Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Letting Jesus Be Jesus

One of the hardest lessons I have had to learn in my life was "letting Jesus be Jesus." There have been times when I have counted on a good Christian individual to be my deliverer rather than the Lord. Somehow I would replace someone lending me a helping hand with needing them to "deliver" me from a plight I was in at the time. Difficult as it is to admit ~ this happened several times in my past.

I had to learn again and again and again ~ the hard and painful way ~ that trusting a human being to be my Lord was futile. People can encourage us, and pray for us, and guide us to the Lord ~ but they are incapable of pulling us out of a problem we are in and keeping us out of it. Only God can do that. Only God will not grow weary with the job of overseeing us through thick and thin. Philippians 1:6 says Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Beth Moore put it well when she said, "People can help us but they can’t heal us. People can lift us but they can’t carry us. And on occasion people can pull us out of a pit, but they can’t keep us out of it." That is our Lord’s job ~ we need to let Jesus be Jesus ~ we need to let Him do a "work" in us.

And so for me it took a "granddaddy-of-a-situation" to finally teach me once and for all this valuable Biblical truth ~ above all to lean on the everlasting arms of Jesus.

Leaning, leaning
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning
Leaning on the everlasting arms!

10 Thoughts On The Matter:

Cindy said...

Hi Cathryn,

Sometimes it is hard to let Jesus be Jesus isn't it? We expect too much from our family and I realize that I rely on my husband too much. Or I find myself confiding in friends about problems before I take them to Jesus.

Thanks for the reminder that we must let Jesus be Jesus.

Marilyn in Mississippi said...

This is a very thought-provoking post. It's so easy for us to talk about our problems with others and worry about things in our heart and never even think about taking it to the Lord when He's been able and willing all the time to carry our burdens! I know Cindy said pretty much the same thing in her comment.

Keep up the good writing Cathryn!

And Happy New Year!

Marilyn

Abounding Treasures said...

Amen! What a thought-provoking post Cathryn ... thanks for sharing what you have learned as I've found it a great reminder to myself :o)

As this new year unfolds, may you have a keen sense of the Lord's presence and help in your life ...

Blessings!

bopeep said...

I just found your blog, I really got a Blessing reading it, I am always happy to find a Sister in Christ.
You are Welcome to visit mine.
God Bless & Happy New Year,
Bo

Karin said...

I love to visit your blog. It is so encouraging and uplifting. Come visit mine - I've left something for you there.

~~Deby said...

oh boy is this a lesson that I am learning ...continually...and sometimes doing better at it then others..great post...
deby

Anonymous said...

Hi Cathryn, So nice to "meet" you. Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog so I could visit your beautiful site. This post especially spoke to me. After losing my Mother in late Sept., I am just now "losing" the hospice support friends that I spent the summer with. Your post reminds that we are never alone though. I hope you will visit again. Happy New Year. I will be spending the weekend reviewing past posts on all my new blog friends.

Leah Adams said...

Cathryn,

My husband and I learned this in such a huge way this year. God is so patient with our stumbles and I am so thankful that He is.

Thanks for the kind comment on The Point. Happy New Year!!

Leah

Marsha said...

Why is it so hard for us to learn this lesson? If we believe that Jesus is our Deliverer and has delivered us from the kingdom of darkness and into His Kingdom of Light, then why don't we/can't we believe He will deliver us from any other situation?

~~~~~~~

Thank you for your kind comment on my post about my great grandmother. May all the praise and glory go to Him!

Corner Gardener Sue said...

I have depended on others too much before, and they seem to have ended up moving or dying. God has spoken to my heart to depend on him. It's OK to talk to others about a problem we may have, but prayer is what is going to help us through the best.

Have a blessed 2009!

Hugs,
Sue