Reflection on Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter

Photo by Chad Greiter on Unsplash

 Acts 4:8-12; Psalm 118; 1 John 3:1-2; John 10:14; John 10:11-18

 Fading, fading; strength beyond hope and despair
Climbing the third stair. —T.S. Eliot from Ash Wednesday
This week's readings are a good reminder that it's rational to trust God, even when it feels like he's far away. I think often when prayers go unanswered for months or years, it's easy to feel like God has abandoned you. If you can't get a break, and you're in pain, and most of your friends are long gone, it can feel like God is gone too.

But Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He not only doesn't abandon us, he died for us. Those who trust in him shall not be disappointed (Isaiah 49:23), even if they are disappointed now because in heaven God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. (Revelation 21:4) 

No matter how things feel, how hopeless things seem, we can be still and know that he is God (Psalm 46:10) and that we are his children (1 John 3:2) and that he would no more abandon us than a loving parent would. (Matthew 7:11) He is the friend that sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24) He is our strength (Psalm 28:7) and nothing is impossible to him. (Luke 1:37)

No matter how we feel now, we know that we will feel the joy of the Psalmist when he said, "By the Lord has it been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes" (Psalm 118:23) as long as we don't give up. We just need to hold on to him for dear life when times are tough. He will not let us down because God never could or would fail us.

What are your thoughts on the readings this week? Please share them in the comments down below.

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