Sometimes we try to put fires out in other peoples lives because we love them. In doing so, even with a good heart – we can get in the way in what God is doing. We are not called to be someone’s Savior, we are called to intercede TO the One who IS the Savior on behalf of others. This is a hard word because when you love someone fiercely you want to protect them. To some of us God is saying, step to the side and let me do what I need to do to bring this person where I need them to be so that I can do a work in their lives.
Ouch. Does that resonant with you? l can tell you it does with me…
Even as I write these words, Holy Spirit is giving me the scripture in Matthew 16:21-23 where Peter, well meaning and well intentionally and with great love for the Lord stepped in the way of what God was doing and got rebuked. Some of us God is doing the same thing.
“From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Peter’s heart was filled with love and he wanted to protect Jesus, but the way he went about it what not in a way that was helpful, nor was it what Jesus needed at that moment. Like Peter, some of us think that we are protecting those we love from what they are going through – but what we (unknowingly and unmeaningfully and with the right intention but with the wrong actions) are getting in the way of what God is trying to do or direct in someone’s life. If you are praying for someone to come to Christ that you love, and yet you interfere in every way God is trying to soften their hearts to do so, you are becoming a stumbling block to what it is God needs to do to bring them to the point of recognition and realization of the fact that they need God in their life. If I’m not speaking words of truth that you can receive with this post, I know I am speaking words EVEN to myself…
Jesus said in Matthew 16:24-25:
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”
Listen, this is a hard word, but the truth is – we CANNOT be someone’s GOD. We CANNOT fix every issue or problem in someone’s life – that is not what God has called us to do, and it’s easy to fall into that trap – to want to fix the issues and problems for those we love. That’s not the role God called us to have. We are called to PRAY, we are called to INTERCEDE, we are called to LOVE. Peter wasn’t trying to do anything wrong, he loved Jesus and he didn’t like to hear what it was that Jesus was telling him, he wanted to protect him – but he was doing it in the WRONG way which is why he got rebuked. Some of us think that we are protecting those we love by trying to be the “fixer” but what we are doing is getting in the way of what it is Holy Spirit is trying to do in their lives. If you want to wince while reading these words – then maybe this word pertains to you.
If you are feeling worn out, exhausted and frustrated, maybe it is time to step back and re-evaluate how you are handling a situation? Ask the Father:
“Lord, is this me? Am I getting in the way of what it is you are trying to do? Forgive me if I have been a stumbling block, You know that was never my intent… You know the situation, please give me guidance and wisdom in how it is you want me to intercede. I don’t want to get in the way of what you are trying to do. Help me to love as You would have me love. Lord, I’m so sorry, You know my heart Father. Help me to walk in accordance to Your good and perfect will. Please give me Godly wisdom to know when to step forward and know when to step back, I don’t want to hinder what You are doing, I want to be in the center of Your will. In Jesus name I pray. AMEN“
God knows your heart, sometimes what He is calling us to do is to step back. Trust Him. Let Him. As I write this, it comes to me that it truly does become a matter of trust. As we commit loved ones to the care of the Lord, do we trust Him to do what needs doing in their lives? Or are we becoming stumbling blocks and becoming frustrated when we don’t see prayer being answered? God does not need our help. Jesus did NOT need Peter to protect Him. He needed Him to listen, to learn, to be there. Jesus called Peter (as He is calling us) to do ONE thing – Follow Him.
If you are feeling weary, burnt out, frustrated, sad, confused – all that is not of God. Those are NOT fruits of the Spirit. Maybe its time to re-evaluate how we are responding to situations and how we handle them. Look to the Father for wisdom and guidance and watch as we walk in Him, the ONE TRUE GOD – what HE can and will do, if only we believe.
Proverbs 3:5-6:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not to your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”
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