Let me tell you a story about learning to make
jelly. I watched my grandma’s can and
make jelly many times growing up, but because the pans were so hot and they
used old canners which were dangerous, I wasn’t allowed to stay in the kitchen
the whole time. Plus, I was bothersome,
I was always up under their arms trying to see everything going on.
After Ladd and I got married, I decided I
would try to make some blackberry jelly.
I read online how to make jelly and I worked hard at making it. Well, needless to say, when my first batch
was canned and ready to try, I put the spoon in to dip some out and my spoon
sank to the bottom of the jar. The jelly
was complete liquid – it never set-up. I
was so upset because I was trying to impress my new husband and make good use
of all the blackberries he had picked.
I called my Grandma Gregory crying afterwards
and she just laughed at me. She told me
to redo my labels and label them “blackberry syrup”. I did and gave out tons of blackberry syrup
for Christmas gifts that year. Everyone
said that was the best syrup they ever ate.
My grandma told me to quit sulking, take a step back and learn from
it. She went on to tell me over the
phone how to make jelly the right way.
She was patient and stayed on the phone with me for over an hour while I
made a batch of jelly. I loved the phone
call, because during those breaks when my water was boiling and I was just
waiting, I got to learn more about my grandma and really enjoy the time with
her. I followed her instructions and now
I make some pretty darn good jelly.
I think back to that experience and realize, I
often do the same with God. I wait till
I make a mistake and can’t figure out the right thing to do, then I turn to him
and ask him what to do. I will pray and
read the Bible and ask God to help me.
He always does, one way or another, but just like my jelly making
experience – I should call on God first like I should have called my Grandma
first so I wouldn’t have had to make a mistake.
Same with God, if I will just go to God first, I could avoid many
mistakes.
Hebrews 4:14-16 says
Therefore, since we have a great high priest
who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the
faith we profess. For we do not have a
high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who
has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then
approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Just like the scripture says, God isn’t some
“guy” hanging out in heaven waiting for us to make a mistake, he knows how hard
it is and He is there waiting all the time – he understands – He knows. So I encourage you today, before you make any
decisions or when you need help, turn to God first. Sometimes you may have to wait a bit on God
and his answers, but in the meantime, you can get to know Him better.
Let’s pray.
Dear God, thank you for being a God of understanding. Thank you for each person here today. I pray for anyone facing a difficult decision
or undergoing a hard situation, that they have the courage to turn to you first
and allow you to work out all of the details. We pray all of this in Jesus
name, Amen.
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