Chapter One: When life is confusing.
Sometimes life is hard to understand. I have always tried to be honest; to “keep it real” when it comes to my faith and Christianity. Keeping it real means that I have to be honest and admit there are some things in life that just do not make sense to me.
I have a friend who discovered that she had pancreatic cancer. I remember hearing that diagnosis and it hit me like a brick! I could not believe it. She was too young. Her life and witness were too strong! Why was this happening to her? Yet, her faith was intense and powerful! As much as I hate to admit it, I think her faith was stronger than mine at that moment. I have walked through that process with her and her family for some time. She has endured all the treatments that are available in this incredible world of medicine and science. She continues to beat the odds and her faith remain resolute.
Then her husband began to experience some strange symptoms. Unbelievably the doctors informed him that he, too, had pancreatic cancer. He had been her rock, along with her faith. I was simply overwhelmed with the news that he now faced the same struggle and battle that his wife had been enduring. What in the world was happening? Why was this happening? This just did not, and still does not, make any sense to me. To this day their faith remains strong and is a tremendous encouragement to me.
I have to be honest, of all the emotions that I deal with in life, anger, disappointment, etc. I think that frustration, and a sense of bafflement, are the emotions that conquer my peace and ease more than any emotion. I think most people wrestle with the feelings of not knowing, of not understanding, what is happening to them and around them. If you are anything like me, my faith gets shaky when I cannot understand or make sense of what is happening in my world and the world around me.
I thank God for the Bible. It is the one place where I can go and find direction in times like these. One of the characteristics of the Bible is that it does not hide the flaws of its heroes.
These men and women struggle with life like I do and like you do. The Bible also “keeps it real.”
During the early days of the Christian faith the followers of Christ faced incomparable persecution. The Jewish and the people who followed Christ felt the blunt of hatred and antisemitic persecution. History records this period and has labeled it the “Diaspora.” These believers were scattered throughout the first century world. Away from their homeland, and the comfort of being with others of their shared faith, they struggled to understand and to survive.
In that context, the Apostle Peter wrote a letter to the scattered and persecuted believers. They too, struggled with understanding. The promises of their resurrected Mesiah left them wondering and having to march on when just putting one foot in front of the other was a monumental effort. I have been drawn to study this book of 1 Peter to let God march me through the numbing feelings of confusion, a lack of clarity and understanding. I invite you to join me in this pilgrimage of faith. I want to do more than survive the struggle. I want to learn to thrive and not just survive!
1 Peter begins this way…
“1This letter is from Peter, “ (I like the way they wrote letters in the first century, with the signature at the beginning of the letter. I hate having to look at the bottom of the letter first to see who sent it.) It is important to know who wrote the letter. You can understand a letter when you know who wrote it. Knowing who wrote the letter gives it context and helps you understand the letter more clearly.
As much as any person has ever experienced stress and frustration, this man named Simon, who we have come to know as Peter, had a night where he was stressed out beyond belief. It led to his personal betrayal and failure that the whole world knows about. He denied even knowing Jesus!
Peter was one of the initial people Jesus had called to help him complete his mission. He was with Jesus from the beginning of his public ministry. Scripture records their first encounter.
“18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20At once they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:18-20 NIV
Peter immediately began to follow Jesus. “20At once they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:20 NIV
He did not hesitate to follow Jesus. He went “at once…” As he followed Jesus he would exhibit strength and stamina. This was a strong man. He was a strong-willed man.
Now however, things were about to take unexpected turns in his life and in the mission of Jesus. Jesus had just told Peter that he could not go where He was headed, to which Peter replied,
“37Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” John 13: 37-38 NIV
He was so eager and so ready to follow him through it all. He would follow Jesus anywhere and at any time. He could not understand “why” he could not go with Jesus “now!” To be sure, there is some cockiness in him. He could not imagine being unfaithful to the Lord. He thought the other disciples may deny Jesus but not him. He was different. He was stronger than these other guys. In some ways that was true. He had already shown himself to be a leader. He was the first to say that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God. Jesus had said that God has shown him that truth.
The very night of Jesus’ prediction that he would deny him Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Eden and Peter was ready to fight. The words of Jesus, predicting his denial, were most likely, still ringing in his ears when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus. This was it. It had to be! This was the test. He would not fail!! He draws his weapon and is ready to take on all the soldiers, on their ground and under their terms. He would prove his faith and belief and that he was a strong man! He was a man who could be counted on. He meant what he said and was ready to follow through. History gives him a hard time for being the one who denied Jesus but he was the only one ready to fight. Then a surprise happened that, I believe, unsettled his faith and shook his world. Jesus stopped him and told him to put his weapon up. I am sure Peter was thinking, “What is happening?” Then the Great Physician even gave medical aid to the wounded soldier that only He could give. This was long before plastic surgery and before medical knowledge could reattach severed body parts. Jesus put the severed ear back on. WOW! Can you imagine how confusing this was to Peter? He had just been told they would all cower in fear. Here was the challenge he now knew was coming. He was prepared. He was strong. He could be strong because he was standing beside Jesus. There was no challenge too big, no hill too high to climb, no obstacle too big that he could not overcome it. In a way you could say he saw it coming and was prepared to stand firm and not fall. What he was not prepared for was what Jesus did next. He stopped him! Why?! I can imagine this man was utterly confused and in a kind of shock. Everything he had believed in was being put to a test. Why not fight? This did not make sense.
I remind you of this incident because so many times in our lives what is happening in us and around us just does not make sense. We want to scream, “God why are you letting this happen? I am a good man. I have done the right things. What is up? What is happening?” Suddenly Peter’s faith became weak. All of his life he had depended on his strength. He was confident he could handle anything that came his way. What he was not prepared for was his own confusion and his not believing that the Jesus had things under control. It looked like the soldiers were in control!
Many times in our lives it seems as though others are in control of the affairs of our lives. Things seem to happen randomly, with little or no meaning. People hurt us. Life disappoints us. Things do not happen like we think they are supposed to happen. In those moments our faith gets as weak as Simon Peter’s. We tend to forget what Peter failed to remember. When things happen that we cannot figure out, or understand, we must believe, have faith, that Jesus knows some things that we do not know! You and I now know that Jesus HAD to be arrested. If there was no arrest, there would be no crucifixion. Jesus had told him in the upper room when he transformed the Jewish Sadar, commemorating the Jews deliverance from Egypt into the Lord’s Supper.
“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Luke 22:20 NIV
He was going to die! Yet, Peter had only heard the part about his denial. It was another case of Peter not understanding.
I am amazed at our ability to hear words but not understand their meaning. For many of us, it is not that we have not heard enough sermons, read enough books, etc. Our problem is we have failed to understand the ones we have heard and read. In our case Jesus said “In this world you will have trouble…”. There it is, in black and white, yet we are still shocked when we have problems, especially ones we do not understand. We do not understand what is happening to us or around us. Troubles seem like clouds that block the sun and keep us from feeling the warmth and heat of the sun. When things happen that we do not understand we fail to hear or to remember the part where Jesus said “take heed for I have overcome the world.” We forget the part where Jesus said “I have overcome the world.” That is past tense. It is already done. While you are having trouble you can go ahead and celebrate for he HAS ALREADY won the battle we are facing. The outcome is not up for debate! He says “for greater is he who is in you than he who was in the world”. We tend to forget that when things happen that we do not understand.
In my heart I can see this happening in Peter. When they arrested Jesus and carried him off, everyone ran and hid except Peter? Yet he follows them at a distance. Yes, he is stronger than the rest of the disciples at that moment but it is not enough. When he ends up at Ciaphus’s house, where Jesus is held under arrest, he warms his hands on a cold night with strangers around an inviting fire. He was still confused. He was watching to see what was happening. He did not understand what was happening. When put to the test he wilted. The Rock, Peter, was about to crack! He must have thought, “What is going on? Why is this happening? What is going to happen to Jesus and what is going to happen to me? If this can happen to Jesus what is going to happen to Me?”
There is something in us that wants to know what is happening and why it is happening. We wonder how this is going to end for me? In those times, we must have faith that Jesus knows things that we do not know. God has a plan. All that happens to us is fitted into that plan. The Apostle Paul wrote about that assurance during the times when we cannot understand.
“18Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are… 28And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 31What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 35Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? … 37No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8: 18-39 NLT
The only way to survive, yes even to thrive through those times of confusion and pain is to remember that Jesus knows some things that we do not know. We must remember that He is always in control. He will never let go of us. When Jesus told Peter that he would deny him he said, “31“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22: 31-32 NIV
Right now life may be sifting you like wheat. Yet, Jesus is praying for you! He is working all of it together for your good. He will even use those times when your faith lapses, like Peter’s did. God will weave that into his pattern for you so that you can strengthen others. Whatever you are facing remember, God knows things you do not know and God has this!
Comments