"I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.” (1 Cor 3:2)
We have a few friends that have been going through a hard time recently. Lots of triggers, lots of lies, lots of emotions. It seems as if their lives have been turned upside down and a new “problem” surfaces every day. Ever been there?
In asking the Lord what to do for them, I got a surprising answer - “let me work.” As it tuens out, the “fire” in their life is grace. Let me see if I can make sense of that…
In both cases, these friends have been walking out their faith over the last couple of years and, recently, have been on a fast-track to walking with Jesus. He has been in their lives more and more, and they have been inviting him in more and more, as well.
In both cases, they have entered into a “season” of enormous growth which is also connected to enormous tribulation. I have heard him refer to birth pains, often, and these certainly seem to fit the description. What’s interesting is the level of love and grace that are involved in this process.
You see, they have both reached the point of no return. They have had a taste of him, of his total excellence, but haven’t arrived at the point of total communion. There are still things holding them back. In his devine benevolence, he KNOWS that he can’t leave them where they are.
They have come too far to stop (they would be miserable for the rest of their lives having tasted God without being full of him), but haven’t arrived at a place of stability. His loving grace is to apply enough presure to help move them from milk to solid food.
It’s also important to understand that Jesus brings the baptism of fire, and that this is not an “attack.” Note everything that happens against what we want is an attack. As a matter of fact, many “attacks” simply give us exactly what we want (when it will draw us away from the love of Christ).
When trials come, you can either run to God and seek him or run away and seek others. If you’ll choose to move forward with him (or at least clear off the reasons why you wouldn’t do that), the “trial” goes faster. Run to him and find rest in the storm!
-Shawn