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| THE JOURNEY / March 2, 2025 Ordinary People, Ordinary Problems By Lisa Zulke When I heard he was near I ran out the door. Barefoot, I lifted the edge of my skirt and ran toward him. It was windy, and the dust on the road was swirling. My hair was unkempt, and I hadn’t slept in days. I did not care that I looked half-crazed. I was. And I was ready to give him a piece of my mind. “It’s about time, Jesus. Where were you? If only you had been here… (I unloaded it all). Yet, I know God will do whatever you ask. So, ask!” That is how I imagine the scene on the road unfolding. Or the scene when my first job’s paychecks don’t quite cover the rent of my apartment, and my budget has fallen apart. The scene where I shout at the sky and then look around to make sure nobody saw or heard. “Where are you, Jesus? I have been praying for a healed relationship for weeks, months, now years. Do you not hear me? Am I not doing it right? What must I do to move this to the next level?” I came to faith later in life, and it is not always easy to find my way to trust in the promises I read about in the bible. To have faith in the Jesus I know came that I might have hope in the midst of waiting. Those are muscles I have to train and strengthen every day. So I remind myself of what I know is true. I do some meditative breathing. I go for a walk. And I ask Jesus to bring me his perspective in the middle of this unanswered prayer. I invite him to make the path clear. Or at least the next step. And I move forward in light of his resurrection and the hope it gives us all as best I can. Often grumbling and muttering, but putting one foot in front of the other. A prayer for this week: Jesus, would you meet us each this day, this week, in our anger, confusion, grief, and despair? Please remind us of the truths we know about you and the hope you offer us in the middle of all the hard stuff. Please help us see the possibilities around us and the small mercies and miracles you are ushering in every day. Give us your eyes, shift our perspective, and walk with us on the dusty, swirling roads we must travel. We love you and are thankful we get to navigate life with you. Amen. JOIN US FOR A DAILY LENT READING + REFLECTION: The Journey will begin our Lent series this Wednesday morning. You will receive a daily email to guide you through readings and reflections as we prepare for Easter. Feel free to share your email with others, or invite them to sign up for The Journey HERE. [March 3 – 4] John 11:1-44 1. Read the story of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Take note of what you learn about them and what you observe about Jesus and the disciples traveling with him. What else do you observe happening in this story? 2. Now, read the passage again and pay attention to words or situations that grab your attention. Why might God be drawing you to those things? What does he want you to notice in the story? 3. In a third reading, pause and pray those verses that resonate with you or draw your attention. Speak them back to God in your own words as either worship, prayer, or question. 4. What is God saying to you in this story, and what are you prepared to do with it? {extra journey resources} CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources). You can also download The Bible Project App HERE. CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project. CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading. The Bible App Get the free YouVersion Bible for your phone, tablet, or computer. Experience the Bible anywhere, with options to highlight, save notes, and share what you are reading with others. The Bible App For Kids YouVersion partnered with OneHope to develop the Bible App for Kids, designing it to engage children with Bible stories on an age-appropriate level. The Bible App for Kids is a free app for Android, Apple, and Kindle devices, available in over 60 languages. Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference. Please visit us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and share what you are learning, questioning or experiencing. We love conversations! © 2025 Heartland Community Church |