Wouldn’t it be great if every circumstance, obstacle, or question had an obvious explanation? The longer I live, the more I realize that lots of things have no human explanation or easy answer. As a Christian I know that the normal response or thought pattern is, “God knows what He is doing.” Don’t get me wrong, I wholeheartedly believe that God knows what He is doing in each and every circumstance; however, it is hard to wrestle with the human side of it. The older I get and the more I see, the more I’m convinced that I will die with more questions, than answers. Am I okay with that? I’m not sure I can answer that with any amount of certainty, but I do know that my soul yearns for something better than this life can offer. I yearn for everything to be put back together…to work the way God intended it to work. As I see the suffering, injustice, and brokenness around me, I long for my friends and family to be redeemed, to be restored, and to know what it means to live without pain and suffering.
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I wonder how much effort is spent on attempting to gain what we do not have, rather than being secure in who we are or using what is already at our disposal. We often believe that attaining what we do not have or changing our status will fill a void in our life. So, instead of being content with what we have or who we are, we spend our time in pursuit of change. Although I’m a proponent of change, change does not guarantee joy. Joy is often a result of contentment and does not fluctuate with circumstances. A little more money. A little more love. A little less stress. A little more notoriety. A little more success. A little more certainty. A little more doesn’t always result in contentment.
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Clark Griswold is not really my neighbor, but there are several people in our neighborhood who have crazy good light displays for Christmas and they remind me of Clark Griswold. The guy directly across the street from me has fantastic decorations and I estimate that probably 50 or more cars drive by his house every night to see them. No one ever stops by our house to see the pretty lights because we don’t have any. Before you accuse me of being Ebenezer Scrooge or the Grinch, let me explain. Although I love to decorate the inside of our house, I am not the gifted type for exterior decorations…and I am 95% confident that decorating the outside of my house would end with me burning it down! However, just because I am not gifted like Clark Griswold, doesn’t mean that I can’t enjoy his house decorations.
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God is perfect. God is sovereign. Most of us would say that we wholeheartedly believe these two truths. Since God is perfect, He never makes a mistake. People may make mistakes, but God does not. Since God is sovereign, nothing is outside of His control. People may feel out of control, but God does not. Bible lesson learned, right? Wrong. How can we believe that God is perfect and sovereign, yet fail to trust Him with every detail of our lives? It’s a valid question. Here is what I have concluded, as least for myself. My struggle with trusting God is usually not an issue of if He can do it, but how He will do it. Trusting God for the outcome is the simple part. Adverse circumstances and obstacles leading to the final outcome usually get in the way.
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A lack of love is almost always to blame for any broken relationship. Although some people pride themselves in the number of enemies they make, I believe anyone who boasts in their adversaries is at odds with what God expects from His followers. Paul is very clear when he writes these words in Colossians 3:14, “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (ESV). If you are surrounded by chaotic relationships, the person at fault may be you. Always seeking to find something wrong with the “other person” shows that you are probably committed to being right, not godly.
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ll of us get comfortable with the life we are leading and even live as if this life will continue on the way it has always been. Another day at work. Another day taking care of the house. Another day with the kids. Another assignment. Another Sunday at church. Another meal. Another task completed. Another paycheck. Another gig. Another appointment. Another day.
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I’m not a big fan of hardship, and during my short lifetime I haven’t met too many people who would stand in the suffering, ridicule, or temptation line. I imagine that most of us would stand in the blessing and prosperity line for days if it meant that we could skirt pain. Experiencing adverse circumstances is not at the top of anyone’s list. It would be nice to avoid anything that may harm or discourage us but because of sin and selfishness, trials and temptations are woven into the fabric of our lives.
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Have you ever arrived late to a sporting event, movie, or a momentous occasion? I have. Being late to an important gathering makes me feel like I’ve missed out on something or like I am behind everyone else who actually arrived on time. Some people feel “late” to their faith. They struggle with guilt over all the wasted time and opportunities because of living life for themselves.
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Being a pastor is a powerful position to hold. Most people I have encountered hold their pastors in high esteem and look to them for guidance, comfort, and wisdom. Although it is important to honor and respect your pastor or even look to him for spiritual insight, it is dangerous to “worship” your pastor. There is, what I believe to be, an unhealthy trend in our culture where individuals view their pastor as they would view a rock star. The giftedness of the leader has surpassed the Giver of the gift. I even see this happening amongst pastors. Aspiring, new, or seasoned pastors seek to mimic a certain leader for the sake of success, not faithfulness to their calling. Don’t get me wrong. I have several pastors and leaders that I respect and learn from; however, all of us must guard against elevating a man above God.
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“Love will cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). These are beautiful words; in fact, that sentence just makes you feel good, doesn’t it? Throwing the word love into almost any phrase causes us to see unicorns and shooting stars and smiling babies, right? Not quite. These words are messy. These words are hard to live. These words are not for the weak.
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