Return

 February 10, 2024

I’ve spoken often in recent months about John 15:3 where Jesus says, “Abide in me.” I’ve talked about what it means to abide; that we abide in our abode, ie. Jesus wants to be where we land when we don’t have to be anywhere else in our thoughts. I’ve learned a few things about what that means…and what it doesn’t mean. Let me start with what it doesn’t mean.

Abiding in Christ doesn’t mean everything turns out all right, or that we will magically feel better about our troubles or bad circumstances. I’ve felt pretty somber for the past couple of weeks due to circumstances over which I have had little or no control. I think about them, and return to Jesus with them…repeatedly. The circumstances have actually helped me turn my thoughts to Christ more than before. I don’t feel any better about them, and have no divine insight as to how to proceed, but I am confident that God will work things out.

Years ago, a young woman was brought to my attention by a friend. This young woman was diagnosed with cancer, and had two young children who depended on her. Linda and I took the children in, and in prayer, the church gathered around this young woman with support and love. Her situation didn’t improve. 

One day while in conversation with her, she mentioned the name of her specialist at Roswell, our closest cancer hospital, so I contacted Roswell, asking for this doctor. They never heard of him. It turned out that she didn’t have cancer after all, and had been pulling this scam with a number of nearby churches. 

We had prayed for her healing. Did God answer our prayer? Not quite as we had imagined, but we certainly got an answer: we got the truth. So when I am feeling confused or uncertain, when I don’t know how to proceed, I pray. And in praying, I know God is at work. I can’t say I feel any better about the circumstances, but at the very least, they are pressing me to abide in Christ; to return to him constantly throughout the day. Hear what the Bible says about returning:

“For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” 

—Isaiah 30:15

In repeatedly returning, I find rest, and confidence that strengthens me for whatever God has in store.