Photo by Analia Baggiano on Unsplash
The sweet spot. Everyone has one – that place no matter where you are or what you do, everything just feels right! You don’t want that moment to end. Frozen in time. That is what you wish for. Mine is when I discover a Biblical truth which encourages me.
Some glimpse of the Word which inspires me, sets my heart on fire as the Holy Spirit makes the words jump off the page. It’s usually when the house is quiet to a degree and I can hear myself think. Not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse. My heart rate slows to a gentle pace as the pressures of the day abate. My pen flies over the pages in outpouring of words I find illuminating and encouraging, usually with complete disregard for punctuation and spelling! But it’s Ok, this is my sweet spot. When fresh hope distilled from God’s word spreads its glow through my parched soul.
That’s the thing with sweet spots. There is a desire to linger there. You want to capture and preserve that moment forever. The disciples had a sweet spot experience too. Jesus had taken Peter, James and John up a high mountain. He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun and His garments became white as light. Moses and Elijah appeared, talking with Jesus. Peter is immediately struck by how sweet the spot is, in time and in eternity. “Lord it is good for us to be here, if you wish I will make three tabernacles one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah” he said.
Peter wanted to stay there, possibly wished the moment frozen in time. Jesus gave no indication that he heard Peter. In fact, while Peter is still speaking a bright cloud overshadows Jesus, Moses and Elijah and God’s voice out of the clouds say “this is my Beloved Son with whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him”.
God didn’t want Peter to make a memorial of that moment. Jesus knew, after this mountain experience would come series of event that would lead to the cross. The reason He came to the world. The Father valued relationship with and obedience to His Son above the awe and bliss felt by the disciples. There are revelations at sweet spots. Sweet spots can happen anywhere. God wants you to take what He has shown you and at the right time, do what He wants with the information He has given to you.
He wants us to value His presence and our relationship with Him but the way which we show we value that, is by our obedience to His Word (Jesus.)
A few weeks ago, when I wrote this piece, I thought it just was about the sweet spots, when Heaven invades our world. However, at the time of posting the piece, it was more about when we are no longer in the sweet spot. Like Peter, James and John, you have come down the mountain of experience you had with God. The glory, awe and bliss are distant memory. You maybe have begun to doubt those things He said to you about your future, dreams and destiny. Perhaps, you are in that place where it’s anything but sweet. Your prayers sound hollow to yours ears and that’s even when you can muster the strength to pray.
In your heart you are like, is this it? Perhaps, similar to the doubting of John the Baptist, who had the insight and privilege of pointing the Lamb of God out to the crowd, now, sending word by his disciples to Jesus – “Are you the expected one or shall we look for another?” Matthew 11:2-6
What do you do, when you find yourself in that- not- so-sweet-spot?
Whether you have been there for days, weeks or months. You need to recall the first, second, hundredth or last thing God told you, and you listen to Him anew. Jesus told John’s disciples, report back to John, the blind see, the deaf hear, lepers are cleansed, the lame walk, the dead are brought to life and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
In others words Jesus was saying, tell John all these things and see if his questions are not answered by the display of my Glory. Remind yourself what God said to you at the place of revelation, what you saw and heard on the mountain top of His presence.
Whether during times of private mediation or corporate worship. Recall the miracles He’s done in your life. This is how we survive the not-so sweet- spots- of- life. Which, by the way are par for the course. Keeping our eyes on Jesus, listening to Him, reminding ourselves of what He said and obeying Him, that’s the way we are to live through the seasons of our lives.
Six days later, three of them saw that glory. Jesus took Peter and the brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his face. His clothes were filled with light. Then they realized that Moses and Elijah were also there in deep conversation with him. Peter broke in, “Master, this is a great moment! What would you think if I built three memorials here on the mountain—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah?”
While he was going on like this, babbling, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.” When the disciples heard it, they fell flat on their faces, scared to death. But Jesus came over and touched them. “Don’t be afraid.” When they opened their eyes and looked around all they saw was Jesus, only Jesus. Mark 9:2-9 The Message
Thanks for reading
Emi x
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