When It’s Monday and You Need a Little Peace

This summer has been a whirlwind and on the horizon is an even busier fall. Life never really seems to slow down these days and for me that means it’s imperative that I deliberately carve out time each day to get my soul filled with some Jesus. This past week Hubbz and I Babymooned like Bosses and unfortunately I left my bible packed snugly in my backpack. In an effort to catch up on one of the two bible studies I am doing, I snuggled up on the couch over the weekend to do some reading.

My study brought me to the Book of Matthew. If you aren’t familiar with the bible, because let’s be honest, it can be super overwhelming and sometimes I fall asleep reading it, Matthew is the first book in the New Testament. It’s the book that tells the story of how Jesus sends his ever so human disciples out to preach the Gospel to the ends of the Earth. I had a mini-revelation in Matthew 26 that kinda got me thinking…

In Matthew 26, the end of Jesus’ life on Earth is beginning to unfold. The plot against Jesus, the last supper, the denial of his ever so human disciples and Jesus’ eventual arrest. I read a verse that I am certain I have read a million times before but it dawned on me a little differently this time. Matthew 26:53-54. Before I get into the verse, let me set the stage.

It’s night in a place called Gethsemane. Jesus knows they are coming to arrest him and he spends most of the evening praying. His disciples are supposed to keep watch but in their flawed humanity, they fall asleep… Numerous times. (I have to admit, I can’t blame them… I love my sleep these days and despite being Jesus’ besties, they are still totally human.) Jesus comes back to wake them the last time, he says “Rise! Let’s Go! Here comes my betrayer!” These words were spoken just as Judas (one of Jesus’ BFF disciples turned traitor) enters the scene with an armed crowd ready to arrest Jesus. There are words exchanged and a scuffle- an ear of the high priest’s servant was cut off in the process. In the midst of this, Jesus does his Jesus thing… He brings peace to an emotionally charged situation.

Ready to get your mind blown? Matthew 26:53-54 happens… Jesus says “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”

Weird verses to blow your mind, right? But these are the verses that caught my attention and got me thinking…

In the midst of our storms in life, there is God, in all his glory, able to do more than we can ever ask or imagine. Our God is there with the means to fix the money issues, fix the marital problems, fix the sickness, fix the job situation, fix the infertility, fix the {enter your ailment and problem here}.

EXCEPT.

Except sometimes he doesn’t.

Except sometimes his infinite wisdom has something different in mind for us.

Except sometimes we don’t understand.

Except sometimes we think we have a better way.

Except sometimes we think if we can just fight through we can change the outcome.

All the while, God is there.

With His Infinite wisdom.

With His Unyielding provision.

With His Unwavering love.

God is there- handling it. Answering prayers His way, in His time. Just the way it’s supposed to be orchestrated to fulfill His plans.

I step back and I re-read Jesus’ words, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”

I stand back and look at my own life. The prayers that have gone unanswered. The tears and angst that at times I have felt. The times I shook my fists to Heaven because I wanted things to go a different way. So many times, God could have swooped in and instantly fixed my problems but he didn’t because he had a different plan. A plan bigger than I could see. It’s here that I look to Jesus. This God turned man turned Savior. Facing circumstances that I cannot even wrap my brain around to fulfill God’s greater plan.

There are so many questions that I have that I know I won’t have the answer to on this side of Heaven. So many things I have on my mind to ask God about when I leave this Earth. In the meantime, one thing I know for certain, I can look to Jesus and find peace. I can find a purpose for the path. I can find my Earthly answer to all my questions and it’s all hidden in two little verses in Matthew.

Here’s to a little peace on the Mondayest Monday that ever Mondayed…