“Yahoshua answered them, ‘Do you now believe?’” John 16:31

Yahoshua, until the end of His ministry was instructing the disciples on belief, faith, and accepting the unknown. Yet, trusting that it is known from above. Even with all of this instruction, and even with the disciples proclamations, “Now we know . . .” “You are the Messiah.” “Adonai and Elohim!” They still scattered when the soldiers arrested Him. We are not immune.

Lesson; even if we believe in our heart of hearts, the deepest center of our beings, we can suffer doubt, confusion, struggle. We are not immune. To walk by faith and not sight takes practice and patience and discipline. It requires us to search through our hearts, our minds, and the Scriptures. We are not immune.

“Adonai, I believe, oh that You would yet, help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24

Have you ever sat with someone who questions their worth, or their salvation, or whether they are forgivable? Even with an arsenal of Scripture, where verse after verse shows the mercy and the grace of Elohim, one can still have doubts. To judge such a person is to judge ourselves. We are not immune.

i encountered this mindset a lot over that past 60 days or so. So often in fact that it made me stop and think about my own understanding of the forgiveness of Elohim and that which is provided through the blood of Yahoshua; Behold the lamb of Elohim, who takes away the sin of the saintly church attendee. No not exactly. We are not immune.

i shared with my celly one evening this passage from Micah 6:8, we are to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly. i have been rediscovering this truth since i typed these words, based on a familiar quote, “The End Does Not Justify the Means.” It hasn’t been easy, it has been extremely difficult and painful, in a heart wrenching way. We are not immune.

“But how?” Echoes in my ears and in my own thoughts. That is when the calm comes and the gentle reminder; “Lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledging Him (YHWH) and He WILL guide your steps.” Proverbs 3:5-6

It is the promise that we have an advocate, a counselor, a friend, and not just one who empathizes with us but one who has overcome! Peace in Yahoshua, peace through tribulations and peace through trials.

“Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with Me. I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:32-33

And just as the Father did not leave Yahoshua alone, so too now, Yahoshua will not leave us alone. “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.” John 14:16

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16

We are not immune, but we are protected.

You are loved,
cj