What is wrong with us?

For some reason we choose to journey through life on our own, without the Lord, and bounce from one sin or train wreck to another looking for that escape from the turbulence of life. Maybe this turbulence involves a relationship, a divorce, an affair, loss of a child, pride, lust, nonforgiveness or even religion; maybe its alcoholism, a drug addiction, depression, an eating disorder, or a chronic illness where a cure seems hopeless. Whatever is at the center of your turbulence, be assured you are not alone. We must come to an understanding that no matter how desperate our circumstances are we can find our answers and our hope in Jesus. Jesus healed the paralytic despite his obvious doubt and despite the fact that he didn’t even know who Jesus was. I don’t know what you are going through or why. I don’t know the plans God has for you, but reach out to Him.

Jesus brings to us a peace that we all search for and yearn for. He brings a hope that we all long for and the wonder of His message that He speaks to us through His word is that He understands the realities of life, how it feels. The good and the bad.

Life is tough! Many of escape the realities of life through drugs, alcohol, stuff, career, affairs, divorce, fill in the blank ________, in the hopes of numbing the pain. Remember, God never promised us an easy life. Far from it! He promised that He will meet us in the middle of the storms and walk it out with us. The solution that Jesus brings to the realities of life is not to escape or to move into a place of numbness where we never feel again, but to allow Him bring to our circumstances into the beginning of new things.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. –Isaiah 43:19

To restore suffering to joy, despair to hope and our desperate longings with love. I am learning on this journey that what our soul is really searching for can never be satisfied with the things this world has to offer. Our soul is searching for the God who created us.

Of course navigating life would be much easier if we were given a compass, a life plan or a clear path to start walking down. Something. Anything, that would make it a bit clearer what is truly important for us to do, and how to start doing it right now. Here is the rub. We don’t get the master plan — have you ever wondered why? The reason is simple and well…disruptive. God wants us to reach out to Him and seek Him, to learn to walk it out with Him, and honestly we probably wouldn’t do it if we had a plan to follow instead. Right?

Time for a quick gut check.

Have you been trying to satisfy the longing of your soul with stuff?

Have your circumstances become overwhelming, everything crumbling, and your world was falling apart?

Have you convinced yourself that someone will fill the void, hoping that human love will be enough?

Have all the things you bought, your career, success or fame giving you fulfillment you’re looking for?

God steps into human history to take our suffering upon Himself. The scriptures tell us that Jesus took upon Himself the suffering for all humanity and suffered on our behalf so that through death and suffering on the cross that we might find life in Him. The Psalmist (84:2) shares that, “My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.”

Talk about the solution human suffering and the realities of life!

Here’s the kicker…life will throw everything it’s got at you, but it’s only in the midst of this is where we find His promises. So I ask you, have you come the place in your life where your soul cries out — “Jesus!”

Are you ready to start seeking Him? Are you ready to start reaching out to Him? Are you ready for Him to rescue you?