Unintended Message
Have you ever tried to communicate something that makes perfect sense in your mind, but someone else sees it totally “wrong?” I often ask my ladies’ Bible class if what I am communicating makes sense to them because I have come to understand that my brain sometimes puts thoughts together a little differently from others.
Such is the case with my article a couple of weeks ago. While I got kind, positive feedback from some of you, one good friend told me it was depressing. Go figure. I was trying to encourage us to put in the work necessary to reach the highs of life that can only be found in God, and I used a metaphor that I enjoy – roller coasters.
You see, the friend who thought the article was depressing focused on a different aspect of the coaster metaphor. He focused on the inevitable plunge back down the hill and noted that yes, we do the work to make things better again, but we just fall back down.
I’d like to point out that in the roller coaster metaphor, we are looking at a finite situation. The tracks are already laid and no matter what efforts we make, we are destined for the ups and the downs. Here is the great news: that is not true in our spiritual lives! On our spiritual journey, we are choosing the direction and, if we are doing it correctly, we are allowing and asking God, the “founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2) to guide our efforts. If we are praying for things to be done according to God’s will, we need to remember that He “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). And that is true whether we are on the uphill climb or headed into a valley, even if the valley is of our own making by the sins we commit. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
In short, please understand that while sometimes life feels hard – ok actually is hard – as Christians, we are not coasting along alone. Hebrews 13:5 still ends with these words: “for He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” And that is encouraging no matter how you view it!
AUTHOR: Amber Tatum
