The question is not one of knowledge...

But of application. But we can't admit that, can we?

As Christians we are expected to go to church and small groups, looking for answers. "Jesus is the answer." With our heads, we believe that. Experientially, though, we have a much harder time figuring out what that means on a day-to-day basis. How is Jesus the answer when that familiar quarrel comes around again? How is Jesus the answer when the bottom falls out of a big project at work? How is Jesus the answer when a difficult child frays at the garment of your family life? How is Jesus the answer when all of your dearest hopes and dreams are shattered in one moment? The question is not one of knowledge, but of application. But we can't admit that, can we? We can't let fellow believers know that we haven't figured out how to apply the only true answer. So we carry on, wondering, frustrated, disappointed, and living in the shadow of the passionate life that Jesus offers but that we have rarely experienced.

There is good news. Listen to the words of Jesus:

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

The One whom we know to be the Answer offers us an invitation. "Learn from me." For those of us who are weary of the repetitive patterns of our lives, the ruts we are stuck in, the inability to make decisions and work through circumstances of life, for those of us who are broken hearted, there is hope: Learn from Jesus. If you look at and learn the way in which Jesus taught his disciples how to understand the world we can learn from their experiences. When it comes to our own experiences, we don't automatically learn simply because we have experiences. We learn by intentionally choosing to learn.

Maybe you've put your frustrating situation on the shelf. Perhaps in your fear of being disappointed yet again, you have come to expect less from God when it comes to changing your life. Perhaps you can't see how anything could change your marital status, your marriage, your job, your family, and you - not now. In response to our cry of "God, please do something!" Jesus teaches us how to learn from life. I'm willing to see how the Lord meets me there. I'm ready to learn.