What's Next, Papa?

Monday, September 17, 2007
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2 Timothy 1:7 – God's Spirit doesn't make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control. (CEV)

Last summer, we were having a neighbourhood barbecue in our backyard. The weather was cool, and it started to rain. We had finished eating, but some of us wanted to visit some more. We decided to carry a few things downstairs, and continue visiting out of the wind and rain, where it was warm.

On the way downstairs, I slipped and fell, landing on my back, part way down. I just lay and moaned and groaned for a while. When I went to stand up, the pain was excruciating. How it hurt to move! Once seated, I was okay after a while. Then again, when I went to get up, the pain was unbearable. Each time I would sit or lie still, I would be fine, but the moving of my position was what hurt. Walking hurt, turning hurt, bending hurt. I was afraid to move because I hurt so badly. After visiting my doctor, I found that nothing was broken. It would only take time to heal and for the pain to disappear. Even now at times, I have pain in that part of my back — a reminder that I was hurt there.

I could have been filled with fear of ever going down steps again. But I wasn't. I wish I could say that about my spiritual journey. So many times, I fall flat on my face. Yes, it hurts. It hurts to try to get up. It hurts to move in any direction. It just plain hurts. I am afraid to try again. Will I fall again? Will I be hurt again? How badly will I be hurt the next time? Will I recover? How long will the recovery take? Do I even want to recover? Or do I want to stay where I'm at? If I do recover, am I going to hurt in that same spot again? A lot of good questions to ask!

Romans 8:15 – This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" (MSG)

As children of the King, we are not cowards, nor are we timid. We have power to get up, to get moving again, and to heal in the process. Life is an adventure. God is our Papa. He cares for us and wants us to keep moving forward.

Prayer: Father God, we come to You today, thanking You that You are our Daddy. You don't want us to stay hurt, flat on our faces. Help us to get up, expecting an adventure in life, asking You, "What's next, Papa?" Amen.

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About the author:

Judy Miller <gjmiller@telusplanet.net>
Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada

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