In the Gap

Each of the passages for this week has a way of drawing us into curiosity about how God might most palpably show up in the places where we experience a gap between where we are and where we want to be or think we should be. God provides sustenance for the Israelites as they experience the wilderness that exists between their deliverance from slavery and the Promised Land, and the psalmist praises God’s glorious deeds. Paul longs to be with Christ but recognizes his separation provides him the opportunity to serve others. In Matthew, Jesus tells a parable that challenges our understanding of equal access to the kingdom. These passages invite us to question our ideas about how we think life should go versus the reality of what is. The gaps in time or space between where we are and where we want to be can become places that remind us to see joy amidst the suffering and difficulties of life.

Read Exodus 16:2-15. When have you found yourself in the wilderness? How did God meet you there? Were you always able to notice God’s presence?
Read Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45. When have you fallen away from seeking God and God’s strength? What helps restore your seeking?
Read Philippians 1:21-30. How have you experienced God’s joy even in the midst of suffering?
Read Matthew 20:1-16. When have you struggled with the vastness of God’s grace? When have you felt as if God has been more generous with other people? How did you handle it?