Endurance for the Journey, Featured

“If you can?” said Jesus.
“Everything is possible for him who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed,
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
MARK 9:23-24 (NIV)



On this side of heaven, we are often like the man in Mark 9 who asked Jesus if he could do anything to help his demon-possessed son. Jesus replied, “If you can? Everything is possible for him who believes.” To which the man wisely and immediately exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”


Even though it is often difficult for us to pray when we find ourselves in the middle of great trials, that is exactly the time when we most need to pray. Every time we pray, whether it feels like it or not, we are brought into the very throne room of heaven. Jesus himself ushers our prayers into the presence of the Father, and that alone assures us that they will be heard and answered.


Prayer is a matter of obedience but it is also a matter of survival. Prayer is the lifeline of the soul and we cannot afford to do without it.



So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven,
Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold firmly to what we believe.
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses,
for he faced all the same testings we do,
yet he did not sin.
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.
There we will receive his mercy,
and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
HEBREWS 4:14-16 (NLT)



n the journey with you,
Jan & Dave Dravecky

0

Endurance for the Journey, Featured

Taking the five loaves and the two fish
and looking up to heaven,
He gave thanks and broke the loaves.
Then He gave them to His disciples
to set before the people.
He also divided the two fish among them all.
They all ate and were satisfied …
MARK 6:41-42 (NLT)



In Mark 6 we read the heartwarming story of how Jesus took the loaves, broke them, multiplied the fish, and gave everybody lots to eat with lots left over. They gathered baskets full of leftover bread so nothing would be thrown away.


I think about that story when I watch a Christian go through tough times yet hang on to God’s grace. Maybe you’re such a person. Day-to-day heartache is your routine, and problems seem to have a permanent place in God’s plan for you. What God is doing with you is like what He did with the barley loaves and fish. Jesus broke the bread. And out of the broken loaves of bread, He multiplied the blessing so thousands would be nourished.


Yes, it hurts to be broken. But sometimes that’s part of God’s plan, especially if He wants you to feed others. Out of your brokenness, the blessing can be bestowed on more people than you ever dreamed possible – and you can be certain nothing will be wasted. God will gather up and use all the hurt; not a bit of it will be discarded or cast aside.
JONI EARECKSON TADA



All praise to the God and Father of our Master,
Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy!
God of all healing counsel!
He comes alongside us when we go through hard times,
and before you know it,
He brings us alongside someone else
who is going through hard times
so that we can be there for that person
just as God was there for us.
2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4 (THE MESSAGE)



On the journey with you,
Jan & Dave Dravecky

0