Transitions. Something we all will face, if we haven’t already. Living in a generation that craves what is known, many are often anxious and perplexed by change and what lies ahead. This must’ve been a sentiment common amongst the disciples after Jesus ascended into Heaven. What will happen next? What are we supposed to do? Where will we go? How can we move on without Jesus? All these questions and more would have gone through their heads at some point, simply because they were human.
After Jesus ascended to Heaven in Acts 1 the disciples return to the upper room in Jerusalem. Imagine the scene…their teacher, friend, Savior, was gone and now they were left to carry on. What would they do first?
Maybe we assumed they would have taken a break from each other, to reflect on what just happened? I can imagine that some of them would begin to worry and panic. Others would try to take the lead and establish their own ideas for what should come next. Others might depart and chart their own course of action. These would be normal and at times acceptable responses in our world today and yet, this is not what the disciples did. In Acts 1:14 we read, “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” Because of the example Jesus set throughout his life on earth, they recognized there to be only one first step moving forward: prayer.
When change comes in life, often our first thoughts are grounded in fear and uncertainty. I believe much of this is a result our own limits. We can’t see beyond our own circumstances to a place where God already is. When we find ourselves in this place, we have nowhere to turn, but to God through prayer. No matter the situation you are facing, the most important first act is to pray. What a reminder! As we all go through transitions in life, assuming we desire to walk in His will, we must first take the step of coming before Him, just as the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:6, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Before you go any further in what you’re facing; stop, listen, pray.
Author: Pastor Matt Amundsen