Layers
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.”
All too often, I view my faith-walk as a linear - as a checklist of items to work through with the Lord: finances, identity, trust, self-image, etc… Check. Check. Check. Done. Done. Done. But, usually, that’s not how it works.
I hate to admit it, but I get really annoyed when Jesus circles back something I feel like we’ve “already covered.” I’m tempted into frustration and despair when an “old” item pops back up, and I find myself thinking, “But Jesus, haven’t we already been through this?! I don’t want to rehash this again and again with You. I’m ready to be done with this.” But...
Jesus never tires of teaching us.
As we learn, Jesus doesn’t give us more than we can bear. He’s a patient teacher. So while we might be tempted into discouragement and impatience and self-condemnation when He brings up an “old subject,” He’s just deepening - He’s working on a new layer.
In my experience, the Lord often layers our learning - giving us all that we can bear until the next go-round. It doesn’t mean that we were bad students or disciples the first time. It doesn’t mean that the work we did wasn’t good enough. It simply means that when we encounter the “old” subjects, it’s because we can bear more, learn more, and discover more of His heart than ever before.
Father,
Thank You for Your gentle instruction. Thank You for Your endless patience with us - even when we are impatient with ourselves.
Teach us to follow willingly - especially into the places that we’re frustrated to learn and relearn with You. Pick us up when we’re tired and when we become exhausted with the cyclical teaching style.
God, we love You. We want to follow You - teach us how to come willingly. Amen.