The Curious Questions Of JesusExemplo

Day 7: What things are you so concerned about?

“What things are you so concerned about?”

Why ask? Why not just say, “I already know”? It’s because He is not looking for information; He is looking for a relationship. There is great freedom in prayer once you understand that although Jesus already knows, He still wants to hear your concerns from you.

His disciples begin to speak: “We had thought that Jesus was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel.” Jesus let them down, or so they thought. He did not fulfill their hopes and expectations. That’s probably why they are on the road out of town—to Emmaus. As Frederick Buechnher once observed, Emmaus is where you go when things have not turned out like you had hoped. 

Where is your Emmaus? Where is the place you head when you feel like God has let you down? For some it is overeating, for others it is workaholism, others turn to substance abuse, or still other things to escape the pain of the disappointment. We all have our own Emmaus.

Jesus’ response is interesting. He challenges them that they do not believe the Scriptures. He doesn’t even mention the empty tomb or the testimony of the other disciples that He has risen! Instead, He uses the Scriptures to correct their misunderstanding about Himself. In doing this, Jesus gives them a new definition for an old hope. Our hope in Christ is not that everything will work out in this life as we expect. Our hope is that even when things don’t work out as we had expected, God is still at work for our good. 

If life is not unfolding the way you had hoped or expected, before you run off to your Emmaus, remember that Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Before you run off to your Emmaus, is it possible that God is doing some of His finest work for your good right now? Have you even stopped to talk with God about it? What are you so concerned about? If you are willing to speak to Jesus, you can trust He is willing to listen and care.

Prayer: (Take time to tell Jesus whatever may be concerning to you in your life right now. Do so trusting He wants to hear from you and entrust those concerns to His care for you.) In Jesus' Name. Amen.