New BeginningsSample

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines,  the produce of the olive fails, and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.”

Habakkuk 3:17-19

His Grace Is Sufficient

When life ends up feeling like it’s full of let-downs and disappointments, it’s challenging to figure out how that fits in with God’s goodness. Different goals and expectations we set for ourselves create impossible standards over our lives. Yesterday, we talked a little bit about different outlooks that people have toward the new year. As we start this year, our expectations and hopes might be rattled or shaken. So how do we reconcile our difficulties with the character of God?

In Matthew 11, Jesus says to the crowds, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (vv.28-29, emphasis mine). The heart of Jesus invites us in with our worries, fears, doubts, and even the deepest frustrations toward Him. He wants us to come near, not because He’s obligated to extend the offer, but because Jesus wants to be near to His people. 

Jesus is gracious, and He is patient with us. His humility is what draws us in; His heart for sinners and their failures is the very one that took the burden of sin upon itself. And it’s His abundant, unending kindness that we can run to when our hopes and expectations shatter. The grace of Jesus is sufficient when our efforts are not. 

Ask and apply:

1. Read Matthew 11:28. What do you think it means to be heavy laden? In what areas of your life do you feel like you “labor and are heavy laden”? 
2. Why do you think our expectations often fail to satisfy us?
3. Many times after coming out of the holidays, we struggle to “get back on track” in our time that we spend with God. It can feel like we’ve let God down or like we’re not doing enough for Him. We beat ourselves up for our failure, and often we stop trying. 
   1. Read Lamentations 3:22-24. What does this tell you about God? 
   2. Knowing these truths, how can we approach the post-holiday slump we tend to face?