'Help, I'm So Confused!': Luke 11:5-8 (Patience)

Read Galatians 5:22-23:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Are you ready to make an investment in the Fruit of Patience?

What circumstances is God taking you through right now that is causing you confusion? Be specific.

Read Luke 11:5-8

Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need."

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Go to 'DOCUMENTS' and read Oswald Chambers comments on confusion.

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Regarding your relationship with God, how frequently do you find yourself feeling wrong for being confused?

Oswald states:

'There are times in your spiritual life when there is confusion, and the way out of it is not simply to say that you should not be confused. It is not a matter of right and wrong, but a matter of God taking you through a way that you temporarily do not understand.'

Do you agree that God will often take us through a way that we simply do not understand'?

Oswald adds:

'And it is only by going through the spiritual confusion that you will come to the understanding of what God wants for you.'

How difficult is it for you to go through the confusion without the need to make sense of it?

Regarding Luke 11:5-8, Oswald says about God:

"You will think that He is an unkind friend, but remember— He is not. The time will come when everything will be explained. There seems to be a cloud on the friendship of the heart, and often even love itself has to wait in pain and tears for the blessing of fuller fellowship and oneness. When God appears to be completely shrouded, will you hang on with confidence in Him?

Here Oswald defines the real test of faith, will we hold out in confidence in God when our circumstances are screaming that He has failed and left us?

Regarding your current circumstances, how would you answer that question?

Oswald goes on to explain:

'"Everyone who asks receives...” (Luke 11:10). If all you see is a shadow on the face of the Father right now, hang on to the fact that He will ultimately give you clear understanding and will fully justify Himself in everything that He has allowed into your life.'

Is there anything you would like to like to ask of God?

If so, you can do so privately, or in the space provided.

Read Luke 18:1-8:

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Oswald observes:

'"When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Will He find the kind of faith that counts on Him in spite of the confusion?'

Concerning your present confusion, what specific action(s) do you need to take to establish that kind of faith?

Oswald concludes:

'Stand firm in faith, believing that what Jesus said is true, although in the meantime you do not understand what God is doing. He has bigger issues at stake than the particular things you are asking of Him right now.'

Will you stand firm in your faith in Jesus despite all the confusion and hardship you are currently experiencing?

How much has this Trail increased His fruit of patience in your present disposition?