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Misconceptions

On March 4th, 1933 President Franklin Roosevelt delivered his infamous “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” speech. One of the sentences from that oratory, that has always stuck with me is “Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment.” I’ve remembered it, because many a time, in life I’ve heard Christian speakers deliver messages about how the darkness can not overtake the believer. This message, as with many others, simply isn’t true. Christians can be overtaken by a moment – we’re human; and our faith even as strong as it maybe, still does not take away our humanity. I’ve experienced both the despair of darkness and the depression of feeling I’ve failed my Lord, by being in despair. It’s taken me years to realize that bad things do happen to people, and not because we’re in bad relationship with God. It’s life and because of the depravity of man, it has times of sorrow. How we respond is the real question.

Philippians 3:8
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

I wish that I could reach this level of consciousness. I strive to reach a juncture where the knowledge of Christ is so overwhelming that no matter the circumstance I have peace.

My Confession

In Graham Green’s book “The Legend of Peguy”; a Priest responds to a Frenchman with “You can’t conceive, my child, nor can I or anyone — the . . . appalling . . . strangeness of the mercy of God.” I’ve been part of great debates about pre-destination or not. I’ve heard convincing rhetoric about why God allows things to happen. None of these diatribes have greatly influenced me, when the nightmares occur. But this one point, has brought me great understanding: There is always someone worse off…there is always a situation worse than my own. Typically speaking, my difficult times are my own doing. For those remote times when difficult times occur, I am forced to remember that I have never been stoned for my beliefs, I have not had to watch my children executed in front of me, I have not had a child die in my arms because of hunger. I have not had to live in a box, or beg for money on a street corner. I have no idea how I will respond if those situations were to occur, but I know that in my pampered state in this civilization; I’ll be sure to blame someone else….maybe even God. This is my confession – I am striving, but have not obtained the faith of those who sang in the prison before their execution and rejoiced in death. I desire that, I do. I know that I can stand against peers, but that has been the height of my test. My convictions are stronger than most, but God doesn’t judge our hearts against others – does He?

I am Thankful

I am ever thankful that He has not challenged me with more than I’ve been able to bare. I am thankful for amazing family, the blessing He has given and the knowledge of who He is. I am frustrated that so many Christians are made to feel inadequate for failing in this area. God has more than enough grace to cover our fret and fear.

Matthew 6:25 and 26

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

I love this scripture. The same grace that comforts us, died for us and forgives us. I’ll keep striving for peace while giving grace for those who are also continuing in the same struggles.