Spiritual Journey Thursday - TURN

     I look forward to Thursdays when I can publish thoughts on my spiritual journey and hear the thoughts of others on a weekly theme topic.  It has become a space for an encouraging and fortifying community to come together.  We welcome anyone who would like to join us!

 

For the next month and a half, we are writing about the Spiritual Journey Thursday community's One Little Words.  We'd love for you to join us!  If you have a OLW and would like us all to write about it, let me know in the comments below or on Twitter (@muellerholly), and I will add you to our calendar.

 

This week we are writing about Leigh Anne's word, TURN.

 

Earlier this week, I wrote for our church's upcoming Lenten Devotional.  When I started writing about the verses I was assigned,  I saw the words TURN and RETURN emerge. 

John 14:1-6

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

The apostles had just heard the most distressful news.  Jesus told them, “My children, I will be with you only a little longer.  You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.”  When Peter asked Jesus where he was going, he answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”  This must have been devastating, and quite frankly, a little hurtful.  Was Jesus turning his back on his disciples?  How could he have brought them this far, just to leave them?  Do you ever feel like God has turned His back on you?

Thankfully, Jesus knew his beloved disciples were frightened, maybe even angry, at the possibility of his turning away from them.  He took the time to comfort and assure them that he was preparing a place for them.  He said that his absence was only going to be temporary, and he would return for them.  What a relief!   When you feel like God is absent from your life, rest assured that he hasn’t left you.  He is preparing a place for you.  He has called you a friend and has chosen you.  You already know the way home.  Follow him – the way, the truth, and the life.  Can you see him beckoning?  Turn toward him!

 

Join us in upcoming link-ups about more OLWs!

 

FEBRUARY 5th: Margaret Simon's OLW, REACH

FEBRUARY 12th: Justin Stygles's OLW, LOOK

FEBRUARY 19th: Greg Armamentos's OLW, DIVE (Dwell, Ignite, Venture, Embody)

FEBRUARY 26th: Ramona Behnke's OLW, STRETCH