“There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in.”- Graham Greene, English playwright
In Chapter 4 (“The Wine Maker”) of The Grave Robber, Mark Batterson opens with this statement: “There are days. Then there are days that define the rest of your life.” Some days are ordinary or mundane (predictable), others change life dramatically (unpredictable). Either way, Pastor Batterson notes, you aren’t the person you were before.
Whether it’s a planned event like marriage or an unplanned event like a vocation loss, Mark notes that “the bridge to the past is forever destroyed, and the future rushes in like a flash flood.” The Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11) was that new day for Jesus. The Carpenter’s son from Nazareth performed His first miracle.
Pastor Batterson wonders how hard it was for Jesus to stay His miracle power for thirty years, especially when skeptics scoffed or bullies provoked- or to willingly stay on the cross to die for our sins. The fact that Jesus held His hand may be the greatest miracle of all. While Jesus’ miracle-performing power is impressive, His willpower not to use that capability is even more impressive- the miracle of restraint.
There is a lesson here for us. As Pastor Batterson writes, “sometimes the greatest miracle is restraint.”
Today’s question: What Bible verses have been foundational in establishing the miracle of restraint in your life following your vocation loss? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Catalyst for a miracle”