Faith to Receive

This week we reflect on the feeling of hopelessness that often accompanies seemingly insurmountable challenges, drawing parallels to the story of Sisyphus from Greek mythology. We discuss that embracing challenges with faith and awareness of God's love allows us to draw closer to Him in dependence.

Key Insights:

• Sisyphean Struggles in Life: Life can sometimes feel like a Sisyphean struggle, where efforts seem futile and progress elusive, affecting various aspects such as jobs, health, and relationships.

• Biblical Examples of Reception and Resentment: Biblical figures like Job and Sarah exemplify different responses to life's challenges, highlighting the importance of reception over resentment.

• Faith as Receptivity: Faith is not only about taking action but also about receiving and trusting in God's plans, even when they defy understanding or expectations.

• Mary's Faith-Filled Response: The story of Mary and the birth of Christ illustrates a faith-filled response to unexpected news, embodying a posture of submission and willingness to receive.

• Embracing Challenges for Growth: Embracing life's challenges involves not getting lost in immediate concerns, maintaining awareness of God's love, embracing personal growth, and drawing closer to God in dependence.

• Job 2:10

  But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

• Hebrews 11:11-12

  By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

• Hebrews 11:30-31

  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

• Matthew 25:41

  And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Reflective Questions:

1. In what areas of your life do you feel like you are facing a Sisyphean struggle, and how does this affect your outlook?

2. How can the stories of Job, Sarah, and Mary inspire you to adopt a posture of reception rather than resentment in the face of challenges?

3. What does it mean for you to have a faith that is willing to receive from God, even when it involves unexpected or difficult circumstances?