As a follower of Jesus, I have often prayed,  “Your kingdom to come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” I wonder how long a holy and righteous God will tolerate our indifference to him.  Have we rejected the light that has been given us? The voices of “antichrist” seem more vocal and dominant.  The display of “the rainbow flag” calls into question the creation story, while discrimination against those who live under the Lordship of Christ leads to believers being “canceled” by zealous opponents of biblical truth. 

I ask, “How long will God keep silent?”  Are we beginning to see his judgment in the unraveling of our culture?  I don’t know.  But along with the prophet Habakkuk, I ask, “How long, Lord, must I call for help but you do not listen?”  I wonder how prevalent this cry is among God’s people today?  Are we too blind and deaf to not see God’s hand of judgment in current affairs?   I wonder!

Isaiah asked the people of God, “Who talked you into the pursuit of this nonsense, leaving me high and dry, forgetting you ever knew me?  Because I don’t yell and make a scene do you think I don’t exist.”  God accuses them of looking to “no-gods” for help.  “I’ll go over, detail by detail, all your ‘righteous’ attempts at religion, and expose the absurdity of it all.  Go ahead, cry for help to your collection of no-gods: A good wind will blow them away.  They’re smoke, nothing but smoke.” (Is. 57:11-12 – MSG). 

While it may seem that God is disinterested, there will come a time when He will break forth.  Isaiah uses the vivid image of childbirth, in describing God breaking through: “I have long been silent; yes, I have restrained myself.  But now, like a woman in labor. I will cry and groan and pant … I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way.  I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth out the road ahead of them.  Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them” (Is 42:14-15 NLT).

I find this image compelling, when I consider the distress and confusion believers have as they see the influence of the gospel diminishing, as the pollsters tell us Americans are becoming less religious, and as we follow the “no-gods” of the current day.  Even though God seems to be indifferent, the time will come when He suddenly break into history in a profound way.  

What is the advice Isaiah gives?  We are to wait.  This is expressed in three different ways. 

1. “I will wait for the Lord who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob.  I will put my trust in him” (Is. 8:17).  While the predominant sentiment might be indifference to God, we trust in his sovereignty over history and wait. 
2. “Yes, Lord walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desires of our hearts” (Is. 26:8). While God seems silent, we deeply long for God, waiting for him, because our hearts are set on Him and find their delight in him.
3. “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him” (Is. 64:4).

We wait, knowing that God will act in his good time.  “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.'” (Rev. 21:5).  He calls us to patience.

In an article for Christianity Today, Michael Cosper writes on “the last gift my father gave me… the gift of grief… As I grieved my father, I learned to grieve other things I’d failed to grieve in the past – and somehow that grief made me feel whole.”  Translating Matt. 5:4 from the Greek as, “Flourishing are the mourners because they will be comforted,” Cosper found comfort -“and something in me began to crack open.” 

Without grief work, Richard Rohr maintains, “the soul remains self-enclosed, rattling around inside its own limited logic and disconnected from the world.”   Cosper recalls a friend asking him, “How’s your grief work going?”  When he could not answer the question, his friend asked, “Tell me about the last time you wept over any of this.” Grief can be unfinished hurt. “The grieving mode” observes Rohr, “is different from the fixing mode, the controlling mode or even the understanding mode of life.” 

Matthew 5:48 is frequently translated, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” However, biblical scholar Jonathan Pennington argues that “perfect” relates to “shalom” which bestows the peace of God. He points out, “Shalom…is active.  Shalom is a sense of wholehearted relationship with God and an awareness of the goodness in his care and rule of the world.” 

“Translating telios as ‘perfect’ makes Matt. 5:48 an ethical command, while rendering it as ‘shalom’ invites us into wholehearted relationship with God and rest in him. It’s a vision of grace.”  “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up.  You’re kingdom subjects.  Now live like it.  Live out your God created identity.  Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” (Matt. 5:48  MSG). 

“Am I grown up?”  Do I face my inner wounds and pain as a mature man in Christ, or do I still want to cast blame and see myself as a victim?  I can get easily stuck in an inner cave of self-pity and anger. I can feel sorry for myself and blame God for not acting on my behalf.  It’s hard to admit; but I act like a “spoiled brat” at times.  I need to grow up as a man, even at my age.  

 I was helped years ago with this insight from Richard Rohr:  “Many men think they are angry, but most male anger is really hidden sadness.”   Tasting sadness is part of the grieving process.  We open our hearts to the sadness that has been buried for years.  We come to peace and rest in him.  

Here are some insights to consider as you do your own grief work:   

First, be convinced that the broken and marginalized will flourish in the kingdom of God.  You might be halfway through the tunnel.  In your pain and shame, you are tempted to turn back, denying the reality of wounded soul.  No!  Keep pressing on.  This implies vulnerability, humility, and surrender.  You can’t fix your soul sickness or sadness.  Allow Jesus to carry you to the Father.

Second, resist all efforts to put yourself in the “church” box of the strong, spiritual, self-made man.  Remember that Jesus said, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3).  Admit that you can’t fix yourself.  Surrender to your loving Father in childlike faith.

Third, remember that it is OK to grieve as you process your pain.  I have had to do it many times.  Get it out. You have carried it too long.   Don’t hold back; ask God to be merciful, as his wayward child returns home.