For This Cause

I believe there a couple of ways to go through struggle. You can either feel like you don’t deserve whatever you are going through and never saw it coming, or you can realize that Jesus’s words in the Bible are true; “In this world you will have trouble.”

Now, I am an optimist, so I’m not telling you to be on the lookout for doom and gloom. I am challenging you to be aware of life – this world – and then not be so blindsided when troubles come.

Jesus was well aware of what was ahead for Him on this earth. He shared our “human-ness.” In John 12:27-28 He says, “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”  Another Bible version reads, “for this cause I came to this time.”

Cause and effect. We see it in other places in the Bible as well. Ephesians 5:31 says, “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” John 18:37 records the conversation between Jesus and Pilate. Pilate asks Jesus if He is a king. Jesus tells Pilate, “… for this cause I came into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.”

The struggle is real. Jesus’s cause for coming to this earth was for our forgiveness of sins, which leads us to the effect – eternal salvation – redemption – all a part of God’s plan. In the bond of marriage, there is a cause – a tradeoff – for couples to cut the apron strings and bond to each other.

The important part of this message is that the apron strings need to be cut off from the parents before new ties can be established with the spouse. The pain of letting go and cutting off has to happen before the effect can take place. Again, there was no effect of forgiveness, salvation and eternal life until Jesus came and lived and suffered and sacrificed Himself for you. For you – His cause – He came and the effect is your eternity.

Your blended family is no different. What is your cause? You probably left some freedoms, parents, independence, etc., to join with your spouse to form your family. You have probably already realized this was a bigger undertaking than you ever thought. The struggle with the ex-. The step kids not being respectful. The husband not putting you first. But, let me remind you, without the cause, there is no effect – no possibility of an amazing family being forged from past hurts and failures. Remind yourself of your cause – and then let God show you His effect.

Remember, the cause is real, it’s difficult, and impossible at times. But, God has His miraculous ways to work things out – for His purposes and His glory; and that is the effect we should all be seeking.

“Father, glorify Your Name!”

Blessings in your Blending!