Sometimes it’s just time to go.
It’s time to move along.
It’s time to get on with the next thing.
Recently our pastor preached from Matthew 14:22-36, the story of Jesus walking on the water. Now, I’ve heard this story hundreds of times — well maybe not hundreds, but you get my meaning. I KNOW this bible story. Jesus walks out on the water. Peter walks on water to Jesus. Peter takes his eyes from Jesus. Peter sinks. Jesus reaches to him and saves him. Yes, I got this one…. or so I thought.
Before we got too far into the message, David (that’s my pastor) paused on verse 22 —
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. Matt. 14:22 (NIV)
Jesus had just taught the 5000 and he’d fed the 5000. Jesus sent his disciples away and then dismissed the crowd.
This caught me off guard. After years of hearing, reading and teaching the story of Jesus feeding the 5000 and Jesus walking on water, I somehow missed this verse. Jesus dismissed the crowd. Jesus sent them on their way.
Jesus had gone to a place to be alone — a remote place, scripture tells us, but the crowds followed. Jesus taught them and then He fed them — with only 5 loaves and 2 fish. Jesus fed the multitude. He fed them God’s Holy Word and He fed them food. He met their hunger – both spiritual and physical. But then He dismissed them.
I wonder if they would have just stayed right there with Jesus. I’m sure I would. I would have sat and waited for Him to fed me again — more spiritual food and probably more physical food.
There are times we we have to go. When we need to learn to feed ourselves. We have God’s Holy Word at our finger tips — and in all forms and fashions. I have the bible on my phone, Logos (my FAVORITE bible software!) on my computer and my ipad. I have a collection of Bibles on my desk. I have Bible websites I can access. I have the Word of God all around me. Sometimes I just need to DIG into it. I need to ask God to reveal Himself to me through His Word.
I spent years leading Bible study with the same group of women. We would finish one and start the next. All the blanks filled in and the questions answered. We closed the book and went on to the next study.
I’m not saying I didn’t learn something from every single study. I did. But bible study became more about filling in the blanks than about digging into God’s Holy Word. It was almost a race to insure I had all my blanks completed. Ridiculous, I know! But I’m just being real with you. I would read scriptures only because they were listed in my study — I just read them to complete the book. I didn’t read them to learn more about my Jesus.
After years of leading this group, the Lord let me know it was time to go. I didn’t want to go. I didn’t like the going. I love the comfortable place we’d created. I liked the ease of our group. We’d been together for a long time. We were comfortable. But God pulled the rug and He dismissed me.
Just like He dismissed those He’d just fed — those who followed Him.
You see I’d followed Him, I’d chased after Him, but then I got comfortable. I didn’t chase, I just sat. I didn’t seek Him, I just filled in blanks. I didn’t search His word to know Him more. I read books about Him and listened to stories others told of Him. I didn’t tell others about Him. I didn’t represent Him well. I just filled in blanks and watched videos.
He had to dismiss me from my comfortable place. He had to push me out, so I would seek Him more. And I did. I chased after Him and I continue to do that today. Jesus pushed me out of that comfortable place so He could teach me to fly. He wanted me to reach out to more than that one small group. He had work for me to do as a teacher, a speaker and a writer. None of which I could have ever done in that comfortable place.
I lead Bible studies again and have been for several years, but I make sure that I share the story of that girl who loved to fill in her blanks, but didn’t seek God in His Word. The blanks are still there and I usually get around to them, but if I don’t that’s okay — as long as I’m seeking my Savior’s face.
So, I’m asking you today — is Jesus telling you it’s time to go — or time to let go of something?
Timely, timely post, Mary. I’m in tears over here. Long story, but safe to say, God is moving my heart all over the map these days, literally, spiritually, emotionally, in every kind of way. Most recently, I started homeschooling my two youngest children. I’ve been in meltdown mode for a few days; I don’t have time to breathe! I’m exhausted, and I’m wondering.
Life feels hard, but it also feels right. I think God is dismissing me from a few things so that I might get to the “other side” and start something new.
peace~elaine
Oh, Mary, I hear you loudly and clear. And I am just as guilty as most who does not give God the time He deserves…..but I want Him always there for me!!
I also am constantly seeking more Bible studies to attend, or attend speakers who live on spreading His Word every single day, but I walk out of these and just continue with my life as it demands, leaving God only for my quiet moments, which are seldom.
I do like the Beth Moore studies though. Not just fill in the blanks & discussion, she gives homework, almost forcing one to go to the Bible for the answers….a good thing. AND I LOVE her style of teaching and spreading the Word. She makes God and Jesus like part of her family, she talks to them all day, every day, they are so ‘familiar’ (for lack of better word) with them, comfortable with them, seeking their company constantly.
This is the place I desire to be in. I do talk out loud to Them, but not on a consistent basis as I should….integral parts of my daily life, not just here and there.
I have just lived through a very difficult 8 years, kept my faith even though sometimes it was tough to, never doubted God, that He was there with me the whole time, my eyes constantly on Him, not all that was happening to my husband and me. Some days were so dark, it was hard to arise in the mornings, not seeing even a glimmer of Light or hope at the end of the tunnel…but it was there, it was always there, just not time to see it yet.
Well, this year we began to see that Light, only a glimmer, but it became brighter & brighter each day. What a wash of relief started coming over us, in little drips, not gulley washers….cleansed by His blood. Now that we are finally out of that tunnel of Darkness, we ARE moving forward…..and paying it forward at the same time.
Just “movin’ on up…up to the Good Times now”, so thankful for Him and spreading His Good News to all we see each day.
Pat
Hi Mary!
I came across your blog via Elaine at Peace For the Journey and I wanted to thank you so much for this post.
As a Bible study leader, I totally relate to the “filling in the blanks” mindset and am very happy that Jesus reminded me recently that Bible study is about seeking intimate communion and connection with HIM.
He is pushing me out of my comfort zone lately and your line “Jesus pushed me out of that comfortable place so He could teach me to fly” really resonated with me. I know it was a word from Him.
I’m glad I found your blog and will be checking back in!
Have a wonderful day!
Blessings,
Susan
Love this so much!!!
And then while waiting in the oncologist’s office I read this from Jeff Goins’ book “Wrecked” (he’s talking about when to walk away):
“But sometimes, that is exactly what we are called to do–to be still and know there is a deeper story happening, one that goes beyond what we could do with our own hands and feet. . . . This is no excuse to not act, but it’s a caution to steward our lives well. If we do not, we may be forced to give up something good for a season. So that we can be made whole. So that we can grow up. This is what God wants from us–not to serve out of our brokenness (although we all start there), but to serve as whole people, helping others heals and find wholeness. Anything else is codependence, a sham to assuage our guilt.”
My awareness is growing . . . time for dismissal. Time to move across the lake.
For what it’s worth…
Suffice to say I needed to read this today – and probably read it again a few times in the coming days! Holding tight to my comfort zone but knowing God is prodding me out of my comfortable box….
Hey friend, I think anyone who has been in Bible study for more than a couple of studies can definitely fall into the ‘fill-in-the-blank’ trap. I’ve been there. I have to purposely remind myself to visit with the Word and not just breeze through each lesson.
A good word here today.