Christian Devotional: "Our Exhaustion - God's Opportunity"

Our Exhaustion Guards Opportunity The quote from Jürgen Maltmann,

Theologian from Germany.

The truth of human freedom lies in the love that breaks down barriers.

Meditation.

Sometimes we work very hard,

But no matter how hard we try,

Doors do not open.

The reward of our labor does not show.

You may feel there are obstacles all around.

Skepticism,

Criticism,

Lack of support,

Loneliness,

And lack of resources.

It feels like no matter how good our work is,

No matter how intensely we labor,

There are mountains to climb and closed doors on which we bang our heads.

And then we ran out of resources.

We become exhausted.

God's promise to walk before us and level our mountains,

Break through steel doors,

And replenish us with new resources breaks into our loneliness and struggle.

I am not walking alone.

Just the realization of being seen and known,

As facing obstacles,

Feels healing.

The promise to make a way for us,

Give us all we need,

And bestow riches upon us,

Is often experienced as a promise too good to be true.

But it is not.

It was God's desire for Israel many years ago.

And it's still God's plan and desire for all nations,

For all people today.

And the Bible verse is from Isaiah chapter 45,

Verses 2 and 3.

I will go before you and I will level the mountains.

I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.

I will give you hidden treasures,

Riches stored in secret places.

So that you may know that I am the Lord,

The God,

Who summons you by name.

Prayer God,

Your ultimate abundance,

You want to give us all the resources we need to flourish.

You remove obstacles we cannot overcome ourselves.

You have hidden plants of secret riches that you want to bestow upon us,

Just when we come to our wit's end.

Thank you for your bountiful spirit.

Amen.