"On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” John 2:1-12
Sometimes I am at the end of all that I can do. I have put in hours, days, months, to solve the problem. I have let my thoughts circle around looking for the answer, only bringing more confusion. I have prayed about it, taking the concern to God every time I think of it. The level of frustration grows as my energy levels are depleted, all with no result.
Which is why I was amazed the other day when I thought of this moment in the Gospels. Mary simply states the case to Jesus: "they have no more wine." And she leaves it at that.
I am struck at the contrast in her request from the way I usually pray. I usually pray something like this (unconsciously), "Lord, I am out of answers, and because of that, I am now going to sit here trying to rack my brain for any other possible answers rather than accepting the silence, lack of control and waiting that would happen as a result of leaving the problem with You."
It is easy for me to get in the habit of worrying, analyzing or "trouble-shooting" when I really think I am praying.
So as I read this acount, it becomes clear to me:
When we let go of the problem and truly leave it with God, we give Him room to work on it.
What does Mary have that enables her to leave the problem with God?
-Trust: She trusts God because she knows Him. She has invited Him into her home and entire life.
-Humility: She accepts that the answers Jesus gives may differ from her own.
-Confidence: She believes that her plea will be heard taken care of in the best way.
When I read this passage, the other part became clear: "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
When I am relying on my own abilities to solve a problem, the result is depletion. My resources are emptied until I have no more. I feel increasingly frustrated. But when the problem is truly left with God (meaning for me, no further analyzing, worrying and 'head time,') there can be answers I would not have expected, new doors opened I could not have imagined, and fruits that come from the love of another.
Sharing my burden with God means He shares His resources and creativity with me.
No comments:
Post a Comment