In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. Jonah 2:2
“Jonah’s story is really a story of God’s Grace,” Pastor John (weekend message).
Just Like Jonah, we have had our time in the belly of a fish. We call it hitting bottom; the black hole that we just can’t seem to get out of. The faster we run from God, the bigger the hole we make for ourselves. It isn’t until we surrender and ask God for help that we stop digging the hole.
What’s amazing to me is how merciful our God is. Most of us come to Celebrate Recovery (CR) running from something; we try to run the lives of those around us or we try to run our own lives, or run from our lives.
But, in our darkness we cry out to the Lord and he hears us, and he shows us great mercy and grace.
God is constantly teaching us something, pruning us and growing us. In the process of recovery, we start to learn that pain has value. It’s by being willing to walk through fear and endure the pain that real change occurs.
In recovery, pain is part of the journey, but misery is optional. I think of the ending of Jonah’s story: after preaching to the evil city of Nineveh, as God had commanded that he do, Jonah was so angry that he wanted to die. Why? Because God showed great mercy on an evil people who, through their repentance, God spared. Jonah was willing to do what God wanted him to do, but he wasn’t trusting God with the outcome. OK, I will preach to these evil people, but then God will destroy them, as he should.
Sometimes in my recovery I too want to plan the outcome. If I do my job, surely God will do his, and it will line up with my perspective of what should be. The misery we create by playing God seems to be God’s opportunity to teach us about mercy.
Question for the week: In what area of your life are you playing God?
Have a great God filled week,
Dana
Celebrate Recovery Crossroads Church Calendar
November 14-20, 2011
Friday—Large Group Meeting:
- Join us at 7pm for great worship, followed by Dana teaching on Step 4: Inventory.
- Share groups at 8pm.
- Solid Rock Café at 9pm.
Canned or packaged food items are needed to prepare dinner for the homeless prior to the Tuesday night open-share group meeting at Homeless Connection. If you would like to help, just bring your food items to CR on Friday nights. Money donations are needed as well. Winter is coming up and any clothing you can donate would be much appreciated.