On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” –John 6:60, 67-68
What is your “hard teaching”? What is difficult to accept? I have been able to verbalize and visualize a comparison to accepting my “hard teaching”. Acceptance, for me, is like swallowing nails. It’s painful. It is not a one-time thing. It has to be done over and over. With each swallow, its pain is destructive to the tissue that lines my throat. Has this continual swallowing caused me to think about leaving the hope found in Jesus Christ? No! To whom else would I go? I go to the One who has the words of eternal life. Jesus.
What does it look like for me to “go to the One who has the words of eternal life”? It is a continual turning to Jesus. A turning of my spiritual, emotional, and mental capacities to him. I turn to him by acknowledging who he is, the Truth he brings, and therefore, the hope that is revealed and secure. I choose to have my response be like that of Simon Peter: “We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:69). The result of this daily turning and acknowledging is his touch to the lining of my throat. Day after day. Finding his mercy new every swallow. There is a healing balm from his touch. With each glance and gaze upon him, I’m enabled to swallow my “hard”. It’s the extravagant grace of my Savior, Jesus. It’s a perspective shift from the reality of my pain to the reality of my Hope.
The circumstance that caused my pain remains. Yet there is Hope.
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. –1 Peter 1:6-9
This truth assures me that with each turning of my heart, mind and soul to Jesus, reaffirming my belief in him, I am receiving the end result of my faith, the salvation of my soul. This truth continues to provide a healing salve to the lining of my throat with each swallow of acceptance. With each touch of his power upon my being, he forms healthier layers of lining in my throat as I surrender my pain to him.
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” –Revelation 21:4-5
But what do I do in the meantime when this hope doesn’t change my circumstances? I once heard that the meantime is a mean time. I let the Living Word fuel me from day to day. Focused on the promises yet to be fulfilled. I don’t just wait and hold my breath. I allow my daily hope infusion to stimulate activity and participation into the things he calls me to that point to him. I allow this daily hope to engage the day, eager to see how the Lord desires to use my life as he most certainly prepares me for this guaranteed eternity in his presence. As I engage each day, I believe the Lord is accomplishing the refining of my faith.
Kelly Packard has been a member of Faith for 12 years. She has spent her professional career as a college/pro women’s basketball coach. At Faith, Kelly serves as a writer for the blog, The Perspective and participates in the Stephen Ministry. She loves affirming the promises of God from His Word through writing.
Kelly is from Ohio, and enjoys time with her family, friends, drinking coffee and exercise.