Jesus Meets Us

Even when the world and our work are chaotic and complex, when there are many barriers to success, Jesus is strong and unchanging. He meets us where we are. Each of us can talk about how we have seen God come through and meet us in our lives or how we have seen Him do it in the organization. 

I like to take photos to remind me of happy memories with people and interesting experiences. Looking through my photos, you might think life is always fun and stress-free. What if I had a stress album filled with snapshots of my worries and concerns? That kind of photo album would be larger, and those pictures would tell a different story than my actual photos. 

The truth is that both stories exist at the same time. There are blessings and joys, and there are worries and concerns. Jesus is with us through the highest highs and the lowest lows. The “snapshots” of life are true for a moment but not forever. God is at work, even in the darkest of times. He is providing for us and protecting us. He loves us and is with us to bring comfort and counsel. The hard times are not evidence that God has forgotten us. Far from it! Without those challenges, we would not experience the power of God to save us or His provision that comes in His perfect timing. These struggles are invitations to dependence and opportunities to see His power revealed!

In the past few days, I have taken photos of family celebrations and ministry events. The images tell joyful stories of praise. But during those same few days, I have grieved my father’s loss of memory as he suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. I have experienced a horrible physical reaction to medicine meant to protect me. And my garage door broke, which resulted in an unexpected, costly repair. 

I know I am not alone. I would love to sit down with you over a cup of tea or coffee, hear your happy stories of praise, and weep with you over your griefs and pains. Jesus is there with us in both parts of our lives. He never leaves us. He never forsakes us. He rejoices with us, and He cries with us. All the while, He sits at the Father's right hand, interceding for you and me. 

Let’s take a moment to reflect on the blessings and the pains. Invite Jesus to meet you right where you are, and thank Him for both the joys and the pains, for it is through both that we know how deeply He loves us.

Together with you,
Cheryl

Two years ago, Portugal became my new home. It was a sudden change, an unexpected move, an unforeseen relocation. 

“How did you end up here?” is among the most common questions I hear from people I meet over here. I can map out my route, but that’s not what they’re asking. To this day, I haven’t found a short answer to this question. All I know is that my whole life journey is not random. It’s authored by God Himself. 

I’m a sojourner in this land that welcomed and received me so well, and I’m a sojourner in this life, too. I love this imagery from God’s Word of a pilgrim, a traveler in this life. It’s a great reminder of what’s temporal and transient and what’s solid and carries eternal significance. The key part is that God authors this journey.  

This is the first time in my life that I’ve lived with so many changes and unknowns at once. The changes in my life are significant, but the unknowns are even bigger. But, as it always happens, it is in our biggest struggles that we’re drawn to God and see Him in ways we may not have seen before. 

The truth is, as creatures of habit, the only change we welcome is the change we expect or the change we initiate. We’re okay with change when we can plan for it and adjust accordingly. But the sudden change can feel very overwhelming. In change, we resist the loss more than we resist the new things awaiting us. We fear losses because we don’t want to lose the sense of stability and certainty that came with those things. 

Yet, God desires us to fully depend on Him,  to be our only source of certainty and stability. While we fear change, God has a strange commitment to it. Although He is willing to accept us as we are, He also loves us enough not to leave us that way. God’s commitment to our change begins with His love for us. 

My struggles are real, and my feelings and fears are valid. But I have to remember that the opposite of fear is not necessarily courage. I believe the opposite of fear is dependence. I see it in the Bible stories all the time. When our insufficiency leads us to Him, our weakness becomes our advantage. 

The truth is God doesn’t want the world to be impressed with us. He wants the world to be impressed with Him. He does not need us to be strong. He wants to be our strength. The opposite of fear is dependence on the One who, in His love, always wills what is best for us. In His wisdom, He always knows what is best. And in His sovereignty, He has the power to bring it about.

In a world of chaos and instability, with obstacles to our goals that are almost insurmountable, it is easy to feel lost and overwhelmed. The pressures of everyday tasks, the unknowns of tomorrow, support issues, and the heaviness of our personal expectations can make a difficult maze. But in all this there remains one constant—Jesus.

Jesus meets us where we are. This is a profound truth that runs through the Bible. In chapter four of the Gospel of John, we see the Samaritan woman at the well. She was a woman who had been weighed down by her past, rejected by her community and was struggling with her identity. But Jesus found her, meeting her in the heat of the day as they discussed issues that would change her forever. He did not wait for her to come to Him with religious piety or moral perfection; instead, He met her in her daily routine, complete with her shortcomings and needs.

In our own lives, Jesus appears to us amid our struggles and doubts. But He does not need us first to solve all the problems or untangle the knots in our lives. Instead, He enters into our confusion and provides His unwavering might and calmness. Although the world around us is unpredictable, Jesus remains the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). We can trust His love and grace as constants that will never change.

When faced with barriers—whether they be personal failures, ministry challenges, or unexpected crises—it’s important to remember that Jesus is not distant. He is present in our pain, confusion, and fear. He guides the lost, comforts the hurting, and gives hope to those in despair.

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus gives us an invitation that has remained relevant for many years: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” As leaders, we don’t need to overcome our obstacles on our own. Jesus guarantees that He will meet us in that moment to supply the rest and rejuvenation we need.

Even when things get too complicated, remember that Jesus is by our side. He comes alongside us in our routine work and extraordinary situations where we need His backup. He is our anchor that remains unchanged as the world changes around us, ready to meet, lead, and accompany us through all our steps.