DO YOU FEEL YOU ARE STUMBLING THROUGH LIFE WITH NO DIRECTION?

SCRIPTURE:
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, 
proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and 
sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because 
they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
(Matthew 9:35-36)

MEDITATION:
Folk singer Bob Dylan had a song years ago named, “Like A Rolling Stone”.
In that song were these lyrics,
“How does it feel, how does it feel? To be on your own, 
with no direction home. A complete unknown, like a rolling stone”

Do you ever have a feeling 
that you are alone and have no direction in your life?
Without Jesus in our life, 
we are much like a ‘rolling stone’ with ‘no direction home’.
In order to invite Jesus into our daily lives, 
we need to meet Him where He is, and not where we have defined Him to be.

The scriptures tell us that He was found in the synagogues.
Doesn’t it make sense that we should look for Him in the same place today?
In the past, people built synagogues as a place for worship and, even though 
they may not have known it, it was also a place where they could find Jesus.

Sure, He walked among the people as well, 
but we know to look for Him in the churches of today.
Too many people have been duped by Satan 
and created their own form of worship.
Anytime we do that, we are treading on thin ice and can often 
be turning our backs on the One who can give us direction for our lives.

Why do we even need Jesus in our lives?
Because He truly cares about people 
(including those who want nothing to do with Him).
The scriptures tell us that 
He sees the helpless condition of people without guidance.
He has compassion and wants to help those 
who are floundering around trying to develop their own stability in life.

He knows the frustration we experience as we search for ways to ‘steady’ 
our lives, and how we succumb to any number of things that can damage us 
and those around us as we become frustrated in our efforts.
Many claim that they ‘just want to be happy’ yet they ignore developing a 
relationship with the One who provides the foundation for happiness.
As part of their efforts to be happy, they try to numb their minds 
with foreign substances, engage in illicit relationships, etc.

Look at the offer Jesus has given to all people.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in 
heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my 
burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

He says, “Come” (He doesn’t say, “Go your own way”).
He says, “I will give you rest”.
Isn’t that what we want more than anything else?
He says, “Learn from Me”.
Jesus is ready to teach us 
how to find happiness by allowing Him to direct our paths.

Notice that He says, “Take my yoke upon you”.
That is significant 
because it relates to those who used oxen for plowing fields.
They would ‘yoke’ an older oxen to a younger oxen so the younger one 
would ‘learn’ from the older one how to pull the plow, 
and which direction to go.
To ‘yoke’ ourselves with Jesus, we need to spend time with Him, on His terms, not ours.
When we do, we ‘learn’ from Him, 
and we can find ‘rest for our souls’ (that is His promise to us).

ACTION:
Do you feel you are just wandering through life?
You may have a good job, a nice home, a good family 
and yet you feel something is missing.
Take the offer from Jesus and allow Him to add direction to your life.
Not direction from the world’s point of view, 
but a direction that is much more important.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for the promises in Your Word. I am tired 
and frustrated from trying to pursue rest and happiness using my own ideas. 
I realize that only You can provide the guidance and direction I need in my 
life. Help me to cast aside my own ideas of how to develop a relationship 
with You, and teach me to freely yield myself to what Your Word tells me 
are the keys to having a close relationship with You. I am tired of striving 
to find You through my own methods that are built on satisfying my own 
selfishness. Help me to sacrifice whatever prevents me from drawing 
nearer to You.”