I found myself wanting to go deeper. We were cabin-camping with our kids this summer, which is always so fun—days filled with delightful chaos and a lot of banter. But I wanted to know what was going on in their hearts. I wanted to hear how they were doing and know they were okay.
Walking to the lake, trying to keep the three-year-old twins headed in the right direction while dodging youngsters driving ATV's way too fast, I sensed an opportunity to ask my son: "What have you learned over the last two decades that you'd like to tell your younger self?"
There was a long pause, long enough to begin wondering if he heard me.
"Don't get comfortable."
"Don't get comfortable?" I asked.
"Life doesn't go as you think. Things change."
Ah, yes. He was right—things certainly had changed. He, like all of us, entered adulthood with so many dreams. Rarely does life go as we'd expect. His words left me feeling a little sad about all of the changes he'd experienced.
The next morning, we went fishing early. It was one of those glorious mornings as the sun rose over the mountains. Bullfrogs sounding bass notes while chickadees sang the chorus, steam fog rising off the lake—it was so beautiful. But still I felt a mother's sadness lingering from the previous day's conversation. Don't get comfortable. Life takes abrupt turns. Broken dreams. "Lord..." I began, but my prayer was interrupted by Jesus. He spoke to me, louder than audible, right into my soul. "I love him with all my heart."
Yes! That's right. The Lord knows. He's in control. His love allows change—even broken dreams. We aren't victims of random malevolence. He loves my kids. His words were true.
Instantly, my sadness was gone, dissipated as the morning mist by the sun. We didn't catch any fish that morning, but I caught a glimpse of the Lord's work in my kids' lives. He's got them. I walked home different, lighter and full of gratitude. I could release them to his love.
Three words full of wisdom, truth I need to hear as well. Change is constant. Don't get too set, too comfortable. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Contemplate his beauty and hear his words of love. Jesus speaks to our soul's longings, reminding us he loves our loved ones as he loves us, with all his heart. And that's exactly what we need to hear.
Unearned suffering is redemptive. When we meet suffering with grace rather than bitterness, it transforms us into women our younger selves wouldn't recognize. So don't lose hope. God is at work in you, even in the mess—especially in the mess.
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When we contemplate the cross and the empty tomb, we are gazing at one of the great mysteries of our faith for which we are forever grateful.
Yet, there is so much going on in our world for us to cry about. As you consider what may be weighing on your soul, perhaps the ancient practice of lament that Julia describes will be a prayer practice you would like to try. Lament is our godly response to what's breaking our hearts.
God hears our cries.
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We often talk about the power of prayer and share stories about godly men and women who moved mountains with their prayers. In Jr. High, I remember reading a book on prayer that encouraged me to claim the promise of James 5:16, "The fervent, effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much." So, I prayed fervently, multiple times a day, the most effectual prayers I could
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But today, we are waiting in this world of trouble. We are waiting through cancer treatments and leukemia diagnoses, strokes and caregiving, waiting through mediation and ice storms, waiting through losses and sorrow, outrage at injustice, waiting and waiting for what's not right to be made right and Jesus to be revealed.
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"Only one life 'twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last." Life is brief; invest wisely. What we do for Jesus lasts—it's valued and rewarded if it's done because we love (1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 13:1-13).
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Yet we see Mary, graciously facing one hardship after another, one surprise after another, not seeking guarantees, but trusting.
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Something was missing! The way we had been discipled established a solid theological foundation, but it was incomplete. As many of us found, it left us focused on what was easy and external, while leaving unattended the weightier matters of the heart. Over and over, Jesus teaches us we need to pay attention to the inward movements of the heart. True growth happens in our inner spiritual life (see Matthew 23).
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We may not see God, but he is right next to us. We may feel alone, but we are not. We may get discouraged because we aren't seeing the results we had hoped for, but we press on.
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I like to have a plan and follow it. When we got married, we planned for me to finish college in two years and then work to support Kevin through seminary. Surprise. Within three months I was expecting a baby. We had to pivot. Kevin worked full-time while he went to seminary, and it took me fifteen years to finish college. Life doesn't always go as planned.
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If we keep our eyes on Jesus and imitate his humility, by his strength we can go the extra mile and not be willing to let anything or anyone divide us. Humbling ourselves is key—let's stay focused on Jesus.
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Advent for me is a time for pondering the tremendous mystery of the incarnation. The Source of all life takes on human flesh, develops in Mary’s womb, and is born a Jewish baby. How can this be?
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People who go the distance, who serve the Lord for their whole life, have a hopeful expectation that the Lord will be with them, will speak and guide them, day by day.
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Has God given you something to do during this season of your life?
Moses was in mid-life, tending his father-in-law’s sheep when God called him. Moses saw a bush on fire, but it wasn’t burning up. He could have ignored this oddity out in the desert, but instead he walked over to check it out. It was then the Lord called to him “Moses! Moses!” God told him he was standing on holy ground, then he said, “I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3). Moses couldn't believe what he was hearing, but our omniscient God had a plan.
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