs 15:4 (NLT)

Most importantly for us, words are the way God has revealed himself, in the Scriptures but most supremely in the Living Word, Jesus. To think that the Lord of the universe has given us such a Word inspires us to offer our own in return, offering to him praise, honor, and gratitude. And that might be the greatest use of words we have.

Words are a gift.

But sometimes there are just so many of them.

From time to time on this Lenten journey, we will be offering a song without words, because sometimes we don’t need more words. Sometimes the invitation as we make our way to the cross is to simply be still and silent while we meditate on the meaning of this season. Sometimes we need to step away from the flood of words and receive God’s invitation from Psalm 46:

“Be still and know that I am God.”

As you listen, pay attention to what the music stirs in your soul. What images or emotions does it evoke for you? How can those images and emotions lead you into prayer and conversation with God?

Questions for Reflection

1) How prone are you to “information overload?” What do you do in those times? Are there practices you have found helpful?

2) What did you find yourself thinking or praying about as you listened? If you found your mind wandering, don’t let that discourage you. We can offer to God the things that distract, as their presence in our time of listening are an indication they are important or concerning to us. How might God use even the distractions in our prayer life to teach and shape us?

3) The song’s title is “Consecration.” What does that word mean for you? How might it relate to our Lenten journey to the cross?

4) Have there been moments in your life when you have connected to God in the quiet of a moment? What was it about the moment(s) that opened your soul to the Holy Spirit in a unique way? Is there something to be learned in that, perhaps a practice you can incorporate more into your life with God?

5) Read and reflect on this verse. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.”—Psalm 62:5 (ESV)