Out of control?

 

If the chaos that is 2020 has done nothing else, it has reminded me (you, too?) of how little control over life we really possess. A tiny virus arrived and brought fear the like of which I have not known in my lifetime. Thousands have died and our social structures have been turned upside down – educational, religious, economic. We came to see, anew, the unresolved issues of race in our nation and are still trying to grapple with finding solutions. And, our government – I won’t even talk about the dysfunction there! All of those things, along with my own personal issues, make me feel small, sometimes afraid, and very much ‘out of control.’

In my pastoral work I am often asked two questions these days.  The first is about the very existence of God. “How can you believe in God?”  The second is similar. “Why does God allow these kinds of problems to exist?”

The first question is answered, at least for me, by looking at the world around me.  The order, the beauty, the glimpses of love, the amazing complexity of life are enough to convince me that a Creator exists Who wills the world to continue, in spite of all that is done to destroy it! More subjectively, there is response of my heart and mind when I come before Him in worship. He comes near and that confirms my belief.  I am a Christian because I accept the revelation of God in the Holy Scripture;  believing that He came to us, making Himself known in Jesus, entered our suffering, restored the way to eternal life, and that He rose from the dead as proof positive of our hope. (Yes, those are faith issues.) 

The second question is more complicated. As I wrote yesterday, God desires that we live infaith so that our lives will honor and exalt Him before the earth and the heavenly angels. Beyond that, I believe that suffering is a primary means that God uses to draw us into a deeper spiritual relationship with Himself and causes us to lean hard on Him. The awe produced by a majestic vista may cause me to say, “God is,” but suffering that reveals the fragility of my life changes my heart, inviting me pursue One greater than myself.

C. S. Lewis, the English author, famously wrote: “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” 

We can see this illustrated in the natural world. If our toe gets infected, though a small party of our body, we act to make it better, focused by the pain! If a person grows seriously ill, friends and family turn their attention to that person, helping and caring because the suffering has brought attention. The suffering that is part of this world – sickness, poverty, injustice, oppression, discrimination – declares to us that all is not well, that there are broken things to which we must attend. When we have applied our best efforts and brightest minds to those issues (and more) without changing them, we turn to God, often in desperation.  And we discover that HE was there all the time, waiting for our return, offering not just solace but the way of transformation. 

I love the story of the Lost Son that Jesus told, recorded in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 15. The son demanded his inheritance, took off, lived recklessly and selfishly, until he was broke, hungry, and alone. Only then did he start to think of his father.  Finally, he turns toward home but thinks he will just exist at the fringe of his father’s care. What does he discover? Ah, this is what makes my heart overflow with emotion.  

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began." (Luke 15:20-24, NLT)  He found a Waiting Father, full of love, ready to celebrate.

The pain of life reminds us of what is lost, the Spirit inviting us, quietly and insistently, to turn around and go home. We may feel we are unworthy (and we are), we may feel we owe a debt we cannot pay (and we do), and we may feel ashamed (which we should) of the ways that we have ignored and abused God’s goodness. However, IF we will turn to Him, we will find Love and Grace, a God who will give us new life, eternal hope, and transform us into a person who loves like Jesus!

Peter, who knew the awful suffering of betraying Jesus, reminds us that our pain can serve us, bringing refining to our character and faith. "So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." (1 Peter 1:6-7, NLT)

We have a choice to make when our heart aches, when life is out of control – will we trust God and work with Him allowing the beauty of His love to shine radiantly through us or we will rage against the ‘unfairness’ of it all and sink into despair? We do not make that choice by our own strength alone. The Spirit is present, even in our times of sufferings to help to pray. Even our wordless groans and sighs are prayers. "The Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words." Romans 8:26 NLT

I propose a different question for us as we experience suffering, when we cannot see through the dark.
Instead of “Why are You doing this, God?” let us have the humility to ask instead,
“What do you want me to do, God?”  The answer may not come in an instant. But, if we wait on Him, if we are quietly patient before Him, the dawn will replace the darkness.

The word from the Word invites faith and changed perspective. I pray it speaks life to each us in these difficult days. Paul writes of his own struggle saying, "At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become." (2 Corinthians 12:8-10, The Message)

__________ 

Lord I Need You

(Pray with Chris Tomlin as he sings of our heart’s need)

 

Lord I come I confess

Bowing here I find my rest

And without You I fall apart

You're the one that guides my heart

 

Lord I need You oh I need You

Ev'ry hour I need You

My one defense my righteousness

Oh God how I need You

 

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more

Where grace is found is where You are

And where You are Lord I am free

Holiness is Christ in me

Where You are Lord I am free

Holiness is Christ in me

 

So teach my song to rise to You

When temptation comes my way

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You

Jesus You're my hope and stay

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You

Jesus You're my hope and stay

 

Lord I need You oh I need You

Ev'ry hour I need You

My one defense my righteousness

Oh God how I need You

My one defense my righteousness

Oh God how I need You

 

Christy Nockels | Daniel Carson | Jesse Reeves | Kristian Stanfill | Matt Maher

© 2011 sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

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Our Hidden Suffering

 

Timothy Keller, author of Walking With God Through Pain, asks an insightful question for all Christians - are you living for God’s glory? If we make God our accomplice in achieving the life we desire, we will resent suffering and demand that He remove it. If, however, we believe, by faith, that we exist first to display His glory, then suffering can find purpose and we will endure it. But, who is watching? Before whom are we to glorify Him?

He proposes a hypothetical situation where for 24 hours everything a person thought, did, or said would be broadcast, seen by a billion people around the world.  “Would it make a difference in how you lived?”  The answer is obvious. Of course, it would. No matter how virtuous one is, regardless of devotion, knowing that billion pairs of eyes and ear are attuned to our lives would invariably change us.  

Christian, the eyes of God and the angels are on us. Our lives, lived in worship and faith, will glorify Him even IF NO ONE in the world sees or knows what we do!  I often quote this passage as an encouragement to faithful, steady service. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV)

Do you know to what that ‘therefore’ refers?  Yes, it is the “faith chapter,” the 11th of Hebrews.

There we walk the hallway of time remembering people who did great exploits for God: Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and Samson. Their faith makes great sermon material and Sunday School lessons, doesn’t it?  But, we tend to gloss over the closing verses in the same passage. "But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us." (Hebrews 11:35-40, NLT)

The inspired writer’s point was to make it clear that “faith” does not always guarantee a visible outcome. We are setting ourselves up for disillusionment if we attempt to create direct cause and effect to justify pain or suffering. We like to say that “This happened to me so that God would accomplishment that result.” When we can connect deep suffering, martyrdom, and sacrifice with a measurable advance of God’s rule it helps to bear it. Our faith must go deeper accepting that from our limited perspective sometimes pain and suffering is just that, period!  Faith is the willingness to say, “Thy will be done” and to trust that our God will bring glory to Himself, in Heaven or on earth.

Are you in a time of hidden hardship?
Does your soul ache, your tears fall in secret in the night?
Have you committed yourself to worship, serve, and love God and found the path littered with stumbling stones?
Is the pain sometimes near unbearable? 

God sees. God knows.
Pray for faith that does not falter, for patient endurance, focused primarily on the joy of giving Him glory – be that here on earth or before the angels of Heaven!

Here is a word from the Word.  Meditate on it and take strength today.  "However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." (1 Peter 4:16, NIV) "So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." (1 Peter 4:19, NIV)

__________ 

Alabaster Box  is a song telling the story of a woman Jesus forgave of many sins who poured fragrance oil on His feet in adoration.

She was judged, misunderstood. The song imagines her response. It is a worshipful, moving song. I hope you will take a few minutes to listen inspired to pour out your life as a gift to Him, even if misunderstood, judged, or overlooked.

(CeCe Winans ALABASTER BOX)  

The room grew still

As she made her way to Jesus

She stumbles through the tears

That made her blind

She felt such pain

Some spoke in anger

Heard folks whisper

There's no place here for her kind

 

Still on she came

Through the shame that flushed her face

Until at last she knelt before His feet

And though she spoke no words

Ev'rything she said was heard

And she poured her love for the Master

From her box of alabaster

 

I've come to pour

My praise on Him like oil

From Mary's alabaster box

Don't be angry

If I wash His feet with my tears

And I dry them with my hair

You weren't there the night He found me

You did not feel what I felt

When He wrapped His love all around me

And you don't know the cost of the oil

In my alabaster box

 

I can't forget

The way life used to be

I was a pris'ner

To the sin that had me bound

I spent my days

Poured my life without measure

Into a little treasure box

I thought I found

Until the day when Jesus came to me

And healed my soul

 

With the wonder of His touch

So now I'm giving back to Him

All the praise He's worthy of

I've been forgiven and that's why

I love Him so much

 

I've come to pour

My praise on Him like oil

From Mary's alabaster box

Don't be angry

If I wash His feet with my tears

And dry them with my hair

You weren't there when my Jesus found me

You did not feel what I felt

When He wrapped His loving arms around me

And you don't know the cost of the oil

Oh you don't know the cost of my praise

You don't know the cost of the oil

In my alabaster box

 

Janice Lyn Sjostrand © 2004 Little Pooky's Music (Admin. by Pure Psalms Music, Inc.)

CCLI License # 810055

Oh God, why?

Faith has taken a beating in 2020!  How can life become so difficult for so many so quickly?  How can I live in the peace of God when circumstances overwhelm me? IF your faith is bruised and bloodied by doubts and fears, don’t feel like you are just weak, or that your experience is unique.  Look at the words to this old hymn, “O Worship the King" - "Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail; in Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail. Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end. Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend."  Obviously the writer was reflecting on life known by thousands.  And, yes, we are fragile creatures, aren't we?

The Psalms, the hymnal/prayer book of the Bible, invites us to lament, to mourn when life is difficult. "O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?" (Psalm 13:1-2, NLT) "O Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble?" (Psalm 10:1, NLT)  There we find the truth that when we feel beaten and bruised in our faith, it is not a sin in the eyes of God.  But, must we wallow in the grief, wrapping ourselves in the sad comfort of misery?  No, we are invited to life and Light. 

I love the 73^rd Psalm. I have read it a thousand times when my faith wavered, making it a prayer to turn my eyes from the darkness of despair to the dawn of hope. The writer says that he watched people who were godless, who cared nothing for the ways of the Lord, and it seemed that they were living the good life! "They seem to live such a painless life; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They aren't troubled like other people or plagued with problems like everyone else." (Psalm 73:4-5, NLT) 

The result of his comparing of his life to others was a heart full of envy, a mind that began to doubt the goodness of God as he became increasingly convinced of the unfairness of it all. Honestly, can you admit that you have felt that way, wondering why their marriage is so sweet and yours such a struggle, why their health is so vibrant and you struggle with chronic pain, why it looks like money grows on trees for him and you have to pinch pennies every day?  

The Psalmist shows us how he found faith again. He says ...  "I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood ...  Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever." (Psalm 73:17, 25-26, NLT) 

At this moment you may not wish to hear this, but I will say it anyway. Lasting satisfaction will never be found in another thing, a new location, or more money. Remember the 10^th Commandment? “Thou shalt not covet.”  Stop comparing, longing to have what she has, and look up.  Tell God, even it feels like He’s far away, “I need You to help me refocus my hope in You.”

When our emotions scream for relief,  when our vision narrows down to "right here, right now"  we can make a different choice. We can find a place alone and patiently trust, wait, and hope for the embrace of grace. We can offer what Scripture calls the “sacrifice of praise”  not insincerely babbling prayer words, but seeking to offer genuine worship, thanking God for life and breath.  In Christ, each of can know the promise of Eternal Life which cannot be stolen by any foe – demon or person here on earth. Are you at least willing to look up? Are you willing to take a day of silence before Him?

 Friend, can you believe me when I tell you that there is a grace that is found ONLY in the dark? The resolving verses of Psalm 73 are beautiful. You and I CAN find the same sweet joy IF we will get real with God, let the Spirit give us new vision, and be willing to live in faith.  

Read these words aloud - "You’re all I want in heaven! You’re all I want on earth! When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithful. Look! Those who left you are falling apart! Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again. But I’m in the very presence of God— oh, how refreshing it is! I’ve made Lord God my home. God, I’m telling the world what you do!" (Psalm 73:25-28, The Message)

This word from the Word may be a testimony you read after overcoming doubts OR it may be a call to hold onto faith in the middle of the fight. Regardless, it God’s Word, a call to a life that hopes in Him.

"Don’t worry about the wicked. Don’t envy those who do wrong.
For like grass, they soon fade away. Like springtime flowers, they soon wither.
Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

Stop your anger! Turn from your rage!
Do not envy others— it only leads to harm.
For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.
In a little while, the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone.
Those who are gentle and lowly will possess the land; they will live in prosperous security."
(Psalm 37:1-11, NLT)

Lord, keep us in your grace embrace, renewing our faith in troubled times. Amen.

___________ 

O Come To The Altar
(an invitation song … from Elevation Worship)

 Are you hurting and broken within
Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin
Jesus is calling
Have you come to the end of yourself
Do you thirst for a drink from the well
Jesus is calling

O come to the altar
The Father's arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Leave behind your regrets and mistakes
Come today there's no reason to wait
Jesus is calling
Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy
From the ashes a new life is born
Jesus is calling

Oh what a Savior
Isn't he wonderful
Sing alleluia Christ is risen
Bow down before him
For he is Lord of all
Sing alleluia Christ is risen

Bear your cross as you wait for the crown
Tell the world of the treasure you've found

Chris Brown | Mack Brock | Steven Furtick | Wade Joye © 2015 Music by Elevation Worship Publishing (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)

CCLI License # 810055

He wasn't a bad person

A text arrived on my phone about a mutual friend (I’ll call him G.) who constantly pushed the limits, broke the rules, and resisted authority of every kind.  Tragically he died when he was much too young, his death the result of a long string of poor choices. “He wasn’t a bad person” the correspondent insisted. It is not up to me to be his judge, but I have enough discernment to determine that many of the things he did were certainly wrong, causing pain and ultimately ending his life.  He was smart, could be charming, but lacked courage, honesty, insight, and selflessness that are part of good character. G. lacked the character to take advantage of his competence.

We live in a world that tends to admire ‘success’ borne of competence without considering the necessity of a solid character in support. How often are we dazzled by a person’s abilities and choose to ignore even the glaring and obvious sins? “Oh, Jerry, she’s just human.” True enough, we all are ‘just human’ and prone to fail from time to time. However, character matters and we need to value it. There are stories too numerous to tell about people who climb to great heights as a result of their skill, their intelligence, their personality, their competence and then they tumble into failure, wrecked as the life they have built collapses because there is no foundation to support the structure. 

Let me hasten to add, I am not talking about being ‘perfect.’ We all have our own unique set of temptations and sins that result from what the Bible calls the ‘sinful nature,’ that grow out of the way were raised, and that shaped by our life experience.  The question is, will we work on developing character right alongside of building competence? 

Character formation begins with spiritual renewal. Jesus called it being ‘born again.’  The phrase is much maligned by some, but it is the key to character. "Jesus replied, “I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven." (John 3:3-6, NLT)  We cannot live with consistent evidence of spiritual life – love, joy, peace  - unless we are alive in the Spirit. Have you invited God to own your life, to pour life into you so that character can begin to form inside out?

There must be honest reflection, a willingness to see failure and deal with it.  Change is hard. Many of us, when we see the cracks in character, tend to say, “that’s just who I am, how I am wired.’  Greed, materialism, laziness, selfishness, lustfulness … are allowed to exist because we will not admit that we must change. The Bible calls this ‘confession.’  Yes, we can make a joke out of it, but true confession is an indispensable part of transformation. AA teaches, wisely so, that the path to sobriety runs through honest reflection.  Take a look at the first of the 12 steps - We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.  It does not stop there, because true confession also connects to God’s power. The second step says We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

In building character, there is hard work to be done. Christian, there is an unintended consequence to the message of grace, one that results from an incomplete grasp of the Gospel. Some believe that because Jesus loves us and has made us righteous in the eyes of God that there is no need to do the work of becoming the person God desires. Cheap grace it has been called.  When we experience God’s grace as a result of honest confession, the next choice is to be holy. One of the ways the Bible talks about that is dying to Self.  That is every bit as painful as it sounds. Old ways die hard. But, change is possible when we pray for strength and do the work!

Character is sustained by practice of the daily disciplines.  Today’s victory does not win tomorrow’s battle!  In the first six months of 2020, I carefully monitored my caloric intake and gradually shed about 25 pounds. It is a healthy accomplishment. Will I keep it off? I surely can, but I must continue to make the choices that made it happen. Our Christian life is certainly the work of the Spirit in us.  It is a deception to think that we can save ourselves, that we can make ourselves acceptable to God. What does Paul declare? "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)  God saves us and calls us to ‘good works’ that He has planned.

James reminds us that character is strengthened under pressure. "For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything." (James 1:3-4, NLT)  If we lean into the Lord, praying for the Spirit to keep us, we emerge with a strong character, and anticipate a rich eternal reward. "God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12, NLT)

Let’s pray for true character that reveals the beauty of Jesus in us; people who love, who are forgiving, who are selfless, who serve faithfully, who meet challenges with courage, who deal honestly with failure, who refuse to pretend, who are pure in heart!  Yes, Christian, character matters.

Here is a word from the Word. May God, the Spirit, make it live in us. "Through (His grace and mercy, God) has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:4-11, NIV)

__________ 

Beautiful Things

All this pain
I wonder if I'll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change
At all

All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground
At all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found
In You

You make me new You are making me new
You make me new You are making me new 

Lisa Gungor | Michael Gungor © 2009 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

 

Life Left You Bitter?

Disappointed?  Many feel that and not always without reason.  A pastor friend posted this morning that he is 33 but as a result of the stresses of ministry feels 40! My guess is that he is dealing with missed expectations at some level. Another person talked with me about his heart’s yearning for real connections in a world that left him feeling alone too often. I ached for his discouraged heart. Yes, I know disappointment, too.  Have I been blessed? Amazingly so and for that I am grateful.  Would I like some parts of my experience in this world be to different? I do.  As we look into a new week, let’s talk about finding encouragement, about living beyond just determination, finding God’s joy. 

Dealing with our disappointment begins by gaining perspective! Sometimes what we are feeling is something awful that we ought to mourn.  Sometimes it is just the merely unpleasant that we need to set aside without a thought. A diagnosis of cancer is on a whole other plane than getting a poorly prepared dinner at a restaurant. We are truly foolish, perhaps even childish, if we allow ourselves to endlessly complain about life’s little inconveniences, letting ourselves become miserable over ordinary issues. When real troubles come, our marriage becomes troubled, our children rebel, our boss turns into a tyrant, our body betrays us – these are reasons to mourn and seek God’s provision!  Jesus reminds us that when life breaks our heart and we look us, we will be  “embraced by the One most dear to you.” (Matthew 5.4)  

As we wrestle with those things that chronically cause us to feel loss, to be disappointed, we must resist the temptation to turn into an angry, bitter person. The tragedy of disappointment is compounded when we turn ugly and defensive, concluding that the whole world is against us, that people are terrible, or worse; that God has forgotten us. Some of the most dangerous words can be “everybody” and “all the time.” Such sweeping generalizations make us blind to the truth and deaf to the Spirit’s voice.

Some respond to their disappointment by deadening their emotions, an awful choice really!  If we kill our heart, we may numb the pain but we also lose the gifts of love and joy.  Too many people, once past the optimism of youth, settle into a kind of self-protective disengagement refusing to risk by loving anyone, never praying for the 'impossible,'  pushing through one day after another eyes to the ground, in grim duty. That’s not the life God intended for anyone of us. A heart that is silenced may save us from disappointment, but at what cost to our humanity? 

There is a positive choice we can make, God helping us. It is humility!   The Spirit asks us to dethrone Self, to become a servant, not an abjectly miserable non—person, but one who lives without that crippling entitlement that makes so many miserable in our time. that allows us to forgive. One aspect of forgiveness is the willing to releasing another person from our desire that they act in ways of which we approve or in ways that please us.  Is that hard to do when you know you have done your best, given our utmost, without appreciation. Yes it can! 

And, IF we develop an offended spirit – ‘how dare he respond like that?’  or ‘who does she think she is, anyway?’  the demons will sit on our shoulder and whisper to us about just how noble we have been and how little others care!  There is no good thing that comes from self-pity, from the feeling “I deserve more or better.”  I hasten to add that forgiveness IS NOT forcing ourselves to think: "Ah, forget it. It doesn't matter." When a spouse, a friend, a child, a co-worker fails us, breaks our heart, rejects us, or harms us -- it does matter!  

The better choice is to surrender our disappointment, our anger, to God. That kind of forgiveness that releases whatever ‘debt’ that we are owed to Him, allows God to act and HE will bring justice – perhaps now, most assuredly in eternity.  Jesus taught us that our willing to surrender offenses to us, frees us to receive God’s forgiveness.  He said –“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors....But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6:12, 15 

Reinhold Neibuhr’s Serenity Prayer is one we all need to pray, often.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen.

On this Monday morning, let me encourage you to HOPE. Here’s a word from the Word for the disappointed. Isaiah 40:30-31 reminds us that:

"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;  but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;  they will run and not grow weary,  they will walk and not be faint."

__________

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

(The hymn that celebrates God’s wonderful work for us)

Great is Thy faithfulness
O God my Father
There is no shadow
Of turning with Thee
Thou changest not
Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast beenThou forever wilt be

Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning
New mercies I see
All I have needed
Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me

Summer and winter
And springtime and harvest
Sun moon and stars
In their courses above
Join with all nature
In manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness
Mercy and love

Pardon for sin
And a peace that endureth
Thy own dear presence
To cheer and to guide
Strength for today
And bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine
With ten thousand beside

 Thomas Obediah Chisholm | William Marion Runyan © Words: Public Domain