The Antidote to Disappointment

In the busyness of our days we sometimes forget that Jesus the King of kings is waiting to be invited into all our momentary decision making. If you haven’t yet spoken personally with Him today, He’s standing in the doorway of your day, waiting for an invitation to come into the busyness of your life, concerns, cares, and even your conversations.

Scripture records that on the first day of the week, after the resurrection of Jesus, two disciples were making their way to the village of Emmaus. They were so engrossed in their conversation about the events of the previous few days, and in the sadness and disappointment of how things had turned out (‘But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel’ - verse 21), that they didn’t realise the man who came alongside them was, in fact, Jesus Himself.

Instead of battling in the flesh to work things out, we can make life so much easier for ourselves, if we learn to develop the habit of including Jesus in the detail of our day. When challenges arise that we don’t know how to handle, or when difficulties cloud our thoughts, Jesus is immediately present waiting for us to ask “Lord Jesus, what is the best way to go about this?” or simply “Jesus, help me”. He never fails to guide our thoughts to the best solutions, if we ask Him.

When the two arrived at their destination, He indicated that He was going further, but they urged him to stay on with them, as it was getting dark. As they communed with Him, and He broke bread with them, their eyes were opened, and they knew who He was.

Similarly, as we press in in prayer, coveting His presence, as the spiritual darkness in the world around us increases, we too will come into a deeper relationship with our Saviour. Then He can manifest His presence to us in a way we haven’t seen before.

Our heavenly Father watches over us constantly, day and night, and thus the nearness of the Lord’s presence is wonderfully reassuring. No matter the circumstances, Jesus makes the difference.

He turned the sadness of Cleopas and the other disciple to joy. He was in the burning fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego. He came in the early morning mist to the disciples in the boat on the stormy waves. He came in the heat of the day to the lonely woman at the well. He shared in the joy of the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. He still follows, and watches over the prodigal son’s wayward descent into the pig pen, and guides him on his journey home. He is with each one of us today, waiting for us to invite Him into our circumstances. Jesus makes all the difference.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to be always mindful of the abiding presence of Jesus in our lives. Lord Jesus, we need You. Please help us, for without You we can do nothing. In Jesus’ name. Amen.