Sit at the Table: 3 Ways to Deal with Uncertainty
There is nothing quite like being a daughter of the Most High King.
We are nurturers. We are helpers. We are visionaries. But sometimes, what we envision doesn’t pan out how we hoped it would. What then?
First-century women knew this all too well. After Jesus was crucified and buried in Joseph’s tomb, three women—Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of Jesus, and Joanna—made their journey to anoint the body of Christ. When they arrived, they didn’t find their Savior; they found an empty tomb.
I’m sure you can imagine the mayhem that followed: “Where was Jesus?” “Who took Him?” “What will happen now?” To say they were perplexed is an understatement.
Angels appeared to the women and reminded them that Jesus was supposed to be delivered into the hands of men to be crucified. Once they understood the meaning behind it all, they ran off to tell the others. After they shared the exciting news, the disciples thought the women were telling stories. (See, ladies? Don’t feel bad when you share something with your husband and he doesn’t get it. This has been an occurrence for over 2,000 years!)
Death of a Vision
Peter, the rock of Christ’s church, is the first one to check the tomb. Sure enough, Jesus isn’t there. (Now, Peter is feeling how the three women felt before!) This begins what I consider to be the “death of a vision.” You may recognize this as when God shows you something, but it looks completely different than what you were anticipating.
Luke 24:13-24, in the New King James Version, continues the story.
“Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. And He said to them, ‘What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?’ Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, ‘Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?’ And He said to them, ‘What things?’ So they said to Him, ‘The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.’”
Am I the only one who feels seen in this moment?
The disciples were so perplexed that they didn’t even see God when He was walking amongst them. This future they had imagined with the living Jesus is looking a lot different from what they dreamed about, and that disappointment caused them to take their focus off God and the revelation given to them.
God, Are You There?
Dear one, sometimes God allows perplexing things to happen so that we seek Him in our confusion. These men were so baffled that they didn’t even see Jesus walking with them. They were leaning heavily on their emotions and doubts. And boy, I can relate.
A few years ago, my husband and I made plans to travel to South Africa for a speaking engagement at a women’s conference. With excitement running high, we packed our suitcases and made our way to the airport. Upon arrival, my husband and I found the airline concierge and began the check-in process. My husband received his ticket, and now it was my turn. Giving the attendant my confirmation number, they could not find my information. Confused, they asked for my passport, and after calling around, we found out, there was a ban on my passport and I was not allowed clearance into South Africa.
As you can imagine, my heart sank. I was sad, then angry, then sad again. (This cycle continued for a while because disappointment is hard.) I didn’t understand what went wrong—surely You gave me this word for my sisters in South Africa, right, God? Why would you let this happen? Why would you let me come all this way to the airport to turn me right back around?
Have you ever questioned God when things didn’t look like you thought they would? (I’m sure you have!)
What if the vision God gave is actually in motion and coming to pass, but we just can’t see it because it doesn’t look like how we think it should look?
You want to be married by twenty-three, but you are twenty-two with no prospects in sight.
You plan to have three kids, but month after month, you are faced with a negative pregnancy test.
You dream of owning your own business, but don’t see any forward motion in your business plan.
So what do you do then?
Together, let’s look at three tangible ways to move through uncertainty when God seems distant.
3 Ways to Get Through Uncertainty
Stay in the Word (Luke 24:25-27)
“Then He said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?’ And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”
-Luke 24:25-27, NKJV
Jesus is walking with the disciples and begins to rebuke them. He allows the men to be honest and share what they are feeling, but after some time, they need alignment from God’s word and revelation from the Holy Spirit.
Giving them space to grieve, Jesus then begins (re)teaching them about Himself, and he begins with Moses, all the way through the Prophets. Friend, it is crucial that we know the scriptures because there will come many times in our lives when we can’t solely rely on what we feel and see. We must go by what God says! (Whether we believe it or not.)
As I was slipping down an emotional hole that day at the airport, the Holy Spirit began to remind me of Himself:
Trina, don't you know that all things work together for your good?
Trina, don't you know that you are called because I have a purpose for you?
Trina, don't you know I love you?
As I began hearing God’s truth, my focus changed, and my sadness and anger went away. It was then that I was able to see that God would make this situation work for my good.
Stay in the Right Disposition (Luke 24:29)
“But they constrained Him, saying, ‘Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.’ And He went in to stay with them.”
-Luke 24:29, NKJV
When you’re experiencing a difficult time, it can be hard to seek Jesus and not just the solution. As Daughters, our hearts' desires should always be wanting to spend time with Jesus for who He is, not what He gives us.
Jesus went in and stayed with them, and do you know what moved His heart to agree? The disciples knew God’s heart language. The men called to Jesus, pleading Him to stay.
If I’d like my husband to help with something, I don’t approach him with all the ways he is coming up short. I talk sweetly to him: “Thank you, John, for putting gas in my car. You love me so well! Would you mind taking out the trash?”
Let me tell you, nine times out of ten, he immediately does what I need when I show appreciation with my words. Similarly, I have learned that with my Father, when I love on Him and worship Him, when I ask Him to draw near, He does!
Stay at the Table
“Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to them.”
Luke 24:30, NKJV
Gathering around the table is essential for connection, understanding, and flourishing relationships. And it is no different with Jesus.
Sitting at the table with our Savior means practicing the activities we intentionally do to stay connected to God. It is reading and studying His word, fasting, meditating, and praying. When we slow life down so we can be in the presence of God, our lives change, and we reflect the face and character of Christ.
I love the beautiful way this story pans out. The disciples are at the table with Jesus. They watch Him take the loaf of bread. He blesses it and breaks it. (Can you see the crumbs falling from His hands?) Then he gives it to those at the table with Him.
A short time later, the disciples have an “ah-ha” moment and remember this very action coincides with what Jesus taught at the last supper. Wait, this is Jesus! Jesus is here at this table!
When you cling to God’s word, have the right heart, and stay at the table with Jesus, you will begin to see Jesus. And whenever your vision looks discouraging, God will open your eyes to the ways in which He is moving in your life.
Be encouraged, sister! Life is uncertain, but our relationship with Christ is not.