All things continue the way they have been since the beginning. What has happened will happen again; there is nothing new here on earth. Someone might say, “Look, this is new,” but really it has always been here. It was here before we were. People don’t remember what happened long ago, and in the future people will not remember what happens now. Even later, other people will not remember what was done before them. (Ecclesiastes 1:9-11)
It’s funny how we can each quickly believe we’re the only one who has ever experienced something. We feel alone, or at least, we feel as if we can’t find someone who can fully relate to us. We compare stories and find the differences instead of looking at the similarities, because we focus on the specifics instead of the underlying issues.
Many times, the issues we have are less about the specific situation and more about the foundation of what’s underneath the issue. We feel inadequate, ignored, overlooked, mistreated, targeted, accused, betrayed, overwhelmed, and so on. If we’d set aside the specifics of our situations and look for the common experiences underlying them, we’d realize we’re not so different from people. And that God’s included a person and situation in Scripture for us to pay attention to and learn from.
People in the Bible have left bread crumbs for us to follow. Are you looking for them?
Perhaps you’d rather find the differences. After all, if you can find how someone in the Bible is different than you, you can dismiss the lesson, because it doesn’t “quite” apply. But look at the basics of the lesson. What is the person going through or struggling with? Each person and each situation is a trail of bread crumbs leading through the process of God revealing something about himself and his will to you. You have to pay attention to the details.
If you’re intent on learning about God and from God, you’re going to have to let him teach you the way he intends. Don’t worry: he knows your learning style. He knew what you’d need long before you ever did or ever will.
Will you follow the breadcrumbs of faith?
(To go deeper into God’s Word, order Pure Faith: A Study of What Faith Is and How to Live It Out Loud.)