When It’s Tempting to Numb

Dec 14 – Retail Therapy

When someone hurts us or something in life happens that’s painful, it is so tempting to numb it.  Some people drink alcohol, some people eat chocolate, some people dance, or run away, or buy things – or if you’re me, you go to sleep.  What stinks about all of those things is that none of them actually help the situation.  They just postpone what we’re feeling.  We take the easy way out because trying to forget or replace our feelings is certainly easier than actually experiencing and working through the difficult emotions.

Pain (obviously) hurts but in order to experience the full measure of joy, we have to experience some pain.  I’ll stick with the question DevoZine asks - where do you look for happiness?  If it’s in any of the things I mentioned above or if it’s in any earthly relationship, it’s not going to cut it.  If you’re fighting through something hard right now, like so many people are at Christmas time, I’m sorry.  Know, though, that you are not alone.  I hope that you will find an outlet – talking, writing, drawing, painting – and really acknowledge what you’re feeling.  And then I encourage you to look to God to be the source of your joy.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  – Matthew 6:19-21

The things we try to fill our lives with will fade away in time, but eternal things are just that – eternal.  They last forever.  Instead of numbing yourself with things that will fade or hiding behind quick fixes for your emotions, give your time and energy to the God who has always been and who will always be.  Store up treasures for yourself in heaven by building up your relationship with Him instead of your relationship with your television.

“The joy of the Lord is my strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10

Even If He Does Not…

Nov 29 – Psalm 136:1,26

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.

Are we noticing a thankfulness theme here in the Bible Gateway verses of the day?  Yes, I think so.  But that’s good.  It’s certainly worth remembering 

Looking at the Shane and Shane journal on their website (which is an AMAZING piece of computer graphics if you ask me – check it out: www.shaneandshane.com), I was reminded of a particularly powerful verse in the book of Daniel.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are standing in front of King Nebuchadnezzar.  At this exact time, they are charged with the federal crime of not bowing down to the statue Nebuchadnezzar made of himself, and they are threatened with being thrown into a furnace.  This is what they say to the king in Daniel 3:17-18 -

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. [emphasis mine]

Did you catch that?  Those are some crazy significant words – “even if He does not.”  Our God is able to save us but even if he does not, we will not dishonor him.  We believe God is going to protect us, but even if he does not, even if we die, we will obey the things he has commanded us.  

What brought this verse to mind is the first line from today’s scripture – “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.”  I think, as humans, we so often judge the goodness of God based on our own standards of what we think is good.  We think of God as being good if a child is born healthy – but what if she isn’t?  We think of God being good if He allows an injured friend to live – but what if he doesn’t?  Will we still obey Him?  Will we still thank Him?

Praise God for the examples of faith and obedience He has given us in His word.  I pray that I can live my life to glorify God with an “even if He does not” mindset and thank Him even when my human eyes can’t quite see His goodness. 

Redemption on Both Sides of the Social Ladder – Share Your Stories!

This poem rings so true for me.  I struggled through those years too, wanting nothing more than to feel accepted.  As I got pushed aside, I dreamed the same things Heather did – of “walking up to them suddenly beautiful and unafraid” – and I still do.  I still feel like I have something to prove to those girls in the “cool group.”  The 13-year-old inside of me still fights to keep my eyes from dropping to the ground when certain people pass by.  The 13-year-old inside of me still craves their acceptance…

But mine is not the first of these stories you have heard.  There are plenty of people who share about their middle or high school years when they were teased, pushed aside, or just wanted to be popular.  They happily share with their audience just how far they have come…

But what about the people on the other side of the fence?  What about the ones who spent those years a little higher up on the perceived social ladder?  I wish I could share a story with you here and tell you what it was like, but I can’t.

Here’s what I do know – There is healing for the hurting, as well as the one who brings the hurt.  There is healing for the broken, as well as the one who does the breaking.  Paul, the author of nearly half of the New Testament, was one of the greatest persecutors of Christians right after Jesus left the earth.  He worked to find the Christians and either jail them or kill them.  And yet God redeemed even his hatred for the gospel and made him one of the founders of the Christian church.

No matter where you are in the social world, I invite you to share your stories.  It can be either where you are or where you have been in the past.  It can be the ways you have been hurt or the ways God has healed you.  Whatever it is, please share with us! 

Admitting You Have a Problem

Oct 24 – Recovering From Addiction

This week’s topics aren’t exactly light and fluffy.  But that’s reality sometimes, right?

When you’re joking around with friends, has someone ever said “The first step is admitting you have a problem”?  I have.  When someone did something funny or weird, that was a fairly common response.  For a long time, I never realized that that statement actually has some very serious meaning for a lot of people.  The first step in a 12-step recovery program really is admitting that you have a problem (the best known 12-step program is Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA, to give you an idea of what we’re talking about).

Maybe you think admitting a problem sounds easy, but think about it.  Admitting a problem invites some kind of action; it requires pursuing help, acknowledging that you have a weakness that you can’t do anything about on your own.  That can be a very difficult thing to admit to other people – but sometimes, it’s even harder to admit it to yourself.

When you think about it, isn’t that just the picture of the Christian life though?  We have this problem called sin that is sometimes hard to acknowledge.  We think we can work our way out of it, that if we set our minds to it or go to church enough or spend enough time with the right people that we will be able to fix this issue called sin.  But at some point in our lives, many of us realize that we are powerless over sin – no matter how hard we try or how much good we do, we will always do things we shouldn’t do.  When we admit this problem to God and accept the help He offers to us – Jesus – we can begin our road to recovery. 

Is there a problem or issue in your life that has become controlling?  Is it something you frequently hide from or brush under the rug as “no big deal”?  Maybe you live with someone of whom this is true – a mother who drinks until she passes out every night but just thinks she likes having a few drinks, a sibling who has violent mood swings but isn’t willing to wonder aloud whether there’s some kind of imbalance, a friend who hurts herself but thinks everyone does it…If you are one of the people struggling with a hurt, habit, or hang-up that you really would like some support for, I encourage you to talk to someone, either a trusted adult or friend.  Issues of shame only have power while they remain in the dark so bring them into the light!  I know it’s hard.  I’m still working through it myself.  And if you have friends or family who you wish would seek some kind of help, pray for them and pray for wisdom to know how to reach them.  I’ll be praying for you too.

“I have spent enough time in the past…” – 1 Peter 4:3

*For Christian-based recovery for all life-controlling issues, visit Celebrate Recovery.

Talking to God after a Rape or Assault

Oct 23 – One in Four

Where do I begin on an issue as serious as all this?  How does a conversation for faith beginners and curious seekers address one of the greatest hurts a person can know?

Rape.  Sexual Assault.  They have become far too common in this world of ours.  In the grand scheme of things, I suppose it would be easy to rejoice that the numbers of these attacks have been declining – which is certainly something to be thankful for – but that doesn’t make what happens any less real or less painful for the people who go through it.

There are so many things in this life that make it easy to ask that burning question of God – “Why?”  It makes sense to ask, I suppose, doesn’t it?  But I don’t know the answer.  I wish there was a simple one.  God never promised us an easy life.  In fact, He said that we “will have trouble” (John 16:33).  It can be so tempting to turn our backs on God when tragedy strikes, but I encourage you instead to tell Him about it.  Talk to Him about your frustrations.  Share with Him your questions and your anger.  Yell at Him if you need to or cry.  Take a look at the book of Psalms.  The whole book is people expressing their emotions to God.  The authors write things like “How long, Lord?  Will you forget me forever?”  “Why do You hide yourself in times of trouble?”  Tell God your hurts and lean on Him as your strength.

Jesus does say that “In this world, you will have trouble” but in the same verse, He says, “Take heart!  I have overcome the world.”

I pray that verses like the ones from yesterday and perhaps the ones found in Lamentations 3:21-33 will be an encouragement to you.  If you have never told anyone about the way you were hurt, let someone know, whether it’s a parent, friend, or other trusted adult.  I pray your comfort and your healing and your ability to still trust in and rely on God.

*If you have been the victim of a sexual assault and would like to seek additional support, please visit RAINN.

End Poverty? Really?

Oct 18 – $2 A Day

Deuteronomy 15:4-8, 10

     There should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.  For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.
     If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.  Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs…Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

Verses like this are so easily pushed aside.  It is easier to ignore the possibility that poverty could be taken care of rather than admit the consequences of the lifestyles so many of us have adopted and change the way we live.  Today, we are fond of saying that these verses are idealistic and impossible.  Maybe we group them in with other Old Testament verses and say that they don’t apply to us in the world today.  But then, after Jesus comes and brings God’s kingdom to earth, we see the newly born church living just this way: 

Acts 2:44-45, 4:32-35

All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need…All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

Move toward making this a reality, even if it’s just with baby steps at first.  Half the world lives on $2 a day or less.  Join with some friends and live on $2 a day for a week to really see what that’s like.  Or reconsider your spending with the knowledge that $1 can give clean water to a person in Africa for a year.  Become aware of other people around you, both locally and globally, and do some research to find out where the money you spend is going.  Imagine what it could be like….

One of Those Days

Oct 17 – Prayer Challenge

“Never give up.  Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord.” – Romans 12:11

Can we just own that this is really hard some days?

Today, I want to give up.  Today, I want to throw in the towel on the parts of my life that require responsibility.  Today, “eager” isn’t quite the word I would use to describe me.

But even in my weakness, in my frustration with myself and some of the moving parts of my life, I know that I serve a God who loves and surrounds me.  When I don’t feel the desire to change, when I don’t have the energy to lead, when my passion feels stale and my drive to change the world is empty, God is still at work, in and around and through me.

My youth director (now my pastor) once told me “Do it ’til you feel it.”  Yes.  On days like today, yes.  And praise God that He is a part of our faithful but tired actions as much as He is when we are bursting with energy and passion.

What is it that you want in your spiritual life?  What about in the lives of the people around you?  Pray for those things.  Pray daily or even hourly.  Live in a mindset of prayer so that you’re praying for it every minute of the day.  Never give up.  You may not notice the results of your prayers, but as much as prayer has the ability to draw God into transforming the world around us it also has the ability to change us as well.

I pray encouragement for you today, my friend.  ”In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – Jesus in John 16:33
 

On Equal Footing and Lessons Learned in Pruning

Oct 4 – Stress Busters

For awhile, I never thought about the phrase “Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low” (Isaiah 40:4a)  That was spoken about Jesus’ coming and I just sort of pictured God coming in and throwing everything into turmoil.  But that’s not the point.  Think about it.  The valley is raised up, the mountains are made low.  It evens the terrain.  That’s what Jesus showed to us.  That’s what God does or wants to do in our world.  It’s not that He makes the walk itself easy but He takes the people from the valleys and makes them even with the people from the hills.  Everyone stands on equal and level footing.  Everyone.  The migrant worker with the movie star.  The homeless man with the company executive.  The serial killer with our pastor.  Consider your equals.  Praise God that He has both raised us up and brought us down. 

Oct 5 – Overload

As I sit in the dorm room where I used to live with my old roommate and best friend sitting behind me, the stories from today felt particularly familiar.  We have both lived through the same struggle and realization that these girls have.  It seems to be an issue that one especially tackles in college, perhaps because that’s the first time you’re fully on your own and it becomes even easier to get in over your head – overextended, overcommitted, over-tired – stretched too thin to be of much use to anyone.  We have seen each other stressed, over-emotional, and too busy to think or sleep.  

The thing that comes to mind for me is the idea of pruning.  Jesus talks about pruning in John 15.  In verses 1-8, He compares our lives to that of fruit trees.  Verse 2 says this: “[E]very branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”  If you are bearing fruit – that is, if people can see the Spirit of God working in your life – then at some point, you will need to be pruned.  Have you ever seen a tree after it was pruned?  The thing looks dead!  Because you don’t just remove the sick parts of the tree, you remove some of the healthy as well so the tree will grow back even stronger.

If you are feeling stressed out and overwhelmed, what kinds of dead weight need to be removed from your life?  And maybe more importantly, what good things that you’re doing might God want to remove to strengthen you?  Pruning does hurt.  There’s no question about that.  But removing the extra stress from our daily lives can make a powerful impact in our walk with God. 

Staying Empty and Drifting with God

Sept 20 – Unique to the Core

Hmm…After doing some additional research, apparently the difference between “pottery” and “ceramics” is not so distinct as the author today may make it seem.  However, her points are well taken – indeed, like handmade pots, no two people created by God are alike, even as much as they may look alike from the outside.

What is the purpose of a pot?  There’s pretty much only one practical use as far as I can tell – to hold something.  What if a potter made something that looked like a pot but was actually solid through and through, more like a vase-shaped sculpture?  Wouldn’t that defeat the purpose?  We are those empty pots.  God created us with space inside our hearts to be filled by him.  Jesus speaks to a woman at a well about His ability to provide her with living water, water that won’t run out (John 4:10-14).  Unfortunately, what happens so often is that we try to fill our empty lives with things other than God.  Anything we put in other than Him leaves a residue, thickening the walls of our hearts and eventually shrinking the capacity that we can hold or blocking the opening completely for God to fill us up with the Life that He brings.

So start now!  Much like the “center” conversation we had a few days ago, let God fill up your life and your heart.  Spend time with Him.  Do your best to follow Him and build your relationship with Him.  In time, you will be like David in Psalm 23 who says that his cup overflows!

Sept 21 – A Feather on the Breath of God

Floating on the wind of God – wow.  What an image.  Have you ever been unsure about something significant in your life?  Maybe it was a major test grade or wondering how your life would change after your parents divorced.  Maybe it was a fight with a close friend or moving to a new city.  Depending on where you are in life, you may have had to choose which school you were going to or what path to follow after you graduated.  Those times of uncertainty can leave you upset and wondering where God is.  But I can honestly say from my own experience, especially in the last year and a half, there are few times in life when God has the chance to show Himself as much as He does in those times.  When you’re “a feather on the breath of God,” you could end up anywhere!  God could open any door for you – you might make some new and wonderful friendships or move to a city you didn’t know you could love.  You could discover a new hobby that gets you through a tough time or find a passion you never knew you had. 

As hard as it is to wait and trust God sometimes, enjoy the ride!  You’re not the first to deal with this in-between time.  Psalm 27:14 says “Wait for ther Lord; be strong and take heart and wait on the Lord.”  It is, by far, the most exhilarating way to live and drifting on the wind of God is sure to lead you exactly where He sends you.

To the Heights and A Loving Response to Your Tormenters

Sept 13 – Shed the Dread

You know, I’m going to be honest with you.  (That’s something I will always do my best to be here.)  I tried really hard to write this blog yesterday.  I sat and wrote and thought and erased and wrote and erased some more.  I was frustrated.  Why can’t I come up with anything to say that feels like the direction God might be headed?  So I wrote the one entry, put the rest aside, and left.

This morning was rough again.  I was really down on myself, struggling to find the confidence that my efforts matter.  And then it came time to write this blog.  This time, the verse from the devotion today spoke to me so much more deeply: 

The Sovereign Lord is my strength…

I haven’t had much strength today.  We don’t always have a lot left of ourselves to give.  So He will sustain me.  He will provide for me.  And He has.

…he will make my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.

Do you ever feel like you’re in a valley that you can’t get out of?  You feel stuck.  You’re surrounded by mountains without an escape.  You’re tired…

But what if you could leap up the sides of the mountains?  What if you could bound up and across the steep crags and easily reach the top, easily see the bigger picture of where you had been?  Wouldn’t that be perfect?  I would feel like I was flying!

That’s what God frees us to do.  On our own, we cannot reach the heights of His joy, the deep-hearted places He wants us to live in.  Our feet are gnarled, our baggage is heavy, and our legs are weak.  But He says He will make our feet like the feet of a deer (Habakkuk 3:19).  He says to take His burden because it is light (Matthew 11:30).  He says that His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).  Trust God to take you to the heights.  Know that He has given you both the ability and the courage to do so.

Sept 14 – Stinky

Have you ever been like the girl in this story?  Have you been the person who people pushed, taunted, made fun of, harassed, whispered about, yelled at, or mocked?  How did you respond?  Or if you haven’t experienced it, how do you think you would respond?

Just before Jesus was killed on the cross, He was mocked too.  Matthew 26:67-68 says that people “spit in his face and struck him with their fists.  Others slapped him and said, ‘Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?’”  Later, a different group of people ”stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him [symbolizing royalty], and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head.  They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ they said.  They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.” (Matthew 27:28-30)

What would you have done in that situation?  If it had been me, I don’t know.  I might have been sobbing and begging them to stop.  I might have been angry and tried to lash out.  But Jesus, as He is dying on the cross prays, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)  Wow.  After being spit on, beaten, mocked, having thorns driven into His forehead, and hung on a cross with spikes driven through His wrists and feet, He asks for their forgiveness…?  If that’s what Jesus means by “love your enemies” (Luke 6:27), then I’m not sure I am up to the task.  It certainly gives us something to work toward.

If you have been the victim of bullying, teasing, or mocking at school or anywhere else, I am so sorry.  Know that you are not alone and that here, we know that your pain is real and justified.  Since we cannot control other people but only the way we respond, I pray that God will give you the strength to love as Jesus did here, to respond with kindness, even when it is not returned to you.