Message Follow Up | It Is: Part 1 – It Is Coming
By David McNeely
Don’t you love guarantees?
Whether it’s a service or product, I love to hear about a guaranteed outcome. A guarantee implies I get what I want, doesn’t it?
Actually no. Not every guarantee means I get what I want. Sometimes the guarantee is only for certain parts to function in a way that is promised. This is true for many things, like appliances or tech equipment like phones and computers etc.
Nowhere in life do we want a guarantee more than in relationships. While preparing for part 1 of It Is: It Is Coming, I was struck with how much I desire guarantee from God that redemption is coming for those I love, especially my kids.
I want guaranteed godliness in those I care deeply about. Deep inside, all of us long for a promise that our loved ones will turn out like we want. But the Scriptures only say that God will accomplish what He wants.
“The Scriptures only say that God will accomplish what He wants.” – @dmcnee14 #ItIsClick To Tweet
That is comforting, frightening, and frustrating.
It is comforting to know I cannot mess them up so bad they are beyond God’s reach. It is frightening to think the souls of the people I love more than any other might not ever be knitted to God. It is frustrating to know I cannot manipulate God to bow His knee to my will.
Blogs, books, video series, conferences, and other types of equipping are plentiful on raising children, being a good friend, a loving spouse, an effective small group leader, and every other important role we fulfill with people. We should learn something new every month about loving and giving.
But if we put into practice 100% of the wise counsel it still will not guarantee the outcome we desire. Most people know that. My question is this: do we pray AND rest like we believe it?
Let these words from Romans 8:26-27 convict and comfort you:
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Pray for yourself. Ask God for rest. I don’t mean rest from your duties and responsibilities of pointing those you love to Jesus. I mean rest from the burden that it all depends on you.
Romans 8 tells us the Spirit helps. He helps because He wants to help. Jesus called The Spirit, “The Helper.” So, rest by choosing to believe the greatest help available to you is God the Spirit.
Believe He will one day do a great work in your children.
Believe He will soon give your friend a heart of flesh to replace the heart of stone.
Believe He will woo your husband to Himself.
Believe that redemption is coming.
Pray for those you love. Don’t be concerned the words are correct. Sometimes you may not even be able to find the words. When you come before God, the Spirit takes your deepest heart’s desires and puts your groaning into words.
It’s ok to fear that your children, or wife, or brother, or neighbor will not walk with the Savior. Take that fear to the Lord.
It’s ok to be frustrated that God cannot be manipulated (even when my desire is for something that is good). Tell Him you are frustrated.
Be comforted that you are not alone. The Spirit will pray for you & with you. The scriptures guarantee it.
“Pray for yourself & those you love. The Spirit will pray for & with you.” – @dmcnee14Click To Tweet