Apples of Gold

The first few days of 2026 are already in the books. Chances are many of us have already fallen short with a resolution or two! 

With the beginning of a new year many followers of Jesus determine to “Do better this year”.  More time in prayer, more Bible study, more faithful in giving, more character development and self-discipline. 

The snooze alarm is in high demand as earlier rising is often the best answer to our need for time alone with our Lord; and yet our bodies rebel as “just a few more minutes” in our warm bed sounds like a necessity to our very survival. 

There is another obstacle in the way of maintaining our spiritual momentum. This one is much trickier to maneuver around. After putting in the time and the energy required to focus our hearts and minds upon eternal things, our excitement can diminish as passionate prayers lack noticeable impact. 

Most of us have likely tried to get in better physical shape at some point in our lives. At first the pounds melt away, energy is high and progress is visible. Most of us have also likely hit that plateau when the scale will not budge (or might even head in the wrong direction). The thought of a forbidden treat becomes almost irresistible and we have to wonder if all this sacrifice is even worth it. 

Spiritually, this can be a very difficult place to be. It is often a lonely place as well. Finding the words to describe the  torment and despair raging within seems impossible and embarrassing. You know better than to doubt God, but you can’t help but wonder if your prayers are really working. 

You are not as alone as you might feel. In fact many heroes of the faith have found themselves in the same spot.

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you don’t answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief. Psalm 22:1-2

Do you feel just a smidgen better remembering that David faced these same emotions? This was not the only time his words carry raw distress:

O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Psalm 13:1-2

Just for good measure here’s one more:

O LORD, I cry out to you. I will keep on pleading day by day O LORD why do you reject me? Why do you turn your face from me? Psalm 88:13-14

David wasn’t alone. Jeremiah faced the same anguish:

He has walled me in, and I cannot escape. He has bound me in heavy chains. And though I cry and shout, he has shut out my prayers. Lamentations 3:7-8

Realizing that in times of testing, these great men of God questioned the effectiveness of their prayers, brings a sense of relief. God’s ability to use them was not held back by their wavering trust. God’s plan was not sidetracked by their “lack of faith”. 

Their honesty with God, and the candidness of Scripture invites us to come clean as well. I find that many times when I pour out my pain and confusion I make room for God to pour in his peace and mercy. 

Although rarely do the dark clouds of concern immediately dissipate, they crack just enough to allow hope to seep in. Jeremiah describes this much better than I could.

I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: the faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. Lamentations 3:20-25

Some battles are long and ferocious. We cannot always see changes that are, in fact, taking place.  

My grandparents had a good sized pond on their farm. Once the temperature dropped we would test the thickness of the ice that formed on its surface to see if it was ready for skating.  As warm weather approached, the thickness of the ice began to diminish. More than once we found ourselves scrambling for the shore as the ice moaned and a deep crack slithered across the pond. Subtle changes, that were difficult to detect, occurred as the ice began to weaken. We couldn’t see what was happening beneath the surface until much of the melting had already occurred.

God’s work is often unobservable to a point. The heart of a loved one might appear impenetrable and yet be on the verge of breaking open. An answer might be concealed from view but within reach. God might seem distant and inattentive, but we know better.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28