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Topic: Teachers (07/12/04)
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TITLE: God's teaching methods By cecelia rosa 07/15/04 |
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Sarah’s sense of isolation had threatened to overwhelm her. Things had been going really badly for a very long time and she had lost all hope of overcoming the obstacles, which stood in the way of her peace of mind and spirit.
She had turned for comfort to God who seemed an eternity away and no amount of calling to Him seemed to make the slightest difference.
He had made so many promises, yet they all seemed to be a pipe dream. He had promised to be a Comforter, Teacher and Guide. He had promised to teach her the way she should walk during these dark days, which had become such an intimate part of her life. He had promised to walk with her. And she was waiting for Him to do just that.
How was He going to teach and guide her the way He had so clearly done for others during His time on earth? She did not experience the comfort He had promised to give just before He had left earth.
One day melted into another and she was like the grass blowing in the wind with no definitive direction.
There were so many questions and Sarah wondered to whom she could take them. She thought about the people she knew. There were no really close friends in her life. She could not trust strangers with her deepest thoughts and anxieties. Who would impart the wisdom she needed? How was God going to keep His promise to teach and guide her?
Her anger flared and in frustration and exasperation she screamed at God Almighty, “Answer me! Teach me! When are You going to tell me which way to go, what to do, how to deal with my problem? How many times must I ask You!”
Then gradually it dawned on her. He had been gently teaching her. He had not raised His voice. He had not been demanding. He had not been punitive when she had been disrespectful.
He had spoken to her in a quiet, calm yet persistent voice. She had not paid attention. He had sent her wisdom through a friend. She had not recognised the friendship. He had given direction in His word. She had ignored it. It was when she paid no attention, had failed to recognise His direction or had ignored His word, that He had patiently repeated Himself in other ways, in the words of a song,
a sermon, a comment, an action, an experience. All these had been her teachers.