Day 4

She knew it... she knew something had happened. She waited and waited and he never showed up. She was thinking back to earlier in the week when he called her to ask her out. They didn't go to the same school, but she knew who he was. He was amazing! He was the guy that all the girls talked about... and he was asking her out! They talked a couple times during the week but homework was crazy. Plus, she didn't want to seem too anxious. But she couldn't help it. Then, before she knew it, it was Friday! THE DAY! She hurried home and got ready. Took a shower. Got out her clothes (5 different outfits just in case she didn't like the first one she had picked). And now, 3 hours later, she was ready......... and he never showed up. He didn't even call. Now her mind swirled with questions, hurt, anger, confusion, and so much more. "Why didn't he come?"

Now maybe that story doesn't speak to us. But it seems like nearly all of us have had those moments that we waited anxiously for... and then there was a big let-down. And the truth is, that being a Christian can be like that. We set ourselves up with big expectations like "Now that I'm a Christian, everything will be perfect" or "If I do this for God, He will bless me"... but what happens when He doesn't show up the way we expected? Or maybe a tougher question... what if what's best for us is what we don't want?

But there's something about being on that "bad side" of circumstances. There's something about taking a stand for something that our friends just don't understand or that people make fun of. There is something about realizing the pain or difficulty we are going through is actually bringing us to a closer relationship with Jesus.

You may be feeling really tempted right now. You may be feeling like giving up. You may be worried what people would think. You may be waiting for Jesus to show up... and you feel like He never does...

But today, read Matthew 5:3-12. Notice how many of those people that God blesses are not things the media challenges us to pursue. Why would they keep us from these things? If God is who He says He is, and will do what He's promised to do... then why do we believe lies about life instead of Jesus, Himself? READ, THINK, DISCUSS, LIVE

It's Day 4... time to get away from the noise. Find a way to sit in silence for 30 minutes today and journal what you noticed and thought.