RR “Looking Back – A Right Way & a Wrong Way” Part 2 by Jerry Miller
Shavuah Tov,
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans that I have in mind for you,” declares Adonai, “plans for shalom and not calamity—to give you a future and a hope.”
In my last RR earlier this month, I was sharing on the importance of being a faith-filled people, especially as we go through trials and difficult times. In such times, we might find ourselves “looking back,” so to speak, to times we might remember as being less difficult—times we might think of as “the good old days,” when life seemed easier. From God’s perspective, the problem with this type of “looking back” is that, we are called to be growing as a forward-looking faith-filled people who are confident that God does indeed have a “future and hope” for us, even though the path to that future and hope might be filled with obstacles and trials. As I shared last time, I think it is very helpful for us to nurture in our lives a sense of awe for God Himself. When we live in awe of Him, we won’t be easily awed or overwhelmed by the obstacles and trials that we may face.
I’m reminded of Psalm 73, where the psalmist shares his feelings of being overwhelmed, as he tries to process things going on that just did not make sense to him. Interestingly, he does not experience breakthrough from his confusion and frustrations until he says that he “…entered the sanctuary of God” (verse 17). It’s in the presence of God that he was able to overcome confusion. It’s in the presence of God that he was able to see clearly and get perspective—a perspective rooted in faith and expectation.
The enemy desires to use the multitude of distractions all around us to affect us, I believe, on four key levels. First, he wants to draw us away from Yeshua as our first love. Then, related to that, he wants to draw us away from loving people, which is central to our calling as representatives of Yeshua. Third, the enemy wants to get us to question our values and convictions, perhaps even rethinking whether we believe at all. And fourth, he wants us to lose sight of our calling as those representing Yeshua to the lost. To guard against these four areas of temptation, we must be a people who are hearing the voice of God amid all that is going on around us—amid all the noise and distraction. That means we need to be clearing out the different hindrances in our lives that can prevent us from hearing God’s voice.
The good news is, even in times when we are experiencing a multitude of potential distractions, our own hearts can be flourishing if we will be steadfast in our commitment to be pursuing God whole-heartedly. In that whole-hearted pursuit of God, we grow in the joy and strength that come in the context of deepening relationship with Him. In relationship with Yeshua, we are energized as we ourselves abide in the perfect love and faithfulness of our heavenly Father. Such pursuit does not guarantee that we will always have the answers to all our questions, frustrations or confusion. But as we live and walk in union with Him, the One who does have all the answers, we can be confident even in the midst of mystery and uncertainties. You and I don’t have to have “all the answers,” for the simple reason that, He does have all the answers, and as we live and walk in relationship with Him, He will take us by the hand and guide us in our life’s journey. May the Lord take us continually deeper in our walk with Him. There is no greater priority for us as we live out our days on this earth. We can conclude, along with the psalmist in Psalms 73:25-26, 28 “Whom have I in heaven but You? On earth there is none I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever…But for me, it is good to be near God. I have made my Lord Adonai my refuge…”
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun30-Nov-2025 10th of Kislev, 5786
Ge 32:3(4)-12(13)1 Sa 6-7Ps 50Mk 7(1 Co 3)
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans that I have in mind for you,” declares Adonai, “plans for shalom and not calamity—to give you a future and a hope.”
In my last RR earlier this month, I was sharing on the importance of being a faith-filled people, especially as we go through trials and difficult times. In such times, we might find ourselves “looking back,” so to speak, to times we might remember as being less difficult—times we might think of as “the good old days,” when life seemed easier. From God’s perspective, the problem with this type of “looking back” is that, we are called to be growing as a forward-looking faith-filled people who are confident that God does indeed have a “future and hope” for us, even though the path to that future and hope might be filled with obstacles and trials. As I shared last time, I think it is very helpful for us to nurture in our lives a sense of awe for God Himself. When we live in awe of Him, we won’t be easily awed or overwhelmed by the obstacles and trials that we may face.
I’m reminded of Psalm 73, where the psalmist shares his feelings of being overwhelmed, as he tries to process things going on that just did not make sense to him. Interestingly, he does not experience breakthrough from his confusion and frustrations until he says that he “…entered the sanctuary of God” (verse 17). It’s in the presence of God that he was able to overcome confusion. It’s in the presence of God that he was able to see clearly and get perspective—a perspective rooted in faith and expectation.
The enemy desires to use the multitude of distractions all around us to affect us, I believe, on four key levels. First, he wants to draw us away from Yeshua as our first love. Then, related to that, he wants to draw us away from loving people, which is central to our calling as representatives of Yeshua. Third, the enemy wants to get us to question our values and convictions, perhaps even rethinking whether we believe at all. And fourth, he wants us to lose sight of our calling as those representing Yeshua to the lost. To guard against these four areas of temptation, we must be a people who are hearing the voice of God amid all that is going on around us—amid all the noise and distraction. That means we need to be clearing out the different hindrances in our lives that can prevent us from hearing God’s voice.
The good news is, even in times when we are experiencing a multitude of potential distractions, our own hearts can be flourishing if we will be steadfast in our commitment to be pursuing God whole-heartedly. In that whole-hearted pursuit of God, we grow in the joy and strength that come in the context of deepening relationship with Him. In relationship with Yeshua, we are energized as we ourselves abide in the perfect love and faithfulness of our heavenly Father. Such pursuit does not guarantee that we will always have the answers to all our questions, frustrations or confusion. But as we live and walk in union with Him, the One who does have all the answers, we can be confident even in the midst of mystery and uncertainties. You and I don’t have to have “all the answers,” for the simple reason that, He does have all the answers, and as we live and walk in relationship with Him, He will take us by the hand and guide us in our life’s journey. May the Lord take us continually deeper in our walk with Him. There is no greater priority for us as we live out our days on this earth. We can conclude, along with the psalmist in Psalms 73:25-26, 28 “Whom have I in heaven but You? On earth there is none I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever…But for me, it is good to be near God. I have made my Lord Adonai my refuge…”
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun30-Nov-2025 10th of Kislev, 5786
Ge 32:3(4)-12(13)1 Sa 6-7Ps 50Mk 7(1 Co 3)
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