God gave her a miracle... and then it was taken away | 2 Kings 4

>> Hey, welcome back to the Crossroads >> Hey, welcome back to the Crossroads daily. I'm Justin. daily. I'm Justin. daily. I'm Justin. >> I'm Danny. [music] >> I'm Danny. [music] >> I'm Danny. [music] >> I'm Nico. >> I'm Nico. >> I'm Nico. >> I'm Alex. >> I'm Alex. >> I'm Alex. >> Great. We are talking about a crazy >> Great. We are talking about a crazy >> Great. We are talking about a crazy story story story >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> again today. >> again today. >> again today. Another story where Jesus as the Another story where Jesus as the Another story where Jesus as the resurrection and life where God shows us resurrection and life where God shows us resurrection and life where God shows us that he can make dead things come back that he can make dead things come back that he can make dead things come back to life and including people. This one to life and including people. This one to life and including people. This one has a bunch of has a bunch of has a bunch of odd things in it like odd things in it like odd things in it like >> It's so weird. >> It's so weird. >> It's so weird. >> So such weird things but it if let me >> So such weird things but it if let me >> So such weird things but it if let me just catch you up on it. Give you the just catch you up on it. Give you the just catch you up on it. Give you the context. So 2 Kings 4 chapter 4 is where context. So 2 Kings 4 chapter 4 is where context. So 2 Kings 4 chapter 4 is where we're at. And there's a woman from we're at. And there's a woman from we're at. And there's a woman from Shunem. I'm just going to assume that's Shunem. I'm just going to assume that's Shunem. I'm just going to assume that's how you pronounce it. Don't disagree how you pronounce it. Don't disagree how you pronounce it. Don't disagree with me. Great. with me. Great. with me. Great. >> Sounds good to me. >> Sounds good to me. >> Sounds good to me. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Shunem. >> Shunem. >> Shunem. >> A woman from Shunem receives an >> A woman from Shunem receives an >> A woman from Shunem receives an unexpected gift from God. A son she unexpected gift from God. A son she unexpected gift from God. A son she never thought she'd have. never thought she'd have. never thought she'd have. And years later that same child suddenly And years later that same child suddenly And years later that same child suddenly dies in her arms. dies in her arms. dies in her arms. Instead of giving in to despair, she Instead of giving in to despair, she Instead of giving in to despair, she goes looking for God's prophet who's the goes looking for God's prophet who's the goes looking for God's prophet who's the one who told her she was going to have a one who told her she was going to have a one who told her she was going to have a child, the one who prayed over her to child, the one who prayed over her to child, the one who prayed over her to have a child years before. She goes have a child years before. She goes have a child years before. She goes searching for Elisha, that prophet.

searching for Elisha, that prophet. searching for Elisha, that prophet. And then Elisha has compassion on her And then Elisha has compassion on her And then Elisha has compassion on her and through his prayers he asked God, and through his prayers he asked God, and through his prayers he asked God, "Would you bring him back to life?" And "Would you bring him back to life?" And "Would you bring him back to life?" And God restores the boy the boy back to God restores the boy the boy back to God restores the boy the boy back to life. life. life. I I I I would say it's easy for us as I would say it's easy for us as I would say it's easy for us as Christians to go immediately to the Christians to go immediately to the Christians to go immediately to the victory of this story. victory of this story. victory of this story. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> And it's it's easy for me to just go, >> And it's it's easy for me to just go, >> And it's it's easy for me to just go, "Oh, I see the ending. I can just read "Oh, I see the ending. I can just read "Oh, I see the ending. I can just read this story with a big smile on my face." this story with a big smile on my face." this story with a big smile on my face." >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And then >> And then >> And then if I just sit with it, if I just sit with it, if I just sit with it, I recognize a mother is holding her only I recognize a mother is holding her only I recognize a mother is holding her only child child child and her child passes away. and her child passes away. and her child passes away. And I'm immediately brought to remember And I'm immediately brought to remember And I'm immediately brought to remember oh, I've got four beautiful children. oh, I've got four beautiful children. oh, I've got four beautiful children. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> But we miscarried twice in that time of >> But we miscarried twice in that time of >> But we miscarried twice in that time of having kids. Mhm. And I remember those having kids. Mhm. And I remember those having kids. Mhm. And I remember those moments moments moments of loss, of loss, of loss, but it's easy as Christians just to go, but it's easy as Christians just to go, but it's easy as Christians just to go, "Oh, take hope. The story ended great." "Oh, take hope. The story ended great." "Oh, take hope. The story ended great." >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And we miss the pain. I don't want to do >> And we miss the pain. I don't want to do >> And we miss the pain. I don't want to do that with any of us. I don't want to do that with any of us. I don't want to do that with any of us. I don't want to do that with stories like this. And so, that with stories like this. And so, that with stories like this. And so, first question I would ask us is first question I would ask us is first question I would ask us is um um um what do you tend to do when life doesn't what do you tend to do when life doesn't what do you tend to do when life doesn't unfold the way you hoped it would?

unfold the way you hoped it would? unfold the way you hoped it would? >> Mhm. >> I'm um >> I'm um my default is to be a fixer my default is to be a fixer my default is to be a fixer or to try to take control of things on or to try to take control of things on or to try to take control of things on my own. my own. my own. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> And so, >> And so, >> And so, when something goes wrong or there's when something goes wrong or there's when something goes wrong or there's grief in something, I think I grief in something, I think I grief in something, I think I immediately try to go into action mode. immediately try to go into action mode. immediately try to go into action mode. I don't know if I I mean, this woman, I don't know if I I mean, this woman, I don't know if I I mean, this woman, what she does is she immediately goes to what she does is she immediately goes to what she does is she immediately goes to the prophet. She was like trying to go the prophet. She was like trying to go the prophet. She was like trying to go before God. before God. before God. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And I'm like, I should probably fix this >> And I'm like, I should probably fix this >> And I'm like, I should probably fix this on my own. on my own. on my own. >> [laughter] >> [laughter] >> [laughter] >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> And that never works. And not only does >> And that never works. And not only does >> And that never works. And not only does it never work, it probably almost always it never work, it probably almost always it never work, it probably almost always makes the situation worse. makes the situation worse. makes the situation worse. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> But that's like I immediately go into >> But that's like I immediately go into >> But that's like I immediately go into fix it mode. Not even for myself. I do fix it mode. Not even for myself. I do fix it mode. Not even for myself. I do it for other people, too. it for other people, too. it for other people, too. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> I mean, my brother, I >> I mean, my brother, I >> I mean, my brother, I recently remember a time my brother was recently remember a time my brother was recently remember a time my brother was going through a hard time with school, going through a hard time with school, going through a hard time with school, and school's really hard for him, and and school's really hard for him, and and school's really hard for him, and he was telling um my husband, Cameron, he was telling um my husband, Cameron, he was telling um my husband, Cameron, and I about it, and I immediately went and I about it, and I immediately went and I about it, and I immediately went into, "Well, have you thought about into, "Well, have you thought about into, "Well, have you thought about this? And what about that?" Like, I just this? And what about that?" Like, I just this? And what about that?" Like, I just do that, and I like watched him. I do that, and I like watched him. I do that, and I like watched him. I watched his whole body like kind of shut watched his whole body like kind of shut watched his whole body like kind of shut down.

down. down. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. And I just like, "Let me just >> Yeah. And I just like, "Let me just >> Yeah. And I just like, "Let me just control that for you. Let me fix that control that for you. Let me fix that control that for you. Let me fix that for you." for you." for you." >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And it doesn't work. >> And it doesn't work. >> And it doesn't work. >> Yeah, I know. Control is a thing for me, >> Yeah, I know. Control is a thing for me, >> Yeah, I know. Control is a thing for me, too. too. too. >> Same. >> Same. >> Same. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Not to be like the >> Not to be like the >> Not to be like the super Jesus guy, but I don't know. I super Jesus guy, but I don't know. I super Jesus guy, but I don't know. I think think think just having enough of those encounters just having enough of those encounters just having enough of those encounters in life, in life, in life, um, I have a very quick pivot to like um, I have a very quick pivot to like um, I have a very quick pivot to like "Okay, Lord, help me to see this from "Okay, Lord, help me to see this from "Okay, Lord, help me to see this from your perspective." Like that's it. Like your perspective." Like that's it. Like your perspective." Like that's it. Like I'll I'll I'll struggle [clears throat] I'll I'll I'll struggle [clears throat] I'll I'll I'll struggle [clears throat] with the discouragement with the discouragement with the discouragement for a moment, and then it's immediately for a moment, and then it's immediately for a moment, and then it's immediately like, "Okay, Lord, give me your like, "Okay, Lord, give me your like, "Okay, Lord, give me your understanding. Help me to see this understanding. Help me to see this understanding. Help me to see this from the way you see this." Because so from the way you see this." Because so from the way you see this." Because so many times like there have been seasons many times like there have been seasons many times like there have been seasons where like it on the outside clearly where like it on the outside clearly where like it on the outside clearly like this is just life is a dumpster like this is just life is a dumpster like this is just life is a dumpster fire. fire. fire. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And I've seen afterwards in retrospect >> And I've seen afterwards in retrospect >> And I've seen afterwards in retrospect looking back like, "Oh, this is what you looking back like, "Oh, this is what you looking back like, "Oh, this is what you were doing in that." Right? So, I think were doing in that." Right? So, I think were doing in that." Right? So, I think that's just one of those things that's that's just one of those things that's that's just one of those things that's just just just um, that I've just carried with me. Like um, that I've just carried with me. Like um, that I've just carried with me. Like I've kind of gone through enough of I've kind of gone through enough of I've kind of gone through enough of those seasons where it's like those seasons where it's like those seasons where it's like immediately I'm like, "Okay, God, what immediately I'm like, "Okay, God, what immediately I'm like, "Okay, God, what are you doing in this?"

are you doing in this?" are you doing in this?" >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> "Help me to see [clears throat] this the >> "Help me to see [clears throat] this the >> "Help me to see [clears throat] this the way you're seeing this right now." And way you're seeing this right now." And way you're seeing this right now." And that that's for myself and that that's for myself and that that's for myself and even for others. Like with my wife, I even for others. Like with my wife, I even for others. Like with my wife, I immediately go into that. And to the immediately go into that. And to the immediately go into that. And to the point where at sometimes it kind of I point where at sometimes it kind of I point where at sometimes it kind of I don't sit in the grief enough with her don't sit in the grief enough with her don't sit in the grief enough with her >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> to actually process it because I'm >> to actually process it because I'm >> to actually process it because I'm immediately and maybe because I'm not immediately and maybe because I'm not immediately and maybe because I'm not dealing with the weight of it on my You dealing with the weight of it on my You dealing with the weight of it on my You know what I mean? On my chest in that know what I mean? On my chest in that know what I mean? On my chest in that moment also. So, I'm kind of like like moment also. So, I'm kind of like like moment also. So, I'm kind of like like distant enough where I'm not feeling the distant enough where I'm not feeling the distant enough where I'm not feeling the pressure of it, but then close enough pressure of it, but then close enough pressure of it, but then close enough where I care and I'm like, "Okay, babe, where I care and I'm like, "Okay, babe, where I care and I'm like, "Okay, babe, this is what we need to do." And, um, this is what we need to do." And, um, this is what we need to do." And, um, it's it's it's just Yeah, it's just it's it's it's it's just Yeah, it's just it's it's it's it's just Yeah, it's just it's a quick pivot to to to God's a quick pivot to to to God's a quick pivot to to to God's perspective. Um, perspective. Um, perspective. Um, yeah. yeah. yeah. >> Is there a Not Not to put you on the >> Is there a Not Not to put you on the >> Is there a Not Not to put you on the spot or any of us, but is there a time spot or any of us, but is there a time spot or any of us, but is there a time where where where that's happened recently or where you've that's happened recently or where you've that's happened recently or where you've experienced that disappointment and loss experienced that disappointment and loss experienced that disappointment and loss where you've had to pray that prayer to where you've had to pray that prayer to where you've had to pray that prayer to God, "Help me see this through your God, "Help me see this through your God, "Help me see this through your perspective." perspective." perspective." >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> I could say sitting in my transitioning >> I could say sitting in my transitioning >> I could say sitting in my transitioning to Crossroads, um, to Crossroads, um, to Crossroads, um, there was there was there was there was like a grieving of, you know, there was like a grieving of, you know, there was like a grieving of, you know, of everything that you're leaving behind of everything that you're leaving behind of everything that you're leaving behind or whatever. But for me, I was also or whatever. But for me, I was also or whatever. But for me, I was also sitting in the excitement of what God is sitting in the excitement of what God is sitting in the excitement of what God is doing now. Whereas my wife it was like doing now. Whereas my wife it was like doing now. Whereas my wife it was like just a lot of grieving. She wasn't with just a lot of grieving. She wasn't with just a lot of grieving. She wasn't with me day in and day out through the week me day in and day out through the week me day in and day out through the week to kind of see like the excitement or to kind of see like the excitement or to kind of see like the excitement or whatever. So for her, like she it really whatever. So for her, like she it really whatever. So for her, like she it really brought her to tears for a season. And brought her to tears for a season. And brought her to tears for a season. And then not only that, like it was going on then not only that, like it was going on then not only that, like it was going on here at church, but also even in work.

here at church, but also even in work. here at church, but also even in work. At work, it was like, "Okay, we're At work, it was like, "Okay, we're At work, it was like, "Okay, we're shifting you to this new role. You don't shifting you to this new role. You don't shifting you to this new role. You don't have a say so in it. This is who you're have a say so in it. This is who you're have a say so in it. This is who you're going to be working with now." And she's going to be working with now." And she's going to be working with now." And she's like, "But I've been building with this like, "But I've been building with this like, "But I've been building with this team and leading this team." And I was team and leading this team." And I was team and leading this team." And I was like, "Well, so it was like in in her um like, "Well, so it was like in in her um like, "Well, so it was like in in her um walk, you know, in her faith walk and at walk, you know, in her faith walk and at walk, you know, in her faith walk and at work, she's immediately shifted into new work, she's immediately shifted into new work, she's immediately shifted into new territory. territory. territory. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> No You know what I mean? Not no say, but >> No You know what I mean? Not no say, but >> No You know what I mean? Not no say, but it's You know what I mean? And I could it's You know what I mean? And I could it's You know what I mean? And I could say that um for me, like looking back on say that um for me, like looking back on say that um for me, like looking back on it, I wasn't as maybe empathetic. maybe empathetic. Um not that I wasn't empathetic at all, Um not that I wasn't empathetic at all, Um not that I wasn't empathetic at all, but I think that but I think that but I think that again, it's that quick pivot. It's that again, it's that quick pivot. It's that again, it's that quick pivot. It's that quick shift. I I quick shift. I I quick shift. I I I don't like sitting in the sorrow of a I don't like sitting in the sorrow of a I don't like sitting in the sorrow of a thing too long. I'm like, "Okay, God, thing too long. I'm like, "Okay, God, thing too long. I'm like, "Okay, God, get this off of me. Help me to see it get this off of me. Help me to see it get this off of me. Help me to see it from your perspective." Like that's my from your perspective." Like that's my from your perspective." Like that's my strength, you know, in that. And um strength, you know, in that. And um strength, you know, in that. And um yeah. I think I could have probably said yeah. I think I could have probably said yeah. I think I could have probably said it in a little more gracefully with her, it in a little more gracefully with her, it in a little more gracefully with her, but definitely still um was like, "Babe, but definitely still um was like, "Babe, but definitely still um was like, "Babe, this is this is what we have to look this is this is what we have to look this is this is what we have to look towards. Like this is what our prayer towards. Like this is what our prayer towards. Like this is what our prayer should look like right now." And should look like right now." And should look like right now." And >> Yeah.

>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> um >> um >> um yeah. yeah. yeah. >> I think you're touching on something >> I think you're touching on something >> I think you're touching on something important there. The timeline of grief important there. The timeline of grief important there. The timeline of grief is different for everybody. is different for everybody. is different for everybody. >> that's right. >> that's right. >> that's right. >> Yeah. You got to be able to sit in it. >> Yeah. You got to be able to sit in it. >> Yeah. You got to be able to sit in it. And I I just think I don't know if it's And I I just think I don't know if it's And I I just think I don't know if it's American, I don't know if it's American, I don't know if it's American, I don't know if it's Christian, I'm not sure which culture Christian, I'm not sure which culture Christian, I'm not sure which culture has infiltrated my heart more in that. has infiltrated my heart more in that. has infiltrated my heart more in that. But I can rush through it. But I can rush through it. But I can rush through it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I can just go now it's cut our losses, >> I can just go now it's cut our losses, >> I can just go now it's cut our losses, we got to move on. Hope is there. we got to move on. Hope is there. we got to move on. Hope is there. >> And um >> And um >> And um I remember one of the first times I was I remember one of the first times I was I remember one of the first times I was over in Israel and met a friend who was over in Israel and met a friend who was over in Israel and met a friend who was Jewish and Israel family. And um And Jewish and Israel family. And um And Jewish and Israel family. And um And when I got there he said, "Yeah, I'm off when I got there he said, "Yeah, I'm off when I got there he said, "Yeah, I'm off work for the next 7 days." And said, work for the next 7 days." And said, work for the next 7 days." And said, "Oh, really? Like vacation?" He goes, "Oh, really? Like vacation?" He goes, "Oh, really? Like vacation?" He goes, "No, we just had a death in our family "No, we just had a death in our family "No, we just had a death in our family and so we sit and grieve for the next 7 and so we sit and grieve for the next 7 and so we sit and grieve for the next 7 days and we all days and we all days and we all stop our jobs and sit together in the stop our jobs and sit together in the stop our jobs and sit together in the house." Oh, I forget that that's a part house." Oh, I forget that that's a part house." Oh, I forget that that's a part of that grief. of that grief. of that grief. >> And an important part. >> And an important part. >> And an important part. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You got to feel those things. And I >> You got to feel those things. And I >> You got to feel those things. And I think that's when the Lord draws the think that's when the Lord draws the think that's when the Lord draws the closest to us, you know? Well closest to us, you know? Well closest to us, you know? Well [clears throat] [clears throat] [clears throat] >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> in those moments when we're just >> in those moments when we're just >> in those moments when we're just we're at our our at our ends.

we're at our our at our ends. we're at our our at our ends. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> That's where God comes in and goes, "No, >> That's where God comes in and goes, "No, >> That's where God comes in and goes, "No, let me fill the gap." let me fill the gap." let me fill the gap." >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> That's right. I think in this story >> That's right. I think in this story >> That's right. I think in this story um um um Elisha is not annoyed by her. Elisha is not annoyed by her. Elisha is not annoyed by her. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> And I think I am afraid times that God >> And I think I am afraid times that God >> And I think I am afraid times that God will be annoyed or that I will curse his will be annoyed or that I will curse his will be annoyed or that I will curse his name if I come in fire and anger. name if I come in fire and anger. name if I come in fire and anger. And I'm afraid to let that stuff And I'm afraid to let that stuff And I'm afraid to let that stuff surface. surface. surface. But but if I look at this story, if I But but if I look at this story, if I But but if I look at this story, if I look at other stories like this look at other stories like this look at other stories like this I have to like you can't help but see I have to like you can't help but see I have to like you can't help but see the compassion of God. Elisha doesn't the compassion of God. Elisha doesn't the compassion of God. Elisha doesn't say, "How dare you say, "How dare you say, "How dare you >> Right. >> Right. >> Right. >> come back to me after God gave you a >> come back to me after God gave you a >> come back to me after God gave you a child and not be grateful." It's just child and not be grateful." It's just child and not be grateful." It's just like deep compassion. He's like "Lord, like deep compassion. He's like "Lord, like deep compassion. He's like "Lord, Lord, would you bring this child back to Lord, would you bring this child back to Lord, would you bring this child back to life?" life?" life?" And I think that's the heart of God. And I think that's the heart of God. And I think that's the heart of God. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> The other side of this for me is that >> The other side of this for me is that >> The other side of this for me is that we didn't we we we didn't even get to we didn't we we we didn't even get to we didn't we we we didn't even get to get into these things. But there's crazy get into these things. But there's crazy get into these things. But there's crazy stuff that happens here. stuff that happens here. stuff that happens here. >> [laughter] >> [laughter] >> [laughter] >> He's like, "Send this staff, this stick, >> He's like, "Send this staff, this stick, >> He's like, "Send this staff, this stick, and lay it on that child's face. And and lay it on that child's face. And and lay it on that child's face. And then I'm going to come and I'm going to then I'm going to come and I'm going to then I'm going to come and I'm going to like I don't know." He goes mouth to like I don't know." He goes mouth to like I don't know." He goes mouth to mouth at one point. Like I don't even mouth at one point. Like I don't even mouth at one point. Like I don't even [laughter] understand that.

[laughter] understand that. [laughter] understand that. Yeah. it gets weird. Yeah. it gets weird. Yeah. it gets weird. >> That's where CPR came from. >> That's where CPR came from. >> That's where CPR came from. >> What I would say [laughter] >> What I would say [laughter] >> What I would say [laughter] is yeah, that's right. CPR right there. A piece of A piece of >> this is like >> this is like >> this is like if you're going to walk with God, get if you're going to walk with God, get if you're going to walk with God, get ready for the weird. ready for the weird. ready for the weird. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I am an inherent skeptic, man. >> I am an inherent skeptic, man. >> I am an inherent skeptic, man. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> And and I read these stories and I just >> And and I read these stories and I just >> And and I read these stories and I just go, "Okay, let me just prepare for the go, "Okay, let me just prepare for the go, "Okay, let me just prepare for the weird, Lord. weird, Lord. weird, Lord. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> If there's something bizarre happening >> If there's something bizarre happening >> If there's something bizarre happening here, let me lean in and not lean out." here, let me lean in and not lean out." here, let me lean in and not lean out." >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And um >> And um >> And um all that I can, you know, take away from all that I can, you know, take away from all that I can, you know, take away from this story this story this story I think the I think the I think the the key takeaway from this that I'd want the key takeaway from this that I'd want the key takeaway from this that I'd want anybody in here to hear is like anybody in here to hear is like anybody in here to hear is like man man man trust in the compassion of God. trust in the compassion of God. trust in the compassion of God. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Bring that raw emotion, bring that heart >> Bring that raw emotion, bring that heart >> Bring that raw emotion, bring that heart and this is a mother's heart who never and this is a mother's heart who never and this is a mother's heart who never gave up. gave up. gave up. And she went to the heart of God and And she went to the heart of God and And she went to the heart of God and said said said "Tell me about this. Teach me your Give "Tell me about this. Teach me your Give "Tell me about this. Teach me your Give me your vision. Give me your sight. me your vision. Give me your sight. me your vision. Give me your sight. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And >> And >> And >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> mold me to your heart."