Oakwood Family -

Consider these words from scripture:

Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son - Luke 7: 11-17
Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

"...His heart went out to her..." That phrase reminds me of the many times in scripture where we hear of God's heart... His compassion... His mercy. The prophetic books are filled not just with gloom and doom of punishment for sin, but also with God's heart for His people. "The Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion." - Isaiah 30:18

God's heart toward His people is one of abiding love. "His love endures forever." That love will see us restored.

At times though, "The road is rough, the going gets tough and the hills are hard to climb" to quote one of my favorite spirituals. We have decided to make Jesus our choice. There's no doubt in our mind, and yet... the burdens we carry weigh us down, the grief we bear is overwhelming, the fear we face is mind numbing, the answers, the solutions, the healing, the resurrection that's desperately needed is so slow in coming. We wonder why God waits. Why He hasn't intervened yet. In these moments, all we can do is be honest and declare, "we love and serve a God we do not understand."

But just because He waits; Just because the deliverance hasn't happened yet, does not mean it is not on the way... does not mean that It should not be prayed for. 400 years of silence from prophetic voices gave way to John the Baptist proclaiming the arrival of Jesus - the resurrection and the life. The widow received the gift of her son, back from the dead. Reminding us that that is the heart God has for us all. Restoration is coming! Healing is coming! The present anxieties, frustrations, difficulties, and diagnoses are not all there is. Not even death has the final say! This hope, this Jesus, He does not disappoint! His heart is filled with compassion for you, He longs to be gracious to you. Keep holding on! You are seen, known, and loved. His life is for you!

May Christ's shalom uphold and bless you today.

Pastor Kevin