Blog: Glimmers in the Fog by Kim Stiver

How to Choose joy when You Don't Feel Like It

8/28/2019

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How to choose joy even when you don't feel like it

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If you’ve seen the movie Unbroken or read the book of the same name, you may recall a scene near the beginning where the young main character, Louie Zamperini, is training for his school’s track team to ward off the constant bullying and teasing by his classmates. In the beginning, he is riddled with self-doubt and floundering under the weight of discouragement. Louie didn’t feel like competing. Initially, he wasn’t motivated to take the actions necessary to persevere in extenuating circumstances. Seeing that his mental state of mind was going to kill his physical ability to perform, his older brother Pete gives him a pep talk, which concludes with this encouragement: “If you can take it, you can make it. Louie, a moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory.”

One of the hardest things to do is feel something that you don’t, or to act a certain way when you have no motivation to do so. Yet, when we are depleted of joy and feeling down, stepping out on faith to express joy seems as hard as walking off a cliff and expecting God to supply a footbridge miraculously. Yet, as believers, that’s exactly what we’re called to do. Rejoice in suffering. Delight in God in all circumstances. Worship Him even when we don’t understand. Like Pete’s encouragement to Louie, Scripture essentially tells us to do something even when we don’t feel like it for the hope of victory down the road. But how on earth does God expect us to obey Him and experience joy in these types of situations? Are we supposed to be fake? Is God calling us to pretend? Well, yes and no. Now before you quit reading, I’m not at all saying that you should be inauthentic in your faith or actions or be disingenuous in any way with God. After all, last week I wrote about the topic of authenticity and how important it is for us to be real with ourselves, God, and others. But the old expression, “Fake it until you make it,” has some merit when applied the Biblical way. Unbroken is based on a true story, so kudos to Pete Zamperini for changing just one letter of a phrase that had already been around a long time and turning it into a battle cry that would ring in his little brother’s ears throughout years of his brutal hardship during World War 2.

We often choose NOT to feel the joy God is offering us because we disagree with God. We disagree with the circumstances He is allowing us to go through. And while we certainly don't want to be phony — like the dirty cups Jesus called the Pharisees in Luke 11:39, we also don't want to wait until we feel the internal desire to obey because having a joyless heart is not any way to live. It really comes down to acting on what God asks us to do because we love Him, whether we feel like showing that love or not. Whether we agree with Him or not.

In this fascinating Psychology Today article, compelling research proves that our behaviors can dramatically change our emotions. “Many people assume that the link between emotion and behavior is one-way: Emotions shape behavior. You love him, therefore you kiss him. You hate him, therefore you hit him. This view is incorrect. In fact, the relationship is reciprocal. Much of the time, behavior actually shapes emotion,” said the article’s author Noam Shpancer, Ph.D. “Recent research in clinical psychology has shown that the fastest way to change an emotion is to change the behavior attached to it.” And he closes the article with this straightforward advice: “The shortest, most reliable way to change how you're feeling is to change what you're doing.”

As I read the rest of the article, it hit me that my intrinsic ability to feel joy or feel love for God is mainly grounded in biology and not spirit. We are also far more conscious of our human instincts and subsequent reactions, which is why the article points out that we’re all walking through life mostly based on feeling-driven assumptions versus intentional actions. How can we help it? After all, it’s what feels right… instinctual even. But Jesus came to show us how to live above feeling-driven human instincts. In stark contrast, He came to show us how to move beyond mere reactionary existence in this turbulent and challenging journey. He boldly declared that we are to walk in the Spirit, intentionally pursuing and experiencing an abundant life marked by the fruits of our love and trust in God. Scripture outlined a clear path to real and lasting joy long before psychologists had proof that behaviors can produce or change feelings, but it’s so satisfying to see empirical evidence of these invisible truths.

Take, for example, Sara Frankl, who wrote the book Choose Joy: Finding Hope and Purpose When Life Hurts as a response to living with a terminal illness. She said, “He (God) fixes the problem when I ask Him to fix me. I believe He can do anything. I think He can physically heal me, I think He can stop a tornado and halt a flood. But I think what is most powerful is when He lets natural things happen and lets people use their free will, and at the same time fixes my heart and spirit to handle them.” God didn’t heal Sara. But has used Sara’s story to heal countless hurting hearts around the world. I agree with her, what is most potent is the display of God’s power through our tragedies and weaknesses.

As someone struggling to delight in the Lord right now, although I realize things will eventually get better with my current situation, I am learning not to pin my joy to a future hope of feeling better. Clearly, Sara learned that lesson as well. As her health deteriorated, her joy never wavered because it was pinned to something unchanging. Unlike Sara, I am just now realizing how often I have pinned my hopes to that which is likely to change. When times get tough, I have found joy more often than not by visualizing a better future. While there’s nothing wrong with imagining things getting better and drawing encouragement from that, God has been revealing to me how incredibly self-centered it is for me to rely on that kind of hope so heavily. He’s also been changing my perspective to see that I have often depended on my own natural bent toward optimism to get me through the hard times. So here I am learning what it means to be joyful in an entirely new way. And I feel like a kid getting on a bicycle for the first time. It’s a bit exhilarating, but also incredibly scary and awkward. And frankly, I am not any good at it. Just as I’ve never been athletically inclined, so I’m discovering that despite my generally cheery disposition, a day-to-day reliance on Spirit-generated joy is a learned behavior that takes careful nurturing and consistent implementation.

While I believe the time is coming once again when I will actually feel great joy bubbling up and overflowing spontaneously, I am now just starting to understand what it means when Paul says in Romans 15:13 (The Passion Translation), “Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in Him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with His super-abundance until you radiate with hope!” Yes, it is God’s responsibility to fill us, but notice in that verse that there are actions required on our part. It says, “As you trust in Him.” That’s the first behavior we must exhibit. We must choose to trust. Then, as the infilling of joy and peace comes, we are responsible to “radiate hope.” God’s actions are in partnership with ours, and that often means we have to get out of His way and let go of our own needs for comfort, agendas, expectations, and even our natural inclinations. All of which feels awkward and uncomfortable. But just like learning to ride a bike, something almost mystical happens when we finally get the hang of it. The untrained awkwardness gradually fades into smooth second nature, so much so we no longer think about balancing. We are no longer fearful of riding fast. We no longer fumble around with the gears. And suddenly, almost before we realize it, we’re simply enjoying the ride.

That’s what I think Jesus had in mind when He said in Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message version), “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” There’s no question it takes great effort to obey God when our feelings and flesh are screaming the opposite. But Jesus promises us that when we choose — when we take action despite our desires or inclinations — He will teach us the second nature of living through the power of His Spirit and not by the flesh.

All of this sounds great of course, but if you’re like me, then you’re looking up at heaven in the middle of whatever life has dealt you and asking, “Okay, I believe you, God. But how? How do I actually make myself choose joy when I feel anything but that? I understand that it comes through the power of your Spirit alive in me, but how do I even get on the bicycle when I don’t even feel like riding right now?”

Well, when the motivation isn’t welling up inside, then I say let’s go get some. Focusing on my current situation, its litany of exhausting details, worries, and unknowns, is certainly not going to spur me to any healthy actions. Indeed, I’d rather wallow in complacency on the couch of idleness with a spoonful of unhealthy comfort. However, I am beginning to discover that although my current feelings don’t motivate me to choose joy, when I focus on the compelling reasons to do so in spite of my emotional state, something remarkable happens. Rather than reacting to the situation with discouragement, I start to feel a spark of determination based on the compelling reasons themselves and not the circumstances. I think the compelling reasons to choose joy will vary wildly from person to person, but in case it helps someone, I thought I’d throw out a few that are stirring up newfound motivation in me. Now, I’m not feeling like Rocky at the top of the steps of City Hall or anything, but these thoughts are helping me take the first action required from Romans 15:13.

Compelling reason number one: do it for the sake of love. I know this sounds like a cop-out. Mushy even. But if you’ve told Jesus that you love Him, then make every endeavor to be the man or woman who keeps her word. Try this. Use your imagination to picture yourself sitting on a park bench somewhere. Now envision yourself staring at people doing something beautiful, like an elderly couple walking hand-in-hand in front of a fiery sunset or a group of little kids giggling as they chase each other around a jungle gym. Whatever whispers to your soul of pure, undefiled beauty. As you’re immersed in the site of something utterly perfect, imagine Jesus walking up and sitting down beside you. Don’t worry about what He looks like or what He’s wearing. Just focus on His presence. Allow yourself to sit there wordlessly with Him and gaze at the sight before you. Feel the unforced rhythms of grace as you effortlessly relax into the moment. You’re now observing the most beautiful display of humanity you can imagine with the most amazing person in the universe. And then He gently and tenderly asks you the same thing He did of Peter in John 21, “Do you love me?” Turn and look at Jesus full in the face and see if you don’t find the motivation to choose joy out of pure love for Him and unconditional love for many hurting people around you who will only see Jesus if you’re willing to let Him shine through you. (To make it easier, click the play button at the top of this post to listen to the audio version of this message.)

Compelling reason number two: don’t let evil win. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” So I hate to lose. Who doesn’t? But unlike playing cribbage with my father-in-law, I am promised a victory in Christ against an adversary who has made it his life mission to make me miserable. Each time I don’t choose joy, Satan wins a skirmish. I want to be a victor. I want to honor the One who has made me a champion. I will choose joy, even though it is not natural or logical. I will fight for joy by taking the actions that lead my heart to joy.

Compelling reason number three: focus on eternal hope rather than temporary relief. If we return to the story of Louie Zamperini once more, we’re reminded that fixing our hope on something unshakable changes our perspective and keeps us motivated. When Louie is stranded at sea with his fellow soldiers, he turns to God instead of dwelling on his circumstances. This helped him view even the smallest things as blessings, versus dwelling on every detail of their life-depleting conditions. Hope birthed endurance, and endurance helped him survive.

The reasons that motivate you to choose joy even when you don’t feel like it may be different than mine. I expect mine will vary from time to time, depending on the cause of my struggles, but one thing remains sure for either of us — we are 100% incapable of giving up… throwing in the towel… taking our ball and going home… if we are willing to make ourselves do what the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk did following a series of tragedies in Israel — he rejoiced. I’ll close with his words from Habakkuk 3:17-19. Let them wash over you, soothe your bitterness and pain, and trickle down into the depths of your heart and soul today. As you read them, go back to seeing yourself in the park with Jesus. Say these words to Him and then let Him respond to you. “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer's; He makes me tread on my high places.” Amen.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts below! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

Five-Day Devotional Guide for Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.
Day 1 - I didn’t want to write about joy this week. I seriously questioned whether or not I could even be authentic with the words if I did. But something within me felt so desperate for it, I had no choice but to ask God to lay words on my heart, even if I didn’t like them or feel them. Have you ever felt that way with God about something you need or feel deprived of? Have you humbled yourself and asked Him to give you what He knows you need instead? Read the words of Matthew 11:28-30 in The Message Version, The Passion Translation, and then in two more literal versions like the English Standard Version and the New American Standard Bible. Write down what you sense God whispering to your heart.
Day 2 - Using your imagination as a part of your daily quiet time with Jesus can be a very effective way to help you focus and listen to His voice. Read Philippians 2:1-18. Pick one verse resonates with you the most and then visualize hearing it from Jesus Himself as you sit together in a peaceful place.
Day 3 - When we pin our hopes to the unshakeable Rock who is God, we are less likely to be swayed or spiritually damaged by our circumstances. In fact, just the opposite happens, we will grow stronger and closer to Jesus every day. Read Matthew 7:24-27 and James 1:6. Ask the Holy Spirit to tell you what to do to get stronger in Christ.
Day 4 - Sometimes we fabricate joy by seeking comfort and happiness in things versus God Himself. Read these two passages — Psalm 42:1-3 and Romans 14:17 — and then pray them back to God. Ask Him to show you anything that is bringing you more comfort and joy than He does.
Day 5 - Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love others. Read these four Scripture passages and ask the Holy Spirit to help you love with a greater capacity than you ever have before. Spend some time writing down any barriers that might be standing in the way of love right now and then ask Jesus to help you remove them one by one.

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Are You Being Real?

8/21/2019

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Are You Being Real? God searches the heart.

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Last year I published a blog post about blossoming for Jesus while living in a hard place — either literally or emotionally. However, I wrote that message at a time in my life when I was NOT in a hard place. The words had come to me while reflecting on my previous journeys during times of difficulty, but I had the advantage of viewing everything through a rested and peaceful heart. And while everything the Lord laid on my heart to say in that post still rings true, the application of those truths has pushed deeper into my soul than ever before. So, as I sat here this morning listening to the jarring sounds of drills, hammers, shovels, and an assortment of other tools being used to correct the myriad of problems with my house, I felt the familiar, stirring presence of God reminding me to rely on the only unmovable foundation in my life.

Some of you may remember me writing about a beautiful, but incredibly determined purple iris that had figured out how to not only grow but also blossom resplendently in the most unlikely of places — a rock bed. Just feet away, there was soft, fertile earth beckoning, but that single iris was growing right where it was originally planted many, many years ago by the previous owner. As I pondered the struggle the iris must face each year to rise up among stones and then blossom in unpleasant conditions, I couldn't help but think about the times in our lives when God plants us in places we don’t want to be in. He sees the hard, unforgiving stones and gravel as opportunities for growth, and we tend to see them as nothing but bad luck, adversity, and disappointment. He wants us to learn to depend more on Him and become a bright spot of color on an otherwise barren landscape. But we tend to focus on the lack of comfort and companionship, and beg the Master Gardener to plant us somewhere else… anywhere else.

That’s where I’m at right now, both mentally and physically. I want to resist where is He is planting me with all that is within me. And whether you’re in a season of contentment or a season of confusion, I’m sure you can recall that feeling of resistance as well. When we enter a season of life that places us in unfamiliar terrain that is rough or demanding, we may feel the angled, painful edges of rocks around our hearts, minds or bodies. Sometimes we resist, wilt, and give up. Sometimes our stubbornness kicks in and we try to push through even when we know we shouldn’t go in a certain direction. And other times we do what God calls us to do — to completely trust Him, even amid extreme discomfort.

I am currently vacillating between all of those reactions. Some days I’ve given up and gone to bed discouraged. Other days I’ve pushed through the hours like a robot, willing myself not to feel or react to anything. I’ve told myself that I don’t care when of course, I really do care. And I’ve had what I’ll call a good day, where I receive the Lord’s mercy like water being poured in a dry cistern. What does that look like? Well, it means persevering, praying and waiting on Him for strength, relief, and perhaps most importantly — the ability to hope. Or maybe I should say, to believe that there is always, always a reason to hope, no matter how bleak things seem or feel. It’s the hope that Jesus sacrificed His life for so that when the hard times of waiting and endurance occur — whether you’re in that difficult place for an hour, a day, a month, a year or a decade — you’ll always come out of it having leaned into Jesus more deeply and more fully than you could have ever imagined.

Unfortunately, many believers never experience the kind of joy that flows from a heart that accepts God’s sovereignty to either place us in — or allow us to be taken to — a hard place. In last year’s blog post, I focused on the sovereignty aspect, since I know that’s been one of my biggest struggles in the past. I’ve always strained to find joy and hope in suffering because I had been unable to move beyond the acceptance of God’s sovereignty over my life to a level of fully embracing and welcoming it. It’s kind of like the difference between saying, “Oh God, this is terrible. What are You going to do about it?” And expectantly stating a fact like this: “Oh God, I can’t wait to see what You are going to do with this.” The first statement is hopeless. Joyless. And frankly, self-centered. The second statement, while still acknowledging the situation, acts on the belief that God will always work things together for His glory. We can choose to live expectantly — even in darkness — or we can slump our shoulders under the weight of our doubts. It’s not that we don’t have doubts. It’s impossible not to, but it’s whether or not we’re living out a real faith in the face of them.

Jesus implores us to be real. Real with Him and real with each other. Especially during the trials of life. Ignoring our doubts, concealing our doubts, or living in any way that doesn’t embrace a full trust that God not only sees it all, but is actually working through it all, is only a work of fiction. I shudder to think how many times I have gone to the Lord in prayer and gone through the motions of saying that I trust Him. Yet, then I get up from my knees and begin worrying about tomorrow. What’s more, I later try to go through the situation without sharing any of my internal struggles with the very people God has asked me to “do life” with. I may share a prayer request with someone, but I keep the nagging doubts and other “unspiritual” feelings to myself. As I result, I end up wondering — sometimes excessively — what others might think if they truly knew what I was thinking and feeling about God’s role in the situation. So, if you’re like me, you filter every response to the question, “How are you doing?” with something deemed socially acceptable or convenient. And then we get home and the Holy Spirit is urging us to spend time with our Heavenly Father, and the habit of not being real with people becomes our habit with God. The Holy Spirit is asking us, “How are you doing? Talk to me. Be real with me,” and we mutter out the Sunday school prayers as if He can’t handle the truth.

The good news… no, the most phenomenal news ever… is that He can handle the truth. He created us for fellowship with Him. Not to be robots. Not to be afraid of Him. Not to live without feeling, dreaming, risking, and wondering. Yet most of us — me included — insist on going through life as if we need to perform. As if we need to fabricate some level of faith we don’t have. As if the other believers in our lives have the power to determine our holiness. But here’s some truth that God keeps hammering home to me: the trials of life and negative thoughts will come at us from every angle, and Satan will attempt to use every single one of them to make us doubt God’s sovereignty. To doubt His love for us. To doubt His ability or even willingness to help us. That’s because the evil one knows that our belief and unwavering trust in God’s authority and power is crucial for our faith to grow and real joy to flow from our souls into the lives of others. If Satan can sabotage our ability to be real with God and others, then he can successfully stunt our faith for life. We’ll keep hitting this seemingly invisible, spiritual brick wall over and over. And we’ll keep wondering why.

Imagine being an early follower of Jesus in the years of hardship after His resurrection and ascension. The apostle Peter was crucified upside down for the cause of Christ. Paul was beaten, jailed, bitten by a snake, and suffered great personal affliction on an ongoing basis throughout his life. They, and the countless believers who suffered gracefully in the centuries that followed, all looked to Jesus as a role model for embracing and thriving under God’s sovereignty. When Jesus endured the beating, the ridicule, and agony of His trial and crucifixion, He laid His life down of His own accord in willing surrender to his Father’s sovereignty for the joy that was set before Him. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus knew that if He embraced — not just obeyed — what God was allowing to happen, there would be joy. We know from scripture that He had to be willing to surrender and play the position God had put Him in. Luke 22:42 tells us that Jesus earnestly pleaded with God about the difficult position He faced: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.” Jesus was real with His Father. Go back and read the passages about Jesus’ pleading in the Garden of Gethsemane, and you’ll see the ultimate example of someone being truly raw with God about internal struggles. (Luke 22:39-46, Matthew 26:36-46, and Mark 14:32-52)

Waiting, seasons of suffering, and learning to glorify God in the role He’s placed you in is an uncomfortable thing to ponder. Sharing the truth about your feelings and doubts with others during those difficult seasons is even more uncomfortable. If you’re in a season of comfort and rest right now, going back to a place of stone and striving is not something you want to think about. The subject of God’s sovereignty and suffering can also be unsettling and even divisive depending on who you’re talking with about it. Yet understanding it, embracing it, and trusting in this attribute of our Heavenly Father is one of the most important keys to finding true peace and joy in this life.

Most importantly, the very existence of God’s sovereignty means we are not in control. Acknowledgment of this fact and the ramifications of it in our lives is the most uncomfortable feeling of all. As a recovering control freak with perfectionist tendencies, my discomfort seems as though it’s at an all-time high. But as the Holy Spirit met me in some of my most desperate hours these past few weeks, I kept hearing, “Be real with me,” over and over. And as I thought about the blog this week and wondered if I could even muster up some words, I heard, “Be real with them too.”

And so, here I am being transparent. Being real. And letting anyone who listens or reads to see my doubts, disappointments, and confusion. While I’m determined to say boldly, “I can’t wait to see what God is going to do with all of this,” I’m struggling with deep discouragement over where my life seems to be headed right now. Through God’s clear direction and provision a little over two years ago, I exited the corporate world to start Core Radiate and subsequently the Glimmers in the Fog blog. But with all that’s happened this year, that calling seems to be in jeopardy due to financial circumstances. Which brings up another reality of life that almost everyone is uncomfortable being real about… money. But, if I can’t be real about the whole truth, then I’m not actually being real with you at all, am I?

The majority of people spend a lifetime denying God’s sovereignty and struggling needlessly with the stony places. And because they think they’re not supposed to question God or express doubt, all their internal struggles mount up like immovable rocks in their souls. Because they don’t ask why and because they don’t expose the wounds, the Holy Spirit can’t move in to address the questions, teach the heart, and soothe the soul. Then, the more they resist being where God has placed them, attempt to control the situation, and try to change things on their own, the more hardness and bitterness take over.

I don’t want to be in the majority. My prayer is that God will give me the faith, submission, and trust to fully embrace the stony places and fully rest in the bountiful ones. That doesn’t happen without being real and trusting the results of doing so entirely to Him. So as I wrap up this week’s message, I humbly ask you for prayer that I will get out of His way and let Him do only the work He can do in hard places. At this point, almost nothing is outside of the realm for potential change or out of the question, and although that means the future of the Glimmers blog isn’t clear, I know that God’s truth is. Romans 8:28 in The Passion Translation says, “So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are His lovers who have been called to fulfill His designed purpose.” Scripture doesn’t leave any room for loopholes or caveats in that statement. God’s sovereignty prevails no matter what the details. My dream has been to serve the Lord by encouraging others through the written and spoken word, but His dreams for me are better, whether they include what I desire right now or not.

I have no way of knowing this, but I think Paul had Psalm 37:4 in mind when he followed the leading of the Holy Spirit to write Romans 8:28. Psalm 37:4 says, “Make God the utmost delight and pleasure of your life, and He will provide for you what you desire the most.” (The Passion Translation). When we make God our utmost delight… when we make Him our focus and not ourselves, then He transforms our hearts to desire what He wants. Just before Paul declares that all things work together for bringing good into our lives, he says in verse 27: “God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet He also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, His holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny.” If I believe what God promises, then I must conclude that even though I am uncomfortable or feel disappointed, He is still working on my behalf to bring His plans to glorious fruition. He knows something I don’t know. He knows what’s best, even when it seems completely opposite of what I’m feeling or experiencing. But if I deny my reactions, feelings, and doubts, then He can’t intervene and adjust my vision to see His perspective. And if I don’t have His perspective on things, then I don’t have hope… or joy… or patience.

It may sound strange to say that I hope you find encouragement in my doubts, but that is my prayer as I share this message today. Even if you’re miles away from a hard place right now, there’s not a believer out there who doesn’t struggle deeply with doubt from time to time. And each time it happens, it will seem new, shocking, probably confusing. And Satan will make you feel guilty and alone in the midst of it. When it happens, I hope that you remember this message and follow the Spirit’s calling to be real. Don’t fight it, deny it, or feel guilty about it. Be real and God will eventually bring the healing.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts below! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

Five-Day Devotional Guide for Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.
Day 1 - Read one or more of the Gospel passages about Jesus’ prayer in the Garden the night before He was crucified. (Luke 22:39-46, Matthew 26:36-46, and Mark 14:32-52) As you read, ask God to show you how Jesus was being transparent about His feelings and struggles with God. What do you think God wants you to be willing to expose to His healing?
Day 2 - How have you struggled to accept God’s sovereignty in the past? Read Jeremiah 29:11. Spend some time recalling how He has been faithful even when it didn’t seem like things we’re going well at first.
Day 3 - The Psalmist was very real with God. He had no hesitation about bringing his doubts, fears, and questions to God. Read Psalm 42. Even though many of us know the Psalms well, we still struggle to be as transparent with God. Why do you think that is? What do you have going on in your heart that you have been hesitant to be honest about with yourself and God?
Day 4 - Read Galatians 6:1-3. Sharing one another’s burdens requires being genuinely open and transparent with each other. How have you struggled with that in the past? Ask God in prayer to reveal anything that you need to be more open about.
Day 5 - As believers in Jesus, we can always have hope because no matter what happens here, we have an eternal destiny. But how do we renew our hope when eternity seems so far away or hard to imagine? Read Philippians 1:3-9 and write down anything that comes to mind about Paul’s source of hope, even when he sat in a Roman prison. Read Romans 15:13 and then spend time praying it back to Him. If you have time, play two or three worship songs and sing along with all your might.

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How God Sees You

8/14/2019

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I love just about any movie with Tom Hanks in it. Yes, I know everybody loves Tom Hanks, so my statement is certainly not profound or controversial, but just for the record, he was one of my favorite actors long before “Sleepless in Seattle” was released in 1993. I can remember watching “Bosom Buddies” reruns after school and being hooked on his one-of-a-kind comedic timing and boy-next-door charm. And, of course, when “Splash” came out in 1984, I begged my Mom to take me to the theater. I mean, what girl wouldn’t want to see a live-action movie about a mermaid?

So when interesting things happen in life, as you can imagine, I often think of a Tom Hanks film. While adjusting to our new house is not nearly as bad as the absolute debacle in the film, lately I have been pining to revisit Mr. Hanks’ first-of-many collaborations with Steven Spielberg — “The Money Pit,” which tells the hilarious story of a couple pouring endless amounts of coin into a fixer-upper that is clearly never going to be fixed. Since it’s one of the few Hanks movies I don’t have in my embarrassingly large DVD collection, I have to admit that part of me is afraid to go digging online for it because watching it might actually hit too close to home. More than anything else, it’s a recent experience cleaning up some construction debris that made me think of Tom’s most famous line from the movie: “Here lies Walter Fielding. He bought a house, and it killed him.” No, our new house is not going to kill us, but I think the number of unexpected problems we’re dealing with has quite possibly shaved a few years off our lives and undoubtedly increased the percentage of gray hairs on my head.

One of the messiest projects currently underway at our house is the repair of a broken pipe underneath our back patio. Since the demolition of cement slabs is required to get underground and fix the issues, we have a long way to go yet before the process of restoration can begin. Round one of the deconstruction to find the breaks is over, but the second wave of work needed to completely expose the affected area surrounding the bad pipe is coming next week. Given that construction dust is not good for the surrounding foliage we had just planted along the back fence, I went outside the morning after the initial demolition to rinse off the leaves, branches, and flowers. Besides making a mental note to gently cover them before the next round of chaos begins, I noticed that the dust seemed to cling unusually well to one new plant in particular — the star jasmine, which is a thick, flowering vine prized for its fragrant white blooms. Frustrated by the stubborn stickiness of the dust, I rinsed the leaves three times, only to find them still coated in a thin film of white hours later. It was clear a quick rinsing wasn’t going to do the job. If I wanted to give this young plant a fair shot at life, I was going to have to get down on my hands and knees and gingerly wipe each and every leaf.

As I began the tedious chore, I quickly realized that for such a small plant, this star jasmine already had what seemed like a thousand leaves. This was going to be way more work than I wanted it to be. So as my frustration levels rose along with the heat of the day, I teetered on becoming downright cranky with the whole situation. I grew angry with myself for not remembering to cover the new plants in the first place, and I began to stew all over again at the unfairness of having to correct the previous owner’s apparent neglect. And just as I was sliding into an abyss of bitterness for the day, I remembered a request I had asked of God a few weeks earlier when we realized the scope of problems with our new house. I had prayed for His perspective on these problems, not mine. I had asked Him to give me eyes to see His blessings, purpose, and patience through this season. I asked Him to draw me closer to Him in the struggle, rather than leaning on my own resources (of which I had none left anyway), wisdom, and resilience.

“Here’s your opportunity,” a still small voice whispered in my heart. “How would I see this task? What can you learn about Me at this moment?”

I smiled when the whisper came, and that small recognition tenderly pulled me back to a sitting position, right down into the dust with the star jasmine. In my bitter, inward ranting, I had previously refused to sit down during the process and had instead chosen to bend over or squat while rubbing leaves one by one. I hadn’t wanted to give in to the task, nor had I wanted to get dirty myself. Almost like an unconscious protest, I had opted for the aching back and leg cramps, rather than finding a comfortable position to do my work. Now, as I sat down in the dust with the plant and felt relief slowly rising in my extremities, I shook my head in wonder at God. Right there, sitting in the rubble and mud, I caught a glimpse of Jesus. Not only does He get down in the grime of our messes to help us come out of them, He walks through each phase of the construction process with us — demolition, clean-up, and full restoration. We not only get to know His character during these seasons, but we also learn how to tangibly rely on Him for everything in life with ever-increasing intensity.

It would have been so easy for me to opt for the quick solution with that small star jasmine. It had just been planted, so going to the greenhouse and buying another one would have been far easier than cleaning hundreds of leaves one by one. But God had a message for me that He could only deliver through the dust and the sweat. His Word tells me to be a good steward with the resources He’s given me, and discarding a perfectly good plant for the sake of my convenience wouldn’t honor Him. And I think it was that initial obedience to do the work — although reluctantly, I admit — that ushered in His ultimate purpose for that moment: He wanted me to see me as He sees me. And through that vision, He wanted me to draw closer to Him. And how does He see me? How does He see you? Well, frankly, we’re like a fledgling young plant with great potential but almost always covered in some kind of construction dust. Sure, there are moments where most areas of our lives seem to be going well, and we’re growing by leaps and bounds. But more often than not, we are always going through some kind of demolition or construction project in one area or another. Sometimes the demolition phase is for our own good, and other times, it brings widespread damage because of our own destructive choices. But regardless of the cause, Jesus is there in the midst of it all to shepherd every detail of our restoration. That’s because God sees us as a part of Himself. Made in His very image and created to be one with Him, His spirit dwells inside of all those who believe and follow. We are His temple. His earthly home. His child. His heir. We are called to walk in the very likeness of His Son. So, no matter the cause of the problem, whether we’re covered in the remnants of our own sins and mistakes, or we’re coated in suffering through no fault of our own, Jesus will always be there to wipe off the construction dust and expose us to the light and nourishment of His presence.

We are all vulnerable to forgetting how God sees us, especially the most seasoned of believers. Life has a way of hardening us as we grow, sometimes turning our previous trials and hardships into recurring memories that we allow to shape our perspective and cloud our vision. The newness of God’s cleansing presence and the yielding to His surgical precision become dulled based on our own perceived maturity, hurts, failures, and even our successes. We begin to think we know what God will do next based on our personal experience, rather than leaving our hearts and minds open to the truth of Isaiah 55:8-9, “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’” Sure, our experiences can guide us in better identifying the marks of God’s hand and hearing His voice, but we should never allow them to speculate on what He intends to do or say.

When we remember that God sees us as His son or daughter, whom He always loves, accepts, and restores through Jesus, our response should always be one of awe, humility, and receptivity to whatever He wants. Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 18:3, that we are to be like children. I love how the ESV study Bible gives that statement some context: “The humility of a child consists of childlike trust, vulnerability, and the inability to advance his or her own cause apart from the help, direction, and resources of a parent.” Therefore, the mark of growth and maturity in a Christian is not what we would expect, or even naturally desire. We are not to seek the increase of our own wisdom, independence, or ruggedness. Rather, God wants us to become progressively more dependent on Him… for everything. He doesn’t even want us to see or evaluate situations, people, or things around us from our own point of view. He wants us to begin each day and approach every moment with His truth as our point of reference.

Not to say that any of this is easy, of course. But thankfully that’s where God’s promises, like Lamentations 3:22-23 come in, assuring us that for each new day, He will be there immersed with us in the trials of life. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” When you get up in the morning and face a day filled with daunting challenges, you may look in the mirror and see a face weary with frustration or disappointment, but God sees you as you can be under His wing and filled with His strength. While you and I are certainly a work in progress, God can see the finished masterpiece He is forming His child to be over time. So next time you find yourself covered with the suffocating dust and remnants of life’s endless construction projects, and you’re either frustrated with yourself, those around you, or both, Jesus beckons you to take a moment and look for Him drawing close right beside you. The clean-up process may seem overwhelming, but with His tender hand guiding your work, you’ll be restored and captivatingly fragrant like star jasmine blossoming in the afternoon sun.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts below! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

Five-Day Devotional Guide for Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.

Day 1 - Part of learning to believe the truth of how God sees you is grasping how much He loves you and the ramifications of that kind of love. Read Ephesians 3:14-19 in several different versions of the Bible and spend time in prayer asking God to whisper to your soul of how much He loves you. Ask Him to reveal any corners of your heart or mind that you haven’t surrendered to His love. Write down what comes to mind and commit it to prayer this week.
Day 2 - Throughout the Bible God promises to protect us, guide us, and be our shield in the storms of life. But that doesn’t mean the trials won’t come. When they do, He will walk through the suffering with us, drawing us closer than we we’ve ever been. Take a moment to listen to this worship song (Another in the Fire by Hillsong) and ask the Holy Spirit to give you courage to step out on faith before you feel His presence. If we step forward, He’ll be there to meet us. If you have time, read Daniel 3 and how God showed up to walk in the fire with His beloved ones.
Day 3 - Read 1 Peter 2:9 several times. What does it mean to you to hear that you are royalty? How should this guide your daily habits, perspectives, and behaviors? Spend time in prayer and ask God to reveal any ways in which you might not be seeing the truth of this verse in your life.
Day 4 - Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 several times. Prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to encourage you and convict you in any ways that you have not seen or cared for your body as His temple.
Day 5 - Read2 Corinthians 1:3-4. God calls us to comfort each other through the difficulties of life. We are supposed to get down in the dust and debris of life with each other. If you’re going through a hard time right now, find someone to share that with and ask them to pray with you regularly until the trial passes. If you’re in a good place, then ask God to put people in your path who need support and prayer. And if a name is coming to your mind right now, then take a moment and pray for that person right now. Maybe share this podcast or blog with them as an encouragement.

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Does God Want you to Be a Minimalist?

8/7/2019

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From the day you were born, you started collecting stuff that will be with you for the rest of your life. Indeed, stuff was already waiting for you in your room before you even came home from the hospital. There were the super practical things, of course, some of which would come and go within hours (like the diapers) and others that would linger for years until you grew out of them. And then there were the completely non-practical items. These were usually adorable and capable of generating an “Awwwww, how cute,” comment in the most high-pitched tone. Some of them were useless, but entirely sentimental icons of your earliest days, and they might still be tucked away in a box in the furthest corners of your attic or basement, no matter how old you are. If keeping some of your childhood memories isn’t your thing, then I am sure something else is. It may be a weakness for clothes, gadgets, knick-knacks, or books. Even artwork, pantry items, tools, office supplies, or small appliances can mound up through the years.

For most people, too much stuff of some kind in their closets, drawers, or garages is making them feel smothered, constricted, overwhelmed, busy, depressed, or frustrated on some level, whether it be occasionally troublesome or incredibly debilitating. We all exist somewhere on the continuum between minimalism and hoarding. But where does God want us to be? Is joining the minimalism movement, led by the likes of Marie Kondo and Clea Shearer, any different from trying out the latest fad diet to shrink our expanding waistlines? We try them out, only to find ourselves struggling again once we inevitably diverge from the plan. I found myself asking these questions and many similar ones over the last several months of packing, moving, and trying to unpack. Notice I used the word “trying” regarding settling into my new home. Just like getting a huge shock when you step on the scale for the first time in five months (yep, I have that problem too!), I have been both surprised and dismayed at how little storage capacity is available in my house. Having too much stuff combined with an impressive lack of storage options has created the perfect storm of clutter, disorganization, and overwhelm in almost every room.

For those of you who know me, the inability to unpack quickly, organize, and enjoy clutter-free tidiness, is driving me crazy. Bonkers. Nuts. Attach any word to it that makes you picture a woman with her hair on fire, and you’ll understand my state of mind. What’s more, I’m one of those writers who can’t even concentrate on crafting a single sentence until my desk area complies to my own very unorthodox version of feng shui. While I recognize that I am clearly displaying inherited OCD tendencies right now, and I probably need to break into a rendition of a saccharine Disney tune like Hakuna Matata or Let It Go, the truth of the matter still needs to be addressed. I must purge. Purge even more now than I did when I packed up everything. But again, questions come to my mind. Do I purge only enough to ease the madness, or should I take it much further and clear out everything but real necessities? And speaking of essentials, how is that really defined in my life? What is truly necessary, versus what makes life a bit more comfortable, versus what is outright indulgence or laziness? Did God lead my husband and I to this home in order to spur me toward adopting a more minimalistic lifestyle, or is being at some other point on the continuum of stewardship acceptable to Him?

Perhaps you’ve also wondered how much stuff God wants His followers to have. And I am not just talking about the stuff that actually costs money. Most of the faith-driven Christian books, blog posts, and sermons surrounding this topic tend to focus only on the stewardship component of this problem. As a result, I think many believers end up feeling justified in hanging onto a lot of stuff through the years as long as they are honoring God with their financial giving through regular tithing and offerings. After all, as far as I know, there’s no verse in the Bible that says you shouldn’t keep your first-grade finger painting masterpiece or that special dress that you wore to your Sweet 16 party (um, that would be me.) Or how about we head into even more sensitive territory? What would the Bible guide us to do with highly useful items that haven’t been used in a decade? What if we will need them again for some unpredictable project or event in the future? If we needed something once, doesn’t it stand to reason that we will need it again? And wouldn’t God want us to tuck it away in the back of the shed or closet instead of spending money on a new one should the need ever arise again? That last example is the toughest one of all, isn’t it? Maybe that expensive tool will come in handy again. Or perhaps the outfit you bought for that black tie wedding ten years ago might come back in style.

While Jesus didn’t talk specifically about things like that, He did make one truth repeatedly clear during His time with the disciples. He asks us to remove anything from our lives that prevents — and that means even slightly hinders — us from fully and completely following Him. Furthermore, He asks us to live without fear or wondering how our needs might be met in the future. Therefore, I believe we can firmly conclude that Jesus wants us to let go of anything that might get in the way of us drawing closer to Him, experiencing His goodness, obeying His direction and calling for our lives, or dwelling in the states of contentment and mental freedom. While this truth has different ramifications for each unique individual, the scriptures that support the idea of living with an unencumbered heart are uncompromising. Beyond that, it’s up to each of us to prayerfully seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance regarding the boundaries needed in our lives. As I have been seeking God’s instruction in my own self-made chaos, here are a few of the Bible verses He’s brought to my attention in recent weeks.

Matthew 5:29 says, “So if your eye — even your good eye —causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” Ouch. Can you even believe I am starting with that verse? I actually tried not to, but the Holy Spirit kept bugging me about it. Here’s why. There is nothing I have in my boxes of stuff, not even my most beloved wedding memorabilia, that is as important as my eyesight. I don’t think any of us would be willing to lose an eye over a possession. And here Jesus is using an extreme example to indicate the kind of extreme love we are to have for God. So even something useful or of the greatest value to us must take second place to serving and loving our Heavenly Father. I love how the verse includes the phrase, “even your good eye,” as if a person would want to give up either eye at all! But yet, that’s how some of us approach sacrificing our stuff in order to follow God. We prioritize it for Him — as if we have the right to do that. We’ll give up that thing, but not the best or the dearest thing. In this way, the Word makes it clear that even valuable, cherished, or useful things sometimes need to be sacrificed for the sake of obedience to — and love for — God. So if God calls you to downsize in order to fulfill your calling, then even something you might — just maybe — need again, probably needs to go. And the next verse offers assurance that if you need it again someday, He’ll provide it when the time comes.

Matthew 6:33-34 is Jesus’ end to all of our arguments about retaining things we don’t need or fretting about needing things we’ve let go of under the guidance of His Spirit. “So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from Him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.” I’m not planning on throwing out my box of wedding memories… at least not right now. There are plenty of other things the Holy Spirit seems to be leading me to let go of first. And what He might be asking you to release may be different now than it will be next year or next decade. And the flip side of that is true as well. You may be tempted to buy something that seems very reasonable right now that God knows will only be a hindrance later. So when the Spirit whispers to you with conviction or direction, it’s far better to obey and trust that your emotional, physical, or financial needs will be taken care of the way He knows is best for us.

In Mark 10:17-31, a prominent rich young man approaches Jesus and asks how he can live forever. When he explains that he has followed all the commandments and lived in obedience to God, verses 21-22 recount Jesus’ reply. “Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. ‘There is still one thing you haven’t done,’ He told him. ‘Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’” While this story in the Gospels is often used to illustrate our willingness to surrender financial assets, the implication is far more comprehensive. Jesus wanted the young man’s whole heart, and He could see that this prominent and accomplished guy was far more in love with his belongings and his stature than he was with God. When our accumulation of stuff encroaches on any aspect of our ability to love and serve God, then we are like the wealthy young man. Our hearts are clinging to our memories, treasures, gadgets, and clothes more than Him. So if I have so much stuff I can’t create a small, non-distracting space in my house to be alone with Jesus in prayer, read the Word, and worship Him, then something’s gotta go. If I own too many “toys” and their maintenance or use prevents me from serving others, then something’s gotta go. Jesus makes it that clear. That simple.

The apostle Paul said it this way in Hebrews 12:1-2: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” We don’t like to think of our stuff as sin. It makes us feel shameful. And shame causes us to feel defeated. It makes us feel like not bothering to try. And that’s right where Satan wants us. Shame makes us ineffective for Jesus. Yes, having a bunch of stuff can chain us down and keeps us from being free to go wherever and do whatever God asks us to do. But having shame over our stuff increases the weight upon our shoulders to an unbearable level. And Satan simply loves that. Not only are we weighed down, but we are also unmotivated and bewildered. But as Paul says, Jesus ran the race to demolish our strongholds of sin and shame. So no matter how much stuff I have or any stigma associated with it was buried with Christ, enabling me to run free in His strength and power. That’s how God sees me. Through the power of the cross. And that’s how He sees you too. All He asks is that we surrender our hearts, which means that He has the freedom to clear them out when necessary. Just like our houses, we have a tendency to fill up the rooms of our heart with things that don’t belong there. And everything in our houses first appeared as a desire in our hearts. Nothing shows up in our physical world until we’ve first acquired it in our hearts and minds.

A huge pile of stuff in my bedroom is about to be loaded into bags for donation. Some of the items have been in my closet for more than a decade. Some of the items are fairly new but should’ve never been purchased in the first place. For many different reasons, all of them were taking up space in my heart that wasn’t intended for them. I don’t know what else the Holy Spirit will bring to my attention for elimination in the days and weeks ahead, nor could I ever tell you what things in your life might need to go. But this I do know beyond a shadow of a doubt: with each step of surrender and obedience, Jesus is waiting to usher both of us into a greater depth of love and willingness to serve than we’ve ever known before.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts below! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

Five-Day Devotional Guide for Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.
Day 1 - Read Matthew 6:25-34 in at least 3 different versions of the Bible. Spend time in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you anything (physical, emotional, societal) that you are hanging onto or long to have that might be creating a byproduct of worry, fear, or greed in your life. Write down anything He brings to your mind and commit to seeking God’s forgiveness and direction in those areas.
Day 2 - Go back to the list you made yesterday and spend time in prayer. Read 1 Timothy 6:6–8 and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what areas of discontentment exist in your life.
Day 3 - Sometimes contentment has nothing to do with material possessions or physical comfort, but rather our emotional or societal desires. We might be bitter over a lost relationship, promotion at work, or a wrong that someone committed against us. Even our state of health can tempt us to long for what we don’t have. Read Philippians 4:10-13 and ask God to reveal any emotions or longings in your heart that are leading to discontentment or mistrust of Him.
Day 4 - When life doesn’t seem fair, we might resort to unconsciously accumulating things or pursuing activities for the wrong reasons. The things or activities themselves may not be sinful, but if they are not God’s best for us, then He wants eliminate the root causes of those errant desires within us. Read Psalm 139:-23-24 and pray it back to God.
Day 5 - Read 1 Chronicles 29:11. Spend time today celebrating all the good things in your life that God has blessed you with, including your special memories, possessions, and most valuable relationships. Give God all the honor and glory for each one. Write down a few for future encouragement.

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