Today’s scripture: Mark 14:26-31; 66-72 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message)
As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.
My thoughts (David Squire):
Peter’s world had just cracked apart. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen!
The human mind goes to funny places when we’re hit with shattered expectations and loss. I remember this incident from my childhood when I think about how incomprehensible God’s plans can appear to be.
I was about seven, and there was an offer on the “Super Sugar Crisp” cereal box for a stuffed Sugar Bear. (This was back when sugar was still good for you, before the advent of Super “Golden” Crisp.) He was the cereal’s mascot, and I had to have one. As I recall, I had to send in proofs of purchase plus a little cash, around $3.
So we consumed sufficient Sugar Crisp to get the proofs of purchase, and I had saved my allowance until I had $3. (Bear in mind, this was 1973, and $3 was a lot of money to my seven-year-old mind.) Dad helped me get the order ready to go in the mail. The order form was filled out, the proofs of purchase included, and then Dad took my $3 and wrote a check to include in the order envelope.
And I was devastated. Why did Dad take my money? What was he doing? I thoroughly, completely, did not understand. I guess the concept of “checking accounts” was beyond me at the time. I behaved badly and there may have been tears involved.
All I could see was that the money I had saved up for so long was gone, and I still didn’t have my Sugar Bear. I was in a place of pain because I didn’t understand the mechanism Dad had to use to get me what I wanted. (I’m sure he explained all of this to me, but hey, I was seven!)
On a larger scale, Peter was in the same place I was. He didn’t understand what God was up to, and he was devastated. All of his expectations were crushed. He behaved badly, and there were tears involved.
And we’ve all been there. We’ve all had times when life has knocked the wind out of us. I think Peter’s story can give us some hope, if we can learn from where he went wrong. Here are three practical ideas:
- Give yourself a break. Peter had been in the physical presence of Jesus Christ for three years learning, asking questions, absorbing the lessons of the Kingdom directly from the source. So if you and I don’t understand what God is up to in our lives, we’re in some pretty good company.
- Give yourself some time. For me, I had to allow six to eight weeks for delivery. For Peter, it was just a few days before he saw Jesus again and was invited back to Jesus’ side as a partner in ministry. But we may never get an answer, which leads to…
- Learn to let go. The biggest disappointments I’ve had have always been when I’ve tied all my happiness to a particular outcome. (Just like Peter, apparently, had his own ideas about how God’s Kingdom would come to pass, and it didn’t include an arrest and trial!) How much better for Peter and us if we can learn to say, “God, I don’t know what you’re up to in this mess (and it hurts like hell) but I know You’re in this.” This (to me) isn’t a grit-my-teeth-and-bear-it, keep-a-fake-smile-in-place kind of faith, but it’s really letting go. It’s not mine any more — it’s yours, God. I know that sounds pie-in-the-sky. I certainly don’t have any secret magic formula to make it happen. But it’s only when I’ve been able to move toward letting go that I’ve found peace.
Thought for the day: What am I grasping that I should let go of? Where am I holding on to my expectations, when I should allow God to work as God wills?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.