Genesis- How not How long

Thursday, September 17

Yesterday we engaged with what appears to be something simple in life, life and death, blessing and curses. But my push wasn’t that they exist, my push was, how do we respond to both blessing and curses?

Remember, blessing is goodness, life, increase; curse is challenge, hardship, pain, chaos, and yes death. Both are the reality of life, no one can escape blessing and curse, how you respond though, can make all the difference.

The old adage, “when life throws you lemons, make lemonade” or “don’t get bitter, get better.” Sure, we need to have a healthy mindset or attitude, but I think it’s bigger than that. It’s knowing that life is filled with both and that God is faithful and worthy of trust, regardless of what we face.

John 16:33- Jesus says, in this world you will have trouble (not if, not maybe, not if you don’t do the right things), you will have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome the world. Besides if Jesus faced the curse of death, and lived a perfect life, don’t you think we will see some troubles as well?

Psalm 23-Blessing and curses, life giving and death. We see walking in green pastures, beside still waters and then “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Why? Because God is with me, his rod and staff comfort. God was in the green pastures, still waters and the valley of the shadow of death.

Read Habakkuk 3:16-19- 16 I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. 17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. 19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

We don’t’ rejoice in our circumstances, we “rejoice in the Lord who is with us in our circumstances.

James 1:2-4- 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

It’s not, “wooo-whooo, I get to go through hard things.” There can be a lamenting, there can be a crying out, but not why me. The crying out is, “God this is hard, I need you to walk with me.”

That’s why it is critical if you believe God did this to you, you won’t trust, you will be bitter and hardened. But if you keep moving towards God, walking faithfully with him and other like-minded believers, that is of value and that tells a story.

At creation God desired humanity to create sacred space of blessing amongst his presence, evil came and we have a choice. Do we continue to look to bring sacred space to our mind, heart, and those around us? Or do we look to bring chaos? The choice is yours, how do you respond in life to blessing and curse, bring life or bring more chaos?