Discovering A Passion In The Midst Of Setback

I was reflecting the other day about an incident that happened over 2 years ago in what seemed like a major setback and disappointment but turned into an understanding of what I was meant to do.

It seemed like a perfect situation. It seemed like God opened the door. I received a call from a district superintendent in another state and a different denomination from which I am currently serving. I had not heard anything from this superintendent for over a year and then I get a call out of the blue. He told me there is a church up north that is interested in me to be their senior pastor. I had just finished seminary and was looking for a ministry opportunity so this was exciting news. I said yes and the process began. It was a slow process too. After doing interviews I got the call that the church wanted to fly my wife and I up for a face-to-face interview. It would be a whirlwind two days of seeing the town, meeting church members, and seeing if this would be a good fit.

We got to the church and met the board who would perform the interview. Everyone was friendly and nice and I felt that when we were done the interview the situation seemed like a great fit. They even talked to us after about the parsonage and what updates they would do for us. Everything was on track for a great opportunity. And then the phone call came…

They decided that we weren’t the right fit for them after all. No real explanation except they decided to interview someone else. I was crushed. How did this happen? I felt for sure this was God and that he was calling us there. It was a major disappointment and felt like a setback.

I went through the interview in my head trying to think of went wrong or what I said that caused them to say no. I couldn’t think of anything. But as I started thinking on my answers I realized something, something that would help me to understand my call. The answers that I gave all spoke of my experience in youth ministry. I talked about youth ministry a lot. That was my only reference to which I had ministry experience so that was what I based my answers on. But the more I thought about it the more I realized that my heart and passion was for youth ministry. That was my call.

I still wonder what would have happened if that church would have said yes to us. I still wonder why it seemed like God was saying yes and then the outcome became no. But in the moments of disappointment, anger, shock and confusion I learned something valuable about myself and my call. The church said no and that was a good thing because I have had the opportunity to minister to and get to know many great youth and parents. I have had experiences that I wouldn’t trade for anything and great memories that I will always have. The “no” turned out to be a blessing and not a curse.

Setbacks are not fatal unless you let them. Failure is not fatal unless you let it. Many great men and women failed miserably until they found success.  It is in the setbacks that we learn and grow and discover things about us that can make us better.

So maybe you have experienced setbacks, failures, and disappointment. What can you learn from that? What can God teach you through it? How can you become a better person because it? You never know when a no might open a door to greater and better things.

Sky Gazer or World Changer?

A lot happened in the world last week. An airplane shot down, more conflict in the Middle East and many other tragic news stories. The one thing I was most surprised I did not see more of were posts, articles or people on television talking about the end being near. Maybe I missed it or maybe I stayed away from websites or shows that would promote or talk about this. It’s funny because you don’t seem to hear about the end of the world when things seem to be going good. But when disaster strikes or especially when Israel is in the news then we begin to look for signs that the end is near. For many Christians this means the tribulation, Armageddon and destruction. We want to be transported out before all the chaos takes place. I could get into thoughts and theories about the end times but I’m not (you’re welcome). So here is the question I ask:

Why? Why do so many people, when they hear about the major problems in our world become sky gazers and wait for the coming of Jesus?

Can I offer one suggestion? Maybe because it is easier to run from hardships and difficulties than to run to them and bring healing, grace, love and hope.

Let’s be real: Why stay on earth when all around is destruction and problems when I can be transported away to the glories of heaven. And while that doesn’t seem bad in theory it causes a major problem in our theology if we focus more on being transported out then to stay and make a difference.

In fact the early disciples had a similar choice they had to make.

Let’s look at the beginning of Acts. Jesus tells the disciples that “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The disciples receive their commission, what they should be doing.

Then Jesus ascends into heaven and the disciples are standing their watching him, I’m sure amazed by what they are watching. As this is happening two men in white appear to the disciples and tell them “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

Ah, a promise of his return. So the disciples have a choice to make. They can stand there and watch the clouds, waiting for Jesus to return. They could come back each day to the spot he ascended and hoped they would be there to see him come back. They could have gathered and waited for his return wondering if this is the day he will return to overthrow the Romans and restore Israel to be a nation. Will this be the day that Jesus brings peace and gets rid of the hardship and cruelty of an evil empire? Will this be the day we can escape the difficulties and struggles of this world and have God’s glory descend to Israel once again? Is this the day we rebuild the temple and be a united people once again?

But rather then sitting around, looking at the growing evils of the Roman Empire, their bloodshed and cruel torture and hoping this would be the day Jesus returned they went back to Jerusalem and waited for the promise of the Spirit. They waited for the power of God that would fill them to be bold witness to Jerusalem, Samaria and the ends of the Earth. That they would be such witnesses that people would say "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here” (Acts 17:6). What type of trouble? The trouble of proclaiming Jesus and watching lives change as a result.



Today we face the same choice as the disciples. When we see the news of what is going on around us and remember the promise of his return do we look to the sky and gaze, hoping to see the return of Jesus or do we ask to be filled with the Spirit and boldness to follow the call of Jesus to be his witnesses to all the world? Let’s not run from the chaos but rather to it knowing that greater is he who is in us then the one and problems in the world. We have the hope, love, grace, mercy and healing the world needs. Will you be a sky gazer or a world changer?

They shall know us by our... no's?

Unfortunately that is how many people today see those who consider themselves to be Jesus followers, Christians, or those who attend church. Among the many things that people think about Christianity one of them is the simple word “no”. Or maybe the words don’t or shall not. Many times we preach what we can’t do such as “don’t smoke, cuss or chew or hang out with those who do.”  (It rhymes nicely but is pretty bad theology).

That is in itself a problem but what happens next is even worse. We not only condemn the actions but we then go on to give people a label based on their sins. These labels may or may not be warranted. Most times they are given from a distance and based on first impression and not actually because the person is known. Some of the labels that we use are cruel and others we use try to make a point while trying to be “politically correct.” Some of the labels the church has placed on those not inside our circle are “them”, “unsaved”, “non-Christian”, ”un-churched” and these are only a few

While we have made these distinctions and classifications I am not so sure that is how Jesus would label them? First, I’m pretty sure Jesus would have hung with those who smoked, cussed, chewed as well as “sinners”, prostitutes, adulterers, homosexuals, atheists, and agnostics. I mean some of the things such as collecting taxes, prostitution, and being an adulterer are things people did and even the people who did them would not deny it. And many of the actions were not pleasing to God. Even Jesus would agree with that. However is that all they were to Jesus?

But second is that how Jesus labeled people? Did he walk down the dusty streets looking at people and classifying them as unsaved, non Christian, or those people? Or did he look past human labels and even their sins to see something else? This does not mean he overlooked sin or turned a blind eye to it but he did not let the sins define them or accept that that is all they would be. He also did not see people as a project, someone that needed to be worked on. He didn’t make friends just so he could influence people to become his followers and if they didn’t follow him then they were no longer friends. He was truly the friend of sinners.

Now back to the modern day we live in. While Jesus says that the world will know we are his disciples because of our love why is it then that the world knows us for our no’s, our labels, our hate, our judgment? We are good at telling the world what not to do, how not to act, what not to say. There are things that the Bible says are sins, things which go against God. But they also go against us, as people, as God’s good creation. God says not to murder which makes sense because it is destroying a life that God created, leaving heart break to those left behind and a lifelong prison for the one who commits the crime. God says not to commit adultery which again makes sense because it can ruin lives, create hurt and pain, mistrust along with many other emotions. While we are sinning against God we are also destroying and distorting the image of God in which we were created. We become less then what we were created for.

The problem with our no’s is that we never tell anyone what our yes is. Maybe the reason for that is because we (Jesus followers) don’t know what the yes is ourselves. We've gotten so good at telling everyone no that we have not stopped to think about the things we can do. So what can we do? Not everything has to be religious in nature. We can love sports, love music, love the arts, love technology. We can love others. We can offer others forgiveness, mercy and grace. We can stand with those who go through sorrow and the valley of the shadow of death. We can stand against injustice, care for the widow and the orphans. We can free slaves, feed the hungry and clothe the naked. There are so many things that we can do, so many things that will touch and change lives, our society, our world. Isn't that what Jesus meant when he prayed that God’s kingdom would come to earth as it is found in the place where God dwells, heaven?

What about the labels we then place on people? When people walk through the doors of a church or into a home for a small group do they want to be labeled? Do they want the things that cause them shame, hurt and embarrassment placed upon them like a scarlet letter? No but is that what happens? People do not come to church to be labeled or judged by a group of people. They are hoping to find something different, something that they can find no where else but have heard rumors can be found among those who say they are Jesus followers. When they are looking for true love, mercy, and grace do they find contempt, judgment and a 10 step program to get them out of their sinful lifestyle and onto a proper course for God?

So maybe we can change to become people of God not known for our no’s but for our yes. Maybe we can be known for the things we can do rather than what we can’t do. Maybe we can be known by our love, compassion, grace and mercy rather than for hate and judgment. Maybe we can begin to see people not through our unfair labels but through the eyes of Jesus, eyes that see a creation he formed and loves. Maybe we can become people who help establish God’s rule and reign on the earth as in the place of God’s dwelling.

Maybe they shall know us by our… yes.

Finding Points of Agreement With An Atheists

“An Atheist believes that a hospital should be built instead of a church. An atheist believes that deed must be done instead of prayer said. An atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death. He wants disease conquered, poverty vanished, war eliminated.” Madalyn Murray O’Hare

Recently outside a courthouse in Florida a monument was erected by American Atheists as an opportunity to allow their voice to be heard. The belief is that if Christians or other religions can have their statues then they should be able to as well. My interests is not in whether it is right that Atheists should be allowed to have a monument or if there should be no monuments at all but rather what is found on the monument itself.

There are different quotes that are found on this monument. On one side of the statue is the punishments found in scripture for those who break the 10 commandments. I agree this is found in the Bible. There are other quotes from Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and the Treaty of Tripoli (much could be said about these statements). However, the one quote that struck me was the one from O’Hare. It is not because I disagree with her (although I do on some points). It’s because the opposite is true, I agree with and am challenged by some of the things she says.

“An Atheist believes that a hospital should be built instead of a church.”

On her first point I would say I have to both agree and disagree. I disagree for as a Christian I believe that churches should be built as a place where Christians, seekers or anyone should be allowed to enter and discover Jesus. I also believe that they should be built and equipped with excellence in mind. However, I believe there is a difference between excellence and extravagance. Many churches have been built for extravagance and yes, I wonder if that money could have been used to make a difference in the world to meet needs. But before we judge other churches let us ask ourselves how much of our/my money is being used to change the world?
In regards to the building of hospitals there are many hospitals around the world that have been built by Christians to meet the needs of the sick and hurting. One such hospital is Maua Methodist Hospital in Kenya, Africa. They are doing great work in providing health care but also training children and youth who have been Orphaned by AIDS (for more info go to http://mckmauahospital.org/).

“An atheist believes that deed must be done instead of prayer said.”

Again I have to agree and disagree with her statement. I believe that prayer makes a difference and that God hears the prayers of people. I have to admit though that I do not fully understand how and why God answers prayer the way he does. It’s a mystery and I do not have an answer for that.
However, I do agree that we cannot just be people who pray only with no action. Prayer must be accompanied by deeds. James says this by asking what good is it to see someone in need and to just tell them you will pray for them and do nothing about their need (see James 2:14-18). Yes, we need to be people of prayer but faith without deeds is not true faith at all.

“An atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death.”

Jefferson Bethke asks “Why do we pray ‘on earth as it is in heaven’ and then act as if the goal to Christianity is getting out of ‘here’ instead of restoring it?” Honestly, it is a great question. Why are we so quick to want to leave this earth and “go to heaven?” If that was the goal of the Christian life then when we accept Jesus as savior we should leave this earth. However, Jesus said that his prayer was that we not be taken out of this world (see John 17:15). Instead He calls us to be salt and light in this world and to bring His love, true love, to the poor, the hurting and the hopeless. If we want God’s kingdom to reign on this earth (after all that is what Jesus taught us to pray) then what are we doing here and now to show what his kingdom looks like.

“He (the Atheists) wants disease conquered, poverty vanished, war eliminated.”

This is a continuation of watching God’s kingdom break through on this earth. So what are we doing? While the gospel message is to proclaim Jesus as Lord it should also be shown through loving action. What are we doing to see AIDS eliminated? What can we do to stop poverty, feed the hungry, bring peace, end human slave trafficking and the many other problems we face in this world. These are not issues in which we wait for the government to fix but rather issues that we have to face head on and must decide if we will take a stand .

Much more could be said on each issue O’Hare raises but it should cause us to stop and ask ourselves are we being the church or just “doing” church. Are we being salt and light, His hands and feet? Are we showing this world the love of Jesus in real and practical ways? And so while I disagree with some of O’Hares statements in this quote (and disagree with many of her other statements regarding religion and atheism) there are some things that we can agree on. Maybe before we automatically disagree with someone based on their view we should stop and see what we can learn from others. And who knows we might just agree with some of the things they say.

A Messy Mother's Day

The Bible is a messy book. Sure we want it to be neat and clean but it is filled with accounts that excite us, enrage us, disgust us and can make us blush. It is filled with mystery, horror, deceit, lies and murder. While the authors give the accounts of righteous men and women they don’t hide the ugly side of God’s followers. So what does this have to do with Mother’s day? I’ll get to that in a moment but first what do many mother’s days look like?

 Mother’s day is a day to celebrate moms, to thank them for who they are and what they have done. We buy flowers, cards and candy. We take them to dinner or the movies. There may be 364 days (or 365 during a leap year) where we take mom for granted but not on this day. This day is all about mom.

Mother’s are also celebrated at church. They may receive flowers or a small gift from the church and may be recognized during the service. Kids make crafts for their mom that she can take home with her and cherish even if she is not sure what it is or what it has to do with mother’s day. The pastor, or speaker gives an inspiring sermon about the joys of being a mom, of having a mom,  the ways we can honor our mom or why kids and teens should obey their mom (wonder if the speaker gets money before hand from mom’s who ask them to include this in their message)? Proverbs 31 is a good text to use. Honor your father and mother is another.

And while many rejoice and celebrate the mom’s in his or her life there is another group that smiles and painfully sits through another Mother’s day service cringing when they hear the word mom. Or maybe its anger. Or maybe it’s the thought of what could have been or what could they have become. This is the messy side of mother’s day. It’s the part of mother’s day that gets lost in the midst of celebration and festivities. It is ones who pray that Monday will come quickly.

The Bible is full of messy accounts of those who would have hated mother’s day. Take Elizabeth for an example. Luke 1:6-7 "Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old." Two people who loved God, lived for him, served him in the temple and yet were not able to conceive. Where many had joy in children, Elizabeth had to endure the stares, the whispers and the questions. Why is God mad at her? Surely, if she would confess her sin God would give her a child? Maybe if she would pray harder or if she would fast. I glad I am not like Elizabeth. Maybe if see sowed seed into a ministry… (ok maybe not that last one but you never know).

I wonder how many times Elizabeth prayed. Not just quick prayers but deep prayers from the depths of her heart. I wonder how many lonely nights she had when her husband was away ministering at the temple and she would cry and plead with God to have a child. I wonder how many times her husband comforted her and he silently prayed silently with tears in his eyes “why God why?” I wonder how many times she gave up hope as year after year passed and still no child.

Elizabeth was not the only who would have hated mother’s day. Hannah was in a similar situation (see 1 Samuel 1). She could not have children either. She prayed at the temple and endured scorn from others. She prayed so hard the priests thought she was drunk. Her husband even asked if he was better than 10 children (just like a man to ask such a question). Yes she loved her husband but she wanted a child, she wanted to have a son or daughter. She wanted to watch him or her grow up and she wanted to tuck them into bed and dream of what he or she would grow up to be. Yes life was good but the one thing she wanted but did not have was to be known simply as mom.


If those stories aren’t depressing enough then let’s look at Matthew 2:16-18: When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
    weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,
    because they are no more.”



Maybe someone just had a child or was dreaming of what their child was to become. Suddenly soldiers come knocking on the door. They ask how old their child is. He just turned one she says confused at the odd question. The solider grabs the son and leaves. The mother is horrified, crying, screaming “my baby, my baby.” She screams “what are you doing, where are you taking him.” And this joy given to her will be no more as she realizes that her child has been killed because of the crazy jealousy of a king who would do anything to hold onto his throne and his power. He was the true king and not some new child. He wanted the power and the glory of the kingship and nothing would stop him not even the screams of  moms who would lose their son or daughter. They didn’t want comfort they simply wanted to hold their child.

“Praying for female friends of mine who find Mother’s day a painful reminder.” Kara Powell

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Romans 12:15.

A messy mother’s day means that we  take time to rejoice and celebrate mom. We celebrate the children they have and the joy they bring to their lives.

But a messy mother’s day means we mourn. We mourn with those who find no joy but only painful childhood memories. We mourn with those who grew up without mom whether she may have passed away, abandoned them or abused them. We mourn with those who recently lost mom. We mourn with those who have gone from foster home to foster home and wonder if they will ever be able to call someone mom. We mourn with the orphan.

We also mourn with the women who so desperately want a child, who beg and plead with God and yet for some reason has not happened. We mourn with the mom’s who have lost children, who feel like the mom’s of Israel that had their children ripped away from them long before they ever should have. We mourn with the mom’s who wonder on this day what their child may have been like if they did not have a miscarriage. We mourn with the mom’s who feel the guilt and shame because they chose to have an abortion (maybe if we stopped calling and referring to people who had abortions as murders that some may actually want to come to our “loving and accepting” churches).

So today take a moment and think about those who do not rejoice on this day but rather for those who mourn. Maybe take it a step further and come to their side. To come by their side and weep with them. To come by their side and listen to their story. To come by their side and offer God’s love, grace and mercy to wash away guilt. To come along side and plead to God on their behalf with tears. To come along side of them and mourn with those who mourn. This is what God’s love in action looks like. This is what a messy mother’s day looks like.

There's a Monster at the End of This Book

            Have you ever read as a kid or to your kids the book There is a Monster at the End of this Book with Grover from Sesame Street? Spoiler Alert Ahead: The whole time Grover is in fear that a monster will be at the end of book and so he tries to stop you from reading the book so you don’t get to the end. But when you get to the end you realize there was really nothing to be scared of and there really was no monster. This is how some people see the book of Revelation, it is the monster at the end of the Book. It is seen as a scary and horrible book that doesn’t make sense as it seems to be filled with disease, destruction and death. The book of Revelation use to scare me.

            Yet the book of Revelation is also intriguing. Books like The Late Great Planet Earth and the Left Behind Series have caused people to have a greater interest into this mysterious book. People try to interpret it in many different ways. The most popular way to read Revelation is to read it literally and try to interpret the events by the current world situations. What will the mark of the beast be? (Could it be a microchip or another mark)? What do the numbers 666 mean? (I once heard that the www of the internet somehow equaled 666). Does the book describe a nuclear holocaust? (People get nervous when they hear of countries like Iran and North Korea possibly having nuclear weapons). Who is the antichrist? (It was thought it could be Hitler, today some say President Obama could be the antichrist). Interesting note: the word antichrist is not found in the book of Revelation at all and is only found 4 times in the Bible overall in 1 and 2 John.

            But what did the author of Revelation have in mind when he wrote this book? First, he would not have taken his work as literal. He did not picture a nuclear holocaust. He did not see modern day objects and then try to interpret them in the language of the day (example: Locusts were actually a symbol for a helicopter but since he did not know what it was he used words that were familiar to him). The pictures were symbolic and were taken from other prophetic works like Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The author also referred to other non-biblical works such as the apocryphal book of Enoch (which includes similar pictures of the judgment of the wicked and a new heaven and earth).

            Second, the book of Revelation had a political edge to it. Many of the pictures and descriptions were symbolic of Rome. They referenced the Emperors, its systems and other parts of the Roman Empire (example: the number 666 was likely a cryptic way of referring to the Emperor Nero who persecuted Jews and Christians). This leads to why the author wrote his book.

            Third, the book was written was written to comfort the people who would read it. John (not the disciple John but a different John) had witnessed the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the scattering and torture of many of the Jewish people. He had seen Rome victorious over the people of the one true God. He saw Rome brag about its conquests and its power. He would have questioned just as other Jews did: Where was God when this happened? Why didn’t God protect his people? These were the same questions asked years earlier when other empires overtook Israel and caused the people to be carried off to other nations.

            So what answers are given to these questions? The first is that Jesus is Lord and Caesar is not. While there may not be a specific answer, the readers are to believe that regardless of all that happened that Jesus is greater than Roman rulers. Second God’s kingdom that began through the resurrection of Jesus is greater than the kingdom of Rome. Rome may brag now but in the end God’s justice will spring forth, the world will be put right and all will see the greatness of God’s kingdom. This leads to the third answer which speaks to a new heaven and earth. God will restore the earth and his creation to the way it should have been, the way it looked in the Garden of Eden before sin entered the world. Sin will be completely defeated. The sick will be restored (when Jesus healed people it was not for show but was a sign and picture of what restoration will look like when God’s full kingdom will come).God will reign forever in the New Jerusalem, which will never be destroyed again.

            How can we apply this to the world in which we live today? First, Jesus is the true Lord and any other leader or government system is not. Although it may not look like this is the case we must look by faith and say Jesus is Lord. Second, God’s kingdom is at work in the world even if the full reality of it has not yet been revealed. Third, there is hope of a future in which the world is restored, evil is destroyed and we will be with God forever and ever. God will not blow up his world but rather restore it and his people to the way they should be, the way it should have looked before sin entered the world.

            When read in this new light, the book of Revelation is no longer the monster at the end of the book. In fact I find hope and excitement in Revelation. I see that Jesus is Lord even if things do not look like it. And it gives me hope to look forward to a time when Jesus will right all wrongs, bring restoration and healing and we will reign with him forever.

A Fish's Heart, Liver and Gall: A Story of Comfort

            Here’s a cool story I learned recently. There was a man who was devoted to God and his ways. This man was so devoted to God and his ways that he followed the law of God even when the government and others close to him told him to stop. Even though he is devoted to God he ends up going blind when bird droppings fall into his eyes. He prays that God would take him away. At the same time a woman named Sarah is introduced. She has been married seven times but each time on the couple’s wedding night an evil spirit comes and kills the husband. She is made fun of by those close to her and she prays that God would allow her to die. Both of these prayers come before God and he decides to move on their behalf.

            The father commands his son to go to a foreign land (where Sarah happens to be) and collect some possessions before he passes away. The son does so and is accompanied by what he believes is a relative but is really an angel of God. On the first night of their journey they camp by a lake where a fish attacks the son. The angel tells him not to throw the fish away but rather take the heart, liver and gall of the fish. The heart and liver can ward off evil spirits and the gall can restore sight. Eventually the son meets Sarah, falls in love with her and they get married. He then burns the fish heart and liver which wards off the evil spirit and she is free. They eventually travel back to the son’s hometown where he greets his blind father, puts the gall on his eyes and he is healed. The family rejoices over the son’s marriage and the fathers healing.

            The son’s family throws a party for the son and his new bride. During the party the traveling companion of the son (really an angel) finally reveals his true identity to the father and son. They are shocked by this announcement and when the angel leaves, they praise God for all that he has done for them.

            Pretty crazy story. However the meaning behind the story is really inspirational. The father and the women Sarah both have troubles and both pray to God. God hears both of their prayers but rather than answer them the way they want he sends an angel who fulfills the purpose of God, to bring healing and restoration to both individuals.

            The story is known as the Book of Tobit, a Jewish story told around 225-175 BC. (The story is found in the Apocrypha which can be found in Bibles just not in many protestant Bibles). The story was told as a reminder during a time when Israel faced difficulties after their return from Exile. They had hoped they would become a sovereign state and would rebuild the temple but that had not happened. The question the people began to ask was where is God during this time? Does he hear our prayers? Why hasn’t God allowed us to be free? This story is a reminder to Israel that God does hear their prayers and is with them even though they might not see him at work.

            How many times have you asked these same questions? I know the Bible teaches many of the same lessons; God will never leave us and he always hears our prayers. But sometimes an outside source speaks to biblical ideas and brings a new and fresh perspective. The Book of Tobit is that for me. I am reminded through this story that God hears my prayer and that even though I might not see God he is there with me and he really is at work.

            So maybe you are asking the same questions that the people of Israel did. Maybe you are experiencing some difficult times in your life and you know that God is with you and hears your prayers but you need a reminder. Take comfort in God’s word. And maybe even find comfort in an unlikely source, the story of Tobit.