in this passage [Mark 10:28-30], to me, Peter is doubting himself . He just heard that it would be impossible for humans to pass a camel through the eye of a needle. And that man can do nothing to gain entrance into Heaven. This is pretty daunting seeing as he dropped his nets and left his life behind to follow Christ. Peter was probably sitting off to the side thinking to himself, "Can I pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars? I could really use a wish right now." He needs assurance, hope. He's desperate. He's willing to psych himself out for the chance of just having a wish and that it maybe granted.
However, Jesus reassures Peter that all of his sacrifices and obedience will be worth it. He doesn't leave Peter alone in the fields of Ender's Island to look up in the sky for the chance at a wish. Rather Jesus tells him that all of his sacrifices will be worth it because of the spiritual rewards to come.
How often do we face obstacles in our faith journey and yearn for a dream or a genie or a wish? How often do we need the reassurance that everything will be all right or worth it? This journey is rough, we all know that. Sometimes we wish for a do over in a lesson. Sometimes it's a prayer for patience with a kid at youth center or in class. Sometimes it is just a wish that despite our failures God will take us back in his arms and continue to call us his Children.
There are going to be times when we "rap to stay relevant" and work because work needs to be done. It's important though that we keep in mind the fact that though we are giving up and sacrificing a lot of worldly things, we will be rewarded by Christ in the Heavenly kingdom. Be it in an answered prayer today, seeing Christ present here in this world, or a reward only to be received after we die.
Despite all the hardships we may face, it is important that we, like Peter, communicate with God. That we don't leave our life up to chance, or up to a wish we think we get by seeing an airplane in the night sky. Rather let us hold each other accountable to lay whatever it is that bothers us at Christ's feet so that he may fill us.
I'll leave you with a quote from Eat, Pray, Love:
"Groceries...someday you're gonna look back on this moment of your life as such a sweet time of grieving. You'll see that you were in mourning and your heart was broken, but your life was changing and you were in the best possible place in the world for it - in a beautiful place of worship, surrounded by grace. Take this time, every minute of it... But here's what you gotta understand Groceries. If you clear out all that space in your mind that your using right now to obsess about this, you'll have a vacuum there, an open spot - a doorway. And guess what the universe will do with that doorway? It'll rush in - God will rush in - and fill you with more love than you've ever dreamed."
-Matt
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