What are the things we believe in?
Not the spiritual entities or the religious rules exactly, but the simple,
everyday objects and concepts upon which we thoroughly rely. Perhaps sometimes
we don’t do it consciously, but we put our lives into these inanimate objects
without so much as a questioning glance. Things like cars, roofs, mankind’s
ability to stop at red lights, the purity of our drinking water, or simply the
chairs we sit in. We have complete and utter faith in the things we can see,
touch, feel with our hands. Why then is it so difficult to put this very basic
trust into the hands of the One who gave us our very breath?
I think we are obsessed with the
things we see. So much so, that whenever something is not in front of our eyes,
we have a hard time believing that it is actually there. If you have ever heard
the phrase, “I’d have to see it to believe it,” or, “Seeing is believing,” it
is evident that the majority of society thinks along these lines. After all,
you are the best judge…right?
See, when we get to a place where
we have set ourselves up on so high a pedestal that we consider ourselves the
ultimate authority (which is laughable compared to reality), we have to move
God from that position first. Like the subconscious act of placing faith in a
folding chair, we nudge God over and try to hold up the roofs in our lives on
our own. The problem is, when God sees our pathetic struggle for control and
decides to let us have a taste of our own medicine, things immediately begin to
shake. When God stops being the support beams, the whole structure comes
crashing down, and we are left in the midst of the broken rubble that was the
life we had tried to create ourselves.
That and the realization that our
strength alone is not strong enough.
We’ve all been there. Like a disobedient
child who has just brought the whole tray down on top of her head, we sit in a
heap on the floor, crying because of our brokenness and because the
consequences hurt.
But this is the best part.
This is when Daddy comes into the
room. At first we feel a little scared because…well, it’s Daddy! He’s the boss,
the judge, the maker-or-breaker of our days. He has the authority to inflict punishment
and the ability to extend forgiveness.
He looks around at what we have
done, seeing the mess, seeing our tears, but choosing not to pay them any heed
because He only truly sees one thing. Our hearts and everything Jesus came to
save, everything He created to be perfect and beautiful. Everything He loves
about us.
That’s when Daddy picks us up,
dusts us off, and after giving us a big hug, reminds us to listen to His words.
“Now then, my children,” He says, “listen to Me; blessed are those who keep My
ways. Listen to My instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. I know that you
aren’t perfect, though you always try to be, and that you will fail every time
you attempt to go off alone. But I do not look at these things, the things that
man looks at. Instead, I look at your heart, which is Mine and which I dearly
love. I paid the highest price imaginable for it, so I want you to take care of
it. Trust me. I know what My plans are for you, and they are all for your own
good.”
Drop whatever you’re doing right
now. Just do it.
Close your eyes, take a deep
breath, and give it all to Jesus. Forget all the clichés, ignore what others
would say or think, just stop trying to hold everything together because you
can’t do it. You were not meant to carry things all on your own. Talk to Him,
and give Him the reins. Then you will truly discover (or rediscover) the joy
that is life. J
