The Goodness of Counseling
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The fireplace in my home is located in what I affectionately call the library. It’s actually a living room that used to function as a family room. Regardless, I love to sit in front of the warmth during winter and read a good, nourishing book. The light and heat from the fireplace warm me to the core. It’s remarkable what a good routine can do for the soul.
When I set myself in a posture of receiving goodness from the Lord, it can be incredibly uplifting and fruitful. Just as I choose my favorite, familiar spot in front of the fireplace to enjoy its warmth while reading, I can also place myself before the Lord to receive his goodness and draw strength from him in my life.
Recently, the word "goodness" has been on my mind. It’s a word—and a practice—that I have neglected. I admit that I often dwell on what’s wrong in my life, focusing on the difficulties. Though I generally stay in good spirits, these troubles can weigh me down, making life feel challenging.
However, the Lord is bringing goodness into my life. The question is: Am I open to receiving it?
One area of goodness I’ve experienced is confiding in a trusted advisor. I’ve heard it said that counseling can be a sacred spiritual practice for anyone, and I wholeheartedly agree.
Life often takes us to unexpected places, and these scenarios can be burdensome. Counseling provides a space to receive goodness; it encourages me and helps lay a stronger foundation in my soul by allowing me to listen to a perspective different from mine—one that contrasts with the thoughts running through my head.
Good counseling yields positive fruit. I wonder if you have experienced the benefits of good counseling—if you’ve had the opportunity to share your struggles with another committed believer and, in return, receive support in times of trial or, again, have a sacred space to be heard.
Counseling is merely one way I position myself to receive the Lord’s comforting warmth. While it is a significant way for me, I also find nourishment in attending church or having deep conversations with friends. Still, counseling remains irreplaceable in my life.
There is much discussion about the stigma surrounding counseling, and that may be part of my motivation for writing this piece. I want it to be normalized and viewed as a blessing, just as it has been for me. It is one of the best things I do, and it confirms that one perspective—my own—is insufficient. I need to hear wisdom from others and seek a broader understanding even beyond the familiar voices I have encountered throughout my life, however helpful they may be. I must open myself to receive more from the wider body of Christ.
Please understand that I don’t believe everyone must attend counseling; I don’t prescribe any such thing. I simply hope to help normalize it for those who want to experience its benefits. Counseling can correct misguided thinking, relieve pressure points, and bolster areas of discouragement.
Here I am, sharing only one practice that can lead us to the Lord’s goodness—there are countless others! Perhaps this piece will inspire you to think of other ways the Lord might bless your life as you walk with him in the upcoming year. If you are drawn to counseling, know you have a fellow traveler in me.
I believe the Lord is beckoning us to come to him, and he blesses the methods we use to seek him. He wants us to approach him and desires to flood our lives with his holy goodness. We live in a dark world that often promotes discouragement and disunity, but the Lord offers us peace, health, and comfort.
Maybe you are an emotive person, like I am, with complicated feelings. Perhaps, like me, you find that journaling alone isn’t enough. You might hear the Lord’s encouragement but need it confirmed through another soul. These are just some reasons why diligent believers may benefit from the sacred space counseling provides.
The warmth of the Lord is ready to meet you. If you feel stuck or are looking for a way to express your true feelings and thoughts, consider what counseling has done for me: it has allowed me to receive goodness. Be encouraged.
Rejoice and Remember
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The first snow of this year took me by surprise. I looked out the window, and behold! Small, tender, and robust flakes were falling to the ground. Some landed softly, while others melted away into the warmer landscape.
This Christmas season has also caught me off guard. I held on to the summer months as long as possible, keeping our pool open well into September to enjoy every 80-degree day. Fall brought apple orchards into view, and then, behold! It is Christmas. This time of year fills me with various emotions, but primarily this year, I wonder: Am I doing enough?
Am I doing enough to welcome this season of wonder and excitement? Even gift shopping seemed effortless this year. Everything has come easily. But still, I ask myself: Am I doing enough?
I am asking the Lord that question, and I believe he is guiding me to understand: My modest preparations and my surprise at this season are truly sufficient. What guides this season for me is contemplating the baby in the manger. The essence of Christmas doesn’t require elaborate feelings or preparations, only a heart that rejoices and remembers.
Those twin words—rejoice and remember—surround my Christmas season this year. I am released from the pressure; it’s okay that I haven’t felt great anticipation at Christ’s coming. It’s alright that my preparations have been simple. It’s even okay that I prefer the warmth of summer swimming to winter’s snowfall, as lovely as it is from my family room window.
Rejoice and remember. Let me elaborate.
This year, I want to rejoice that Jesus came. Rejoice! He has come to free the world, offer himself, and make all things new and right again—a promise for the future. He has come to bless all who call upon his Name. So, I can rejoice that Jesus has come. I will tuck that thought into the folds of my Bible and take it out each day—rejoice.
And then there is remember. This word is filled with significant thoughts about what Jesus came to do. He came to save me from my sins. Just this morning, the Lord filled my heart with joy and peace as I remembered that I am clean, whole, perfected, and seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). I can easily forget this. My Bible study group knows I can be hard on myself for my sins. I often speak about losing patience with myself when I struggle with issues I thought were resolved. Instead, I can remember. Jesus’ purpose was to seek and save the lost—gloriously, he came to seek and save me.
There are all sorts of ways to celebrate Christmas. I hold no animosity toward lengthy preparations or detailed lists. I have no disapproval for the season’s festivities, nor do I disagree with the wonder that especially captivates children as they admire the lights and experience the traditions of Christmas. I am thankful for all of these aspects when they come.
But this year, I have been brought back to the basics, which is good for me.
What is resonating with you this year as you consider your Christmas celebrations? What meditations are on your heart? Is the Lord asking you to simplify your routine? Or perhaps you have your own essentials from him to embrace.
Whatever is mainly on your heart as Christmas approaches, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect deeply. Put down your phone, turn off the television, quiet your spirit from responsibilities, and ponder.
Indeed, this season teaches us that reflection is a worthy goal.
This Christmas, as I wait for the summer sun to return, I reflect on the joy and freedom that Christmas brings. I contemplate how the sun shines in my life today, refreshing my soul. The Lord has given us the greatest gift (2 Corinthians 9:15). We know this because we will praise him forever for what he has done. Forever.
The words of the following verse are on my tongue as I bring my Christmas reflections before me: “Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:78-79). The sunrise has come. The verse that precedes states the reason: “To give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins” (Luke 1:77).
Rejoice and remember, friends, the tender ways of the Lord in bringing us the gift of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, now and forevermore.
Assurances from Scripture for When Difficulties Overwhelm
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Sometimes, we all feel like we need a little extra help. Because this is true, Scripture reminds us to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).
So, here’s a list of encouragements for those moments when life feels particularly complicated, and burdens seem too heavy to bear alone—reminders from my heart to yours:
The Lord listens to the brokenhearted and hears their cries (Psalm 34:18).
He weeps with us during grief and times of loss (John 11:35).
The Lord is an ever-present help in times of trouble and heartache (Psalm 46:1).
His eyes are on the upright; he is attentive to their cries (Psalm 34:15).
When life's pains overwhelm us, the Spirit groans our feelings to the Father (Romans 8:26).
In moments when stress feels overwhelming, the Lord shows patience and kindness (Psalm 145:8).
When concerns seem insurmountable, we can be comforted by the knowledge that the Lord knows the future and everything to come (Isaiah 46:10).
When we feel too weak to take the next step, the Lord understands our need for rest (Matthew 11:28).
There is rest for the weary in the arms of the Lord; he is a refuge for all who come to him (Psalm 91:2).
The Lord provides a way out when sin or temptation seems too strong to overcome (1 Corinthians 10:13).
When guilt from past sins leads to deep regret, the Lord replaces that sorrow with the joy of forgiveness and cleansing (Psalm 32:1).
The Lord knows everything we need before we even tell him what's on our hearts (Matthew 10:29-31).
When life takes a dark turn, or depression weighs heavily on us, we can trust that the Lord is our help (Psalm 28:7).
The Lord listens to our prayers and knows everything in our hearts (Psalm 139:4).
The greatness of the Lord offers comfort when life's limitations are clear (Psalm 145:3).
Nothing is too difficult for the Lord; with him, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).
When the Lord doesn't remove our hardships but helps us through them, we can be assured that we are moving forward in closeness with him (Isaiah 50:10).
Even when we lack the words to express ourselves, we can rest assured that the Lord Jesus intercedes for us in the heavenly places as our perfect Mediator (Romans 8:34).
When we are uncertain about what God is doing in our lives, we can trust that everything will ultimately resolve for good (Romans 8:28).
When the Lord seems distant, we have his Word to guide us step by step (Psalm 119:105).
The Lord himself is the friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24; John 15:15).
Nothing can separate the believer from the love of the Lord, even when personal sin seems to distance the relationship (Romans 8:38).
When the Lord works in our lives, light shines from darkness, and peace emerges from distress (John 1:5).
When we sin and fall short, the Lord is kind to us, drawing us to repentance (Romans 2:4).
The Lord is a strong tower for those who are righteous by faith—a refuge of peace amid any circumstance (Proverbs 18:10).
Scripture is filled with reminders of the Lord’s kindness and assurances that we are never alone when our burdens feel heavy. We must seek out these Scriptures to be reminded of the Lord’s greatness, kindness, and love.
When we distance ourselves from Scripture, we often fail to see all that the Lord offers, along with the reasons behind our distress—a fallen world that will one day be restored. By not approaching the Lord and his Word, we miss the opportunity for cleansing and renewal in our walks with him.
Yet, the Lord is faithful to lead us home. The one who seeks him will never be put to shame, for the Lord will draw near. I understand this life can feel long with its hardships, waiting, pain, and darkness. But I have come to realize that there is always light from the Lord available to us each day (Psalm 18:28).
He desires to show you his faithfulness. He wants to take you by the hand and guide you through your burdens. Bring your troubles to the Lord and be filled with the assurances of Scripture that he is near. Speak your specific concerns to him, and he will listen. Wait upon the Lord to carry you through your circumstances while faithfully seeking him. Rest in his unfailing heart for you, especially when you don’t see the next step. And remember, relief is coming; he is actively working.
'24 Reads
Reading is an abiding joy in my life. I read to learn, feel, understand, enjoy, and stretch my mind. So, I consume various books, mixing theology with classics, Christian living with current affairs, and more.
I enjoy seeing what others are reading and how others are reacting to their books; I get ideas for my reading plans through what others pick up. So, I’m here to join the conversation. Here’s a portion of what I read and enjoyed in 2024—in no particular order:
A Change of Heart: A Personal and Theological Memoir, by Thomas Oden
In the early middle of one’s life, it is humbling to read an entire life unfolding in a few sittings—especially one of such vigorous theological activity as Oden’s. Most moving for me was his ultimate personal adherence to Christ's historical resurrection and his commitment not to make any new contribution to theology. I saw through his writing and development the demise of modernity: “Four typically modern figures that identify the four movements going downhill since 1968 are naturalistic reductionism (Darwin), narcissistic hedonism (Freud), autonomous individualism (Nietzsche) and property redistribution by elites who factor their own interests first (Marx).” And I appreciated his finding: “Catholics accused Protestants of ignoring good works, while Protestants accused Catholics of making good works the basis of salvation. The consensual patristic writers corrected both of those tendencies.”
Help for the Hungry Soul, by Kristen Wetherell
If your Bible reading feels dull or flat, this is the spiritual pep talk you might need. I have been in a season of richness in Bible reading and connection with Jesus (praise God!). Still, I eagerly reached for my Bible after finishing this book. I found it well-written and sound. Here are three quotes I especially enjoyed from this work:
“I thought that by opening my Bible I was seeking something good and right to do, rather than primarily seeking someone to love.”
“Oh, that we would not miss Jesus! For if we miss him, we miss life itself.”
“God’s words are purposeful, nourishing, and invaluable. They are worth trusting, for God’s words come from God’s heart.”
Are We Living in the Last Days?, by Bryan Chapell
I was impressed by the detail and description in a book that was a primer on the end times. The teaching I received in my undergraduate degree was refreshed and augmented with new facts and realities. I am grateful. For me, the arguments about the hermeneutical processes of the amillennial are worth exploring in more depth. I am a premillennialist who sees more separation between Israel and the Church than the amillennialist might see. However, overall, the book had a fair and even-handed approach to describing end times views. I would recommend this book readily!
Waiting Isn’t a Waste, by Mark Vroegop
This book took the posture of a friend and guided me through the purposeful work of waiting. Though Vroegop wrote and included many poignant quotes—lending understanding to my soul such that my eyes grew wet—the overall takeaway I had was that waiting is the process of trusting actively in the presence of God. Delay is part of life. Yet, so is God’s presence. So, all is genuinely okay.
Hillbilly Elegy, by J. D. Vance
I read Hillbilly Elegy because of the rise to prominence J. D. Vance has experienced in the Republican Party. I know that Vance wanted to advance more than the ideals of a functioning family. I know that he wanted to advance more than the impressive character of a country that can allow for achievement and change of circumstances. I know Vance wanted to portray more than the need for a stable living situation as a child. I know. But these I walked away with. For these reasons and more, this book is worth reading.
Pierced by Love, by Hans Boersma
This book captures a process I am drawn to when reading the biblical text. Research and study serve the objective of meeting Christ through the Scriptures. The Scriptures transform us, leading us to sorrow over personal sin. They lift us to the light of grace—of eternal relief. And then, they lead us to the contemplation of God himself. Using the four rungs of a ladder, Boersma lifts the tradition of lectio divina from Church history, the four rungs being lectio (reading), meditatio (meditation), oratio (prayer), and contemplatio (contemplation). The author frequently uses the sense of being pierced by Love—pierced by Christ—whether by sorrow over sin and suffering or by joy.
But most notably, he pulls from tradition that the cross and passion of Jesus are central to this practice. Jesus will come to us through his Word, which he communicates to our souls as we silence ourselves before his divine communication. The book has enriched and grown my understanding of how to approach the Scriptures. I focus on the text's literal meaning and see what God is teaching me there through the greater narrative of Scripture. This practice of lectio divina is worth adopting and often speaks to my natural disposition before the Word.
The Lord of Psalm 23: Jesus Our Shepherd, Companion, and Host, by David Gibson
I will let a few quotes speak to this blessed book:
“Athanasius said, ‘Most of Scripture speaks to us; the Psalms speak for us.’”
“It is a wonder that we have a shepherd; it is a great wonder that the shepherd we have is ‘the Lord.’”
“When all is said and done, the point of everything is not warfare and the clash of good and evil but fellowship and feasting.”
“The greatest of hosts himself prepared the most lavish of feasts for the lowliest of creatures. How amazing it is that the Lord of heaven should be seen here spreading his fame in all the earth by wanting to be known as a certain kind of host.”
Justification: An Introduction, by Thomas R. Schreiner
This book highlights the righteousness of God in his saving acts. He must save righteously. There was a brief overview of the new perspective on Paul. There were also some helpful words about what the Reformation taught as faith, found in his discussion about Paul and James. Faith is the cord that transmits the electricity of salvation. And justification, then, allows us to rest. Here is a quote that I highlighted:
“True faith as the Reformers emphasized includes notitia, assensus, and fiducia. Notitia has to do with what we must know to believe, specifically that Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead for the sake of sinners. But knowing such facts isn’t enough to bring salvation. One must also assent (assensus) to these truths and actually believe them. One may know that there is a vaccine for polio but refuse to believe it. Still even assensus isn’t enough for salvation; fiducia is also required. Perhaps the best word to describe fiducia is trust, where one gives oneself to Jesus Christ, where one relies on him for deliverance. For Paul faith involves all three of these realities, and he particularly emphasizes fiducia, entrusting oneself to Jesus Christ.”
The Good Gift of Weakness, by Eric Schumacher
For me, the value of this book was not any one point in particular. Nothing stands out that I haven’t thought of or been taught previously. However, the value and conclusion of this book are based on the theme of weakness throughout Scripture. On a deeper emotional level, I am convinced that God wants me weak before him. And I am more convinced than ever that any strength is due him. When I experience personal weakness, I am living out the theme of the Scriptures that weakness is where God is glorified in me. Therefore, I honestly can echo the Apostle Paul’s words that I boast in my weakness. I view this book as an extended Scriptural meditation or sermon on this theme that has created a prayerfully lasting impression in my spirit. I’m glad I read it.
The Death of Ivan Ilych, by Leo Tolstoy
This novella was instructive. The viewpoint of impending death considers the course of one’s life. Relationships, work, and religion all play their part in consideration. Why was this work instructive? It was a reminder of what one thinks about when one is about to die. Those thoughts are always fruitful for me.
The Bruised Reed, by Richard Sibbes
Jesus is tender with us when our sins bruise us. He is tender not only once we are righted but also while we are being righted. He shows us the truth and gently picks us up when we see how wounded we are by our sins. If you have trouble believing this, read Sibbes. I will return to this book’s principles often and resist the urge to be strict and condemning toward myself, where Jesus lifts and restores. He is a beautiful Savior.
To Gaze Upon God, by Samuel G. Parkison
The beatific vision is not a doctrine to which I had previously given much thought. I don’t remember it being mentioned, or mentioned as such, in my formal education. Though, indeed, its underlying tenets were there. But this book opened up the history, development, and depth of this topic for me. I did not, for example, know that it amounted to more than the glorious expectation of seeing God face-to-face. More is involved. I would highly recommend this work and do so as a layperson coming to grips afresh with the distinctions raised about this doctrine. The journey was both intellectually stretching and spiritually edifying.
A Slow Drift
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There are seasons of time when I especially want to be in the presence of the Lord. I am in one of them right now.
I want to soak up his goodness and receive all the kindness and love he has given me.
But this wasn’t always the case.
I wasn’t always as close to the Lord as I am now.
I once let other desires and affections rule in my heart. I loved the things of the world more than the things of the Lord (in practice, though not in underlying dedication).
This bore itself out in my quiet times, which were essentially nonexistent. I would rarely open my heart to the Lord or go to him for comfort. Because of my distance, I thought of him primarily as a Judge. My sin tainted my view of him because I knew the judgment I deserved.
What made this time in my life worse was that I often pretended to be okay. I pretended to be close to the Lord because, well, all my life, I had imagined myself close to the Lord. But this time of life was different. My soul was dry, and I was feeding off things that were not my Lord.
I confess these things to you because I imagine we are all susceptible to these seasons of drift. I hope that you don’t experience one. But I know I didn’t expect it; I hardly noticed it and didn’t see it coming beforehand.
And that, my friends, is frightening.
It is frightening to think we can have our hearts pulled away from the Lord while assuming ourselves close to the Lord. It is alarming that this kind of self-deception exists. The Lord wants our hearts.
Thankfully, the Lord woke me up. I distinctly remember praying and hiding my sin from the Lord—and feeling his disapproval. He wanted me to always acknowledge my sin before him. That was step one.
The Lord has always been precious to me. I didn’t want to admit I had wronged him, and I still don’t. But to be honest and authentic with the Lord, we must sometimes do what we don’t want. We must accept responsibility for our sins before him.
As I have said, that is step one.
The next step for me was to receive his grace immediately. He was quick in giving it to me. He was not reticent to demonstrate his forgiveness. They came immediately. They came before I fully accepted my responsibility for my sin. Even before I could fully admit that I had indeed drifted from the Lord, he reassured me that he would not leave me. Once I confessed my responsibility, he accepted me—it is as though he congratulated me on doing the one thing pleasing to him that I had been so reluctant to do.
He congratulates me on a job well done when I admit my responsibility for my own sin. Think of this—this is the Lord! He is always gracious and close to the humble. I do not call myself humble, but acknowledging my own sin is a humble act that I needed help to achieve. This is the very act that ushered me closer to the Lord.
After that, it was also all grace. He ushered me into his presence to bless me. He dazzled me with his kind treatment, love for me, acceptance of me, and sheer character and existence. As an admitted sinner, I fell for him—like never before, forgiven and welcomed near.
And now, it is as though his greatness in my heart has crowded out those desires of the world. My loves are much more rightly ordered. My love for him is assuredly supreme. My heart requires work—hard work. It did not come to me correctly aligned. It has been a work of God to help me understand what it means to love him first and with all of me. I, of course, am not perfect in this. But I have experienced what the love of God does in the heart by expelling sin.
This only happened in stages, was gradual, and was a work. His love is still ordering me, but I am not drifting now.
The kindness of the Lord is so lovely to me. His riches of mercy that are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23) on this earthly journey are like a cloak or covering over me, sheltering me from the world. Every morning, I need to know that my story with him continues—that he will still do this ordering work within me. And he does. I used to dread the Lord in a way; I was afraid in an unhealthy manner because I had not fully encountered his kindness. I needed to lay myself before him and have faith that he rewards those who humbly seek him (Hebrews 11:6).
Communicating with the Lord
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When I communicate with the Lord, I have been brought to a place of friendship.
Perhaps that feels wrong to you. Maybe you feel like, if you fear the Lord as you ought, you should approach him only in reverence.
I understand. I used to write prayers full of carefully crafted words. I would polish my sentences, check for theological precision, and form what I hoped had some eloquence for the Lord.
But I wasn’t bringing him my heart.
Now, my prayers are much more feelings-oriented. I tell him how I am doing and bring him my feelings. I confess feelings I wish I didn’t have, which I know aren’t right, good, beautiful, true, or pure.
In this way, I speak to him as a friend.
This is part of what Hebrews 4:16 means when it says we should confidently approach the throne. I think of how Moses spoke to the Lord as a friend (Exodus 33:11). Now, marvel of marvels, we are all invited to do so through Christ (John 15:15).
We can come near, as we are. And, he takes this lump of clay and molds me. I love the feeling of being shaped by his hands. I love the sense of his mercy and grace pouring over my sin to heal it and set me in the right direction.
I think of this verse in Psalms: “Instead, his delight is in the LORD’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night” (Psalm 1:2 CSV).
The instruction of the Lord has become my delight. It sounds counter-intuitive, in a way. How is instruction my delight? Is that not relegated to the area of rote duty? How is instruction a pure joy? It comes down to two realities, at least. First, it feels right to be righted. When we learn righteousness, it feels like we are becoming more like the selves we were created to be. We are growing up in righteousness rather than being denigrated by sin. Our joints are being put back into place. And second, it brings pleasure to God when we are righted. And that is the goal and aim of our lives.
When I pray to God now, I long for righteousness and companionship.
When polishing my words for him, I missed relating with him. I missed the fact that I was communicating with Someone. It was more soliloquy than dialog. But now, I understand what the psalmist is ever doing. The psalmist brings “complaints” to the Lord to be heard by a Person: “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears” (Psalm 34:17a).
The psalmist responds to being heard by having faith and affirming trust in the Lord, which perhaps wasn’t there in the psalmist’s heart before the conversation started. Prayer creates faith, I believe.
It is a friend who wants to hear of the heart's inner workings. It is a friend with whom you can be yourself. It is a friend who will listen to your concerns. It is a deep and dear friend who will help right what has been wronged in you. It is a kind friend who will comfort you.
And, all the while, this friend is God, who beckons trust from our inward parts.
My prayer practice has completely changed over the past several years; because of it, I am different.
I am not left to deal with my feelings myself. Prayer invites total honesty that works with me and works on me. I am heard and righted.
When I don’t see through situations to resolution, prayer reminds me of the work God does on my behalf to make a way before me. I am less anxious—and less apt to make poor decisions based on my limited knowledge.
Prayer is the practice that means I am kept company by the Lord. I am in the presence of a God who wants to hear from me. I learned to bring my concerns to God as a child, but as an adult, I forgot it. Now, I know that God wants to hear even the details that seem insignificant. I am listened to in full.
I want to know the Lord more and have gotten to know him more once I prepared for an actual exchange, an encounter, an honest dialog. Prayer is not so complicated. But the Lord likes us to go with a bit of faith: faith that he wants to hear from us and will meet with us.
For Such a Life
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Jesus has been teaching me about relaxing and enjoying. My Bible study has been about delighting in Jesus and finding my joy and treasure in him. And the sin that I have been convicted of as of late is holding onto the negative—instead of striving for the joy. I imagine these lessons will be coming toward me in various ways over the next several weeks (months? years?). I am reminded that we do not grow instantly. I want results. But, it’s okay that it will take me some time to reorient my worst-case-scenario thinking.
Jesus wants it to be abundantly clear to my spirit that I have plenty that is full of joy in my life. One area that comes to mind especially is ample time to do as I please. This is a luxury. And I know that not all have it. That makes me want to enjoy it all the more. That podcast episode that I want to hear? I can make time for it. That book that I have started? I am going to be able to finish it, Lord willing. The reflection that I want to do over this blog and its direction? I will be able to sit and pray/ contemplate.
Ample time for leisure and desired activities is not a luxury I have always had, and not one that all share. It is born partly from having one child to raise who is in school all day, partly from having left the workforce when we moved from Texas to Illinois a few years ago, and partly from the fact that I have graduated now from my master’s program in theological studies that took me many years to complete. I am not used to not having pressing needs or deadlines—but here I am. Most of all, this time comes from the sovereign hand of God in my life—the God who puts the journal in front of me and nudges my spirit to write my thoughts before him, the God who fills my mind with curiosities about what I will read or discover next, and the God who is with me even as I write these words.
My temptation is to feel like I am not productive if I am not working toward a goal. I have been achievement-oriented to a fault. Not having goals, I have been bracing for falling off some arbitrary mental ledge. But instead, Jesus is working this achievement orientation out of me with this great grace: with thoughts of relaxation and enjoyment. Have you noticed too how gracious Jesus works sins out of our lives—with kindness and mercies?
What if being productive is not the call of God on my life at this time? Author Chelsea Sobolik recently wrote about the difference between calling and assignment. My calling is love: toward God and others. But, in short, my assignment at this time is to this simple, quiet life. Sobolik referenced a verse that I often call to mind: “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you” (1 Thess. 4:11). This is my quiet little life. God has brought it to me. And, it ought to be my ambition to live it—not only that, but to live it with great joy.
When I delight in the life God has given me, I am honoring and blessing him. I am proclaiming my contentment. I am blessing the hand that set me here. And, I am honoring the wisdom that is giving me these lessons, and not others—these days, and not busy days. Let me make the most of this time, of these quiet days, of the work that I do with my hands here and now.
How could I not want to linger with God over the pages of Scripture and deepen my faith through reading the works of others? How could I not want to sit right here in this desk chair, looking out at my wooded, peaceful backyard that will soon be full of spring, and not want to glorify my Maker for such a life?
He Is Faithful through the Cross
Jesus is a faithful friend. We think about it. But do we know it? Do we remember how faithfully he set himself down for us, so that we could be lifted up? Do we know how resoundingly he said yes to death so that we could live?
The Sacred Cross
At times, I think about the cross, and I hold myself back from it. I think it too holy, too bold, too grand. I fear having the wrong thoughts about the cross—I fear trivializing it in any way. But, that means that my heart is sometimes far from the cross.
I think of Paul’s words that he was determined in his ministry to know nothing but Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). That determination challenges me. My spiritual caution can cause me to do exactly what I fear. My caution with Jesus in my thought can then create distance between me and the cross I love.
Jesus is so precious to me that I hold him far from me because I know that my mind is not worthy of thoughts of the cross. My heart feels too feeble and inadequate to grasp what Jesus did for humanity.
But Jesus wants me to proceed anyway. His thoughts toward me are faithful love, and merciful lovingkindness. He wants me to dwell upon the reasons for his faithfulness: that he won me as his own child through the cross that feels too great for my person.
Jesus calls me near through the cross. Even though I keep him at a distance, he is faithful to bring the cross near. How can I do justice to that which confounds me and silences my spirit? How can I do justice to that which is more beautiful than I can express?
I Will Be Thankful for the Cross for Eternity
I need to let notions of eternity do their job in me. They have a role. And, that role is to allow for an expression of thanksgiving—to allow my imagination to receive that the cross is what I will honor forever. I need not fear, I need not keep the cross at a distance from my heart, because I will be able to express my thanks forever. When this life’s love for the cross feels inadequate, I will have eternity.
His faithfulness will never end. Even in all that eternity long, the cross will never cease to save me. There will not be a moment in eternal glory when the cross will fail to bring me at one with God—at total peace. Eternity will not change; I will have life forever. And that, that is a faithful love.
Setting the Cross Before Me
When I set the cross before my eyes—when I dare—I do not know how to react. Do I cry? Do I smile? Both? I am stunned. I don’t want to see him there: I don’t want to see my precious Lord hanging upon that tree.
But then, I am reminded of two truths. First, I remember when Jesus told Peter to get behind him (Matthew 16:23)—all in response to Peter being a stumbling block concerning Jesus’ most important work on earth. Second, I am reminded that Jesus is not hanging on the tree any longer.
You see, I need to let it have happened, like Jesus insisted to Peter that it must happen. I need to allow the truth of the historicity of the cross to be my reality—that it was God’s foreordained reality. And then, I need to remember that Jesus doesn’t suffer there anymore—and never will again. He is eternally glorified.
I am not sure that I would have been a help to Jesus had I walked among him. I wouldn’t have wanted for him what he needed to do—and indeed did for joy (Hebrews 12:2). Had I understood, would I have submitted to seeing my precious Lord hanging upon the tree? Not without anguish.
This I can remember: he hung upon the cross for me and for joy—because it was necessary to save me. Only he could be the second, better Adam. Only he could become the firstfruits and new representative of the human race so that all could be saved through him.
Thankfully, I never had to hear from Jesus: “get behind me Satan,” as Peter heard from our Lord. Thankfully, I did not have to witness the death of my Lord. Thankfully, I live in the time past the crucifixion and need not dwell upon any image that has him still on the cross. The cross is bare, as the tomb is empty. And that is very good news.
Conclusion
Jesus is faithful; he is faithful to let me mull, over time and eternity, the reality of such a sacrifice. He is faithful to bring pieces of the cross to my remembrance so that I can live with it before my eyes. He is faithful to remind me that he is now honored forevermore. He is faithful with my slowness of spirit to care for me in all of my concerns—my sorrow over his suffering and my fear that I cannot receive all of the immense meaning the cross brings into my life.
I don’t like to look at the Savior suffering. It is not pleasant to my thought. But he did it for the joy. And so, I can think of the joy it brings too. This piece of the cross God sets before me now: the joy that he is faithful to me forever through it. And, he will yield praise from me in his time and his way, as he deals with me. He is faithful to give me eternity to thank him for the tree.
My Works Have Nothing to Do With It
“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast,” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
God gives us the gift of rest in his grace. I have been wondering how to have bold faith to fight my sin and bold grace in my life. How do the two interact? The truth is that I am always able to fight sin from the standpoint of rest. I have grace to set my head down upon, to recline upon. I always know what God’s answer will be for me when I go to him for forgiveness—it will always be grace. I can fight sin boldly knowing that I already have the complete forgiveness of God for all of my past and all of my earthly future.
I have a solidity of rest in this grace because I know that my works do not sway the hand or viewpoint of God. He has set himself for me in Christ, and this disposition is not going to change. Grace is as sure as the righteousness of Christ is complete. And, that is a place where there will be no shifting in God. Grace is foundational to my every breath and step as a Christian. If we are not living from grace, we are not living from the gospel. If we do not have a bold confidence in grace, then we are misunderstanding how the gospel is meant to inform our very lives.
I am thoroughly convinced that God wants us to make grace our haven. It is surely ours; we do not have to be timid about it. We know that his grace will meet all of our needs—and that it is a gift he will not be taking back from us. Rest in grace, reader. Rest in his gift that is not of yourself. It is heavenly and glorious—there is simply nothing like it.
Dear Jesus, my Lord, I thank you for the gift of grace that did not come from me and my works. I can live confidently because I know that your grace is my foundation and my footing. I can boldly fight the sin in my life because I am rested in my being through the gift of grace that will never leave. I thank you for such a peace and such a strength. My works have nothing to do with it—and that is the blessed eternal truth. Amen.
My Ten Favorite Books I Read for Seminary
As a recent seminary graduate, I have taken some time to reflect on my courses at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (where I took 14 credits) and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (where I finished the majority of my degree).
In terms of overall experience, my favorite classes were: The Problem of Evil, Psalms, Ethics, The Theology of Jonathan Edwards, and American Evangelicalism (whose books I excluded from the list below because they’re discussed here).
Favorite course books (below) are drawn from Hermeneutics, Systematic Theology, Introduction to Missiology, Ethics, New Testament, The Theology of Jonathan Edwards, and The Problem of Evil.
From Eden to the New Jerusalem, by T. Desmond Alexander
An insightful and compelling telling of the storyline of the Bible from beginning to end
40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible, by Robert L. Plummer
Solid and conservative answers to issues of Bible interpretation; highly recommend
The Holy Spirit: Theology for the People of God, by Gregg R. Allison and Andreas J. Kostenberger
A captivating read about the ministry of the Holy Spirit
Christian Mission: A Concise Global History, by Edward L. Smither
An overview of the history of Christian missions that is highly readable and delightful
The Abolition of Man, by C. S. Lewis
Lays the philosophical groundwork for objectivity as the basis for moral feelings and attitudes
Natural Law: A Brief Introduction and Biblical Defense, by David Haines and Andrew A. Fulford
Two metaphysical principles and one epistemological principle necessary for the philosophical foundation of natural law
Liberty for All, by Andrew Walker
How a government understands its relationship to temporal and ultimate authority
Jonathan Edwards, by Iain Murray
A detailed, inspiring overview of the life of Jonathan Edwards
Jesus's Final Week: From Triumphal Entry to Empty Tomb, by William F. Cook
An enlightening examination of the final week of Christ, harmonizing the gospel accounts
Where Is God: A Personal Story of Finding God in Grief and Suffering, by John S. Feinberg
A thoughtful and unique contribution to material on the religious problem of evil (as opposed to the theological/ philosophical problem of evil)
The Darkness of Self-centeredness Flees
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
Jesus shines. The Scriptures will never let us overlook the truth that Jesus shines in the darkness. Jesus shone in a world filled with hopelessness, strife, and self-righteousness. So, he and his ways shine in our lives when we feel the tinges of all of those areas of darkness, and more. Jesus shines to show us the way to the Father.
Jesus came to be a light for our world. And, think of how the world needs the Lord Jesus. Self reigns in the world—and self-focused thinking creeps into our Christianity too. But, God did not make us to focus on self; he made us to focus on our God and live for him. He made us to find a way of life that could benefit others and heft all of the praise of our lives onto God, and not onto ourselves.
When we start thinking highly of ourselves, darkness creeps into our lives. When we fail to give God the thanks for the accomplishments we accrue, darkness creeps into our lives. When we think that we are great and fail to see ourselves in light of the true greatness of God, again, darkness creeps into our lives. We were not made for these loads of darkness. Only the light of the knowledge of God will free us. When Jesus comes, he sweeps through our minds and reorients our thinking. Our gifts, our good accomplishments, our abilities—they all come from God without whom we would have nothing.
The light of Jesus shines in the darkness of self-centeredness. It tears us away from what we thought we needed—to become great and accomplished in this world. His light causes us to accept his purposes for our lives, even when we won’t accomplish what we wanted, what we hoped, what we conceived of. Jesus’ way is better because it’s all about him. And fear not—though the darkness of self-centeredness is great, the light of God is greater—and it truly does change us.
My dear Jesus, I am sorry for the ways that I have lived for myself. I am sorry for the ways I have thought of myself instead of you. I am sorry for the ways that I have sought greatness or grandness. I am sorry. You are great, and your light makes this darkness in my life flee. You love faithfulness to you, and seeking your honor and glory down into the very corners of my life. You love when all of the greatness and glory are ascribed to you. And this is truly a different way of life—to live for you first. It is a blessed way of life. Let me take it up all the more. Correct me and be the light for my path, my Savior, I ask. Amen.
He Is Our Blessing
We are blessed to know Jesus. He is Lord of lords and King of kings. He is also the prize of our souls, the treasure of our beings, the pearl worth it all. Jesus is the treasure of our beings because he is so worthy.
One day, I went to ask Jesus: what is the reason for my life—please refresh me in the truth today? And, he replied that he is the reason for my life—his worthiness is the blessing of my days and the reason my life has meaning.
That we can know the King is marvelous and wonderful. What else can I say? Knowing Jesus is greatest pleasure—perfect and holy.
He is the blessing of our lives and souls. Jesus is remarkable to know. He is trustworthy with our emotions. He is tender with them, leading us on paths of hope and righteousness. He is worthy of our time; we will not regret one moment spent with Jesus. He is worthy of our investment of money—no amount too much to be poured out for him. He is worthy of our worship—plain and simple. He wants to be the subject of our obsession, as we lay ourselves at his feet.
Knowing Jesus is greatest gain. He reveals to us the Father, and we are filled with his Spirit to know him more and more. When Jesus is invited into our inner lives through prayer and the work of studying the Word, we are filled with endless joy. Jesus is the joy of our lives; we were made to know him. He is a pleasure to know, always filling us with good things. By contrast the thief steals and destroys. But Jesus gives abundant life.
I think of eternity in how we will need no more sun because the Lord Jesus himself will be our light. What wonder! To think of this reality fills my soul with praise. Jesus will take up the center of the new earth and heavens with a visibly glorious reality. We will need no more sun. We will behold his luminance, as he is the light of our very days. He will shine like all of the treasure of existence. He will be our greatest blessing.
And now, think of that reality as applicable to this day as a symbol. Think of Jesus shining to be your truest blessing in all of life. He loves to be sought over and over and over in our lives and days. We can return to him always to seek life and purpose, to seek hope and peace. And, he always gives. Days can drag; times can become weary. We can feel like the light has gone out from our eyes. But with Jesus, minute by minute, we have the strength to traverse these days of life. He is our true blessing.
In him, we behold the perfect Person who always treats us well—far better than we deserve. He delights to give us life and purpose and hope and peace. He delights to be the reason why we live our days. And too, his holiness is remarkable. He keeps himself separate from the evils of this world; we can always look to him as high and holy—the God who is forever set apart and gloriously good. We can trust his ways and his decisions for us because we know that he is perfect and our minds cannot comprehend him.
So, in the unknowns we can have a point of worship. We set down our own faulty reasoning and trust that there is a God who is true and real and good and pure and holy—and we can worship him as such. That is deep and rich blessing. We are stunned by his greatness, this one who invites us to be his friend.
Jesus Christ is our blessing because he is near and because he is transcendent. He is beyond what our imaginations could conjure. He is beyond what our senses can discern. He is beyond what we can think or hope. And still, he draws near to us as we draw near to him. He is our perfect friend and our holy brother, taking humanity upon himself and making himself obedient to death for our sakes.
We have a perfect friend who died for us. We have a perfect friend who lives, and is our holiness and righteousness, such that we need not fear a holy God. He welcomes us with his grace and mercy—a tool for each hand to draw us near to his holy throne room. He has made us renewed and refreshed and, most of all, made new through his work on our behalf. He is, surely, our greatest blessing. He has told us forever who he is—the great and glorious, the one lowly and humble. He condescends to spend eternity with us. He condescends to call us his friends. And, that is what we are: those who find our happiness in Jesus.
To Show Me the Way
“In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4).
Jesus came to earth to show us the way of life. Think of the way that he interacted with people in great compassion. Think of how he lived a meager life here for eternal glory in times to come. Think of how he performed healing miracles—giving us way to know that he is God of very God. Think of how he was humble and lowly with those who were burdened and had questions. Think of the way that he brought comfort and peace to those who were grieving. Think of how he submitted to the will of the Father—even when it cost him everything—showing us that we must also die to ourselves. Think of how Jesus prayed and prayed and prayed—staying connected to the Father all of his life.
Jesus did these things and so much more. His way of life, then, illumines our path. When we wonder how to act and be, we can go to the life of Jesus to find ourselves impressed with the beauty of his version of humanity. His way was hope and life and peace. His way was everything we need to know about what beauty in the form of frailty looks like. He took our body upon himself—the flesh of all mankind. And, he became obedient and resilient in all of his ways.
He was born of woman that we might be born again in him—unto a new way of life that is characterized by serving and humble steps with our God. Jesus lights the way for us. He is the Word, who lived and breathed and showed us how to truly live. May we emulate Jesus Christ in his marvelously humble life. If God can be that humble, surely we creatures can humble ourselves unto his way.
Dear Jesus, thank you that your life provided light for my path and footing for my steps. You are beautiful. The way that you lived your life here is stunning in majesty. For you set aside your heaven to come to earth for us. And, that is more that my mind can lay hold to understanding. But, I thank you for it. I love you for it. I need it. It’s gloriously kind. I pray that your patterns of life would become my patterns of life. Let me be more like you, my Light and Life. Thank you for coming to show me the way. Amen.
He Is Our Life
Jesus is life. He is the eternal Word from whom our life comes. And, he powerfully holds the world together with the workings of his being. He is our eternal resting place, he is our security, and he is our life. There is a certain amount of awe we can have on this earth as it relates to Jesus being our life. That is, we can take a moment to reflect, to really think about what it means that God sustains life.
Jesus is our means of being. He is our mode of operation. He is the reason we breathe, the life that we have, and our point of survival. Jesus is more than water, more than air, more than food, more than covering and protection—he supports the very life force that drives through each one of us. Jesus is the hope of our souls because he is the life of our souls.
He alone can disposition each soul for eternity. He is also Judge, giving to us our eternal life by determining that his sacrifice is sufficient for our eternal life. We will never meet a Judge more merciful that our Lord Jesus whose every pronouncement for the saved will be: life! life! life!
There is no more perfect hope than the hope of Jesus because there is no more perfect source of life. He is where we go to drink from the eternal fountain. He is the one who allows us to drink fully and without cost. There is hope through the gospel because Jesus is the good news. He is the source of living and the source of sacrifice. He is the source of our help and hope because of who he is as the Life.
When we come to Jesus to drink of his life, we are tired, weary, and worn. We are ready to be done with the paths of the world that feed self to the end of feeding self. We want to live for a purpose beyond ourselves—for a worthy reason. Jesus is our reason. He is life because he is the source of living. And, he is also our life because he is the purpose for living.
When our lives slow for a period of time, and we truly contemplate the meaning of life, we can only determine that there must be a reason for all that we experience. Jesus is that reason. His honor and glory are the reason we go through times of stretching and molding. We are being made to better reflect him. When we endure life for his sake, we are pleasing him and honoring his will for our lives. And truly, for all eternity we will exist for the praise of his glory.
Everything that we receive from him in our lives eternal—those eternal blessings at his right hand—we receive so that we can bless his heart. He loves to give, and he is blessed when we receive. We honor him when we receive the fullness of his life. In eternity, we will receive from his fount always. And so, on this earth, we can receive from his fount—help for the day and hope for all of our tomorrows.
Jesus is the light of our paths while we are on this earth—and that is how he provides us meaningful times while on this planet. He knows what is best for us and uses his word to be a light unto our paths. The unfolding of the word of Jesus gives light—and that light provides the course for our lives. The Word of God will never steer us away from the life that is in Jesus, but always bring us nearer to our source and purpose.
When we see Jesus in glory, we will see the fount and reason for the lives that we have lived on earth—we will see the reason for our hope and steps forward here on earth. And, when we are in those times when we feel stuck on this earth—when getting out of bed in the morning is more challenging that we would like to admit—let us turn our eyes to our life. If he has given us another day, then there is more for us to be and do. There is more that he is making us into, and there are more ways to be help and hope for those around us.
Jesus is blessing us collectively through our lives here—for, we come to him together as the bride of Christ to gain our light for life. We are drawn together as Jesus is our reason because we praise him together for being our true point of hope. He is the light for us individually and collectively as we join together to speak forth the reason for our forward motion. His life unifies our hearts. And, his life leads us forward step by step each day.
I Sprang from You
“All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made,” (John 1:3).
It is a refreshing truth—to dwell upon our beginnings, to remember the fount from which we sprang. It is a refreshing truth to believe and know that one has a Creator who oversees the days of life. It is a blessed reality to think that the creation had an origin in a Person—and that Person is still overseeing everything that was made, to give it life and being in the great common grace of our Lord. These are very blessed truths.
And, I am struck today by the reality that Jesus made all things, and upholds them through the Word of his power. I am struck because this truth makes me feel extraordinarily connected to him. The fiber of my being, the essence of my person, the shape of my spirit and soul, and synapses of my brain all find their origin in the Lord. I am bound to a Person for my state and existence. I thank God that when mankind fell from Eden, we never became out of the reach of the God who created us. He did not stop sustaining life.
God does well with those he created. He does well with his creation. He brings it to a fitting end and purpose. All things will be set right again—this will happen in accordance with his character. The God who set things up will set things right. And, praise God that I will be found in Christ on that holy day. Praise God.
Dear Jesus, thank you that I am so connected to you, the Person. It is not mere life that courses through me—it is you, the Life. I am so thankful that you sustain my existence, and so thankful that you created me. I praise you that I can know my Creator—you are not distant but present. You did not abandon your creation but chose to set it right again. I thank you for the connection eternally that I have to you. I sprang from you. I was given life in you. I am not autonomous, but utterly dependent. And, that is a truth that fills my soul with purpose. If you give life again this day, it is because you are the Life sustaining all things. Thank you for your strong arm of salvation to give life eternal. You do not undo me because of my sin; you rescue your creation. Thank you for providing a path of rescue for anyone who might believe in you. Amen.
He Is Our Home
Jesus is the Savior who had nowhere to call home: “And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’” (Luke 9:58). And yet, this is the Savior who is our home.
When I think of home, I think of the candles burning, the fireplace roaring, and the doors closed to the outside elements. I think of a warm place, and a place where I can recline. I think of a place to welcome guests—provide food or lodging. I think of a place to share with family, and others who come to visit. I think of a home being the place where much of life happens—much of the routine of living. It is a place where I go to find the space to be myself—to stretch myself out and be, as much as possible.
I think of Jesus being our home, then. The Savior of the world being our resting place. He is the Savior who leads us home—away from the ways of the world and that loneliness to the ways of the Lord and his saving realities. He is constantly in the process of saving us from the world and welcoming us into his eternal presence. We grow to know him better and better through his Word in us to make us whole. We learn to stretch out with him—to be fuller and fuller versions of ourselves. And, he just simply is our place of comfort.
When I come home, I come to a place of rest. And Jesus—he is our rest. He is our home, in that we can be ourselves with him—indeed we learn who we are. Those weaknesses we thought were ours to bear until eternity, he relieves and lifts. He removes from us our besetting sins and he crowns us with joy and peace in his presence. Jesus is the light of our lives and the light of our days. He is where fire and candle dance in his presence and in his love. He is the place where we go for encouragement and comfort—for help and hope.
Where else do we have to go but to the everlasting arms of Jesus? There is no other place in this weary world for comfort and hope and help. There is nowhere else to go. There is nowhere else to be. There is nowhere else to be. Jesus wants us to find our home and help and blessedness with him. He wants us to go to him and be ourselves. He wants to be the foundation upon which we recline. Jesus is our hope and our help—our blessing and our security. He is all that a home should be, where we find our soul’s lodging and sustenance and rest.
When we trust in Jesus, we find the one who is our very best friend. The comfort and hope of our souls rest with him. And, is he not a marvel—that all of humanity, with all of the diversity of people, could find their true and perfect home with them? When a soul feels understood, it is said to find its “person”—its home. Jesus is that home for us. He is that rest and peace for us. He is that truth of person for us. Jesus is our unfolding hope—that is, he is where we can continue to develop and grow within a security of love.
Home is where love dwells. Home is where love expresses itself day by day. And, Jesus—he is with us through every day of our lives, providing home for our souls. Never does a day go by where he doesn’t welcome us to himself. Never is there a day that goes by in which he does not invite us to find respite and comfort with him. Our soul’s repose—for we are perfectly known and intimately loved—is in our Lord. As the old writers would say—avail yourself of Jesus. Take advantage of all of his blessings and comforts. Know that he is your soul’s home, and find your comfort there.
Jesus is where we go to find rest and help and peace. He is the light of our hearts, where we go when the weary world is crushing our spirits. He lifts and revives. He wraps his arms around us and breathes his life into our hearts. Jesus is the place where we rest our heads. He came to have nowhere to rest his head, such that we could recline on his breast all of the days of our lives. Let us go into him, close the door, and find the rest of our souls—known and wanted there in his holy presence.
For Speaking to Me
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-2).
Jesus is here called the Word—divine disclosure of the will of God. We are right to understand that God wants, therefore, to communicate with us. He wants us to understand him—not fully, of course, by truly. And, we come to understand him through the one who was sent of God. We understand him through Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.
He dwelt among us. And, we know that he did and spoke everything in his life in accordance with the Father. They worked in perfect compatibility through Jesus’ mission on earth. The Father was delighted in the Son—and the Son took refuge in the Father through prayer.
We are right to believe that God wants to walk with us, to be with us, to communicate with us, and to work with us. We are right to believe that he drew near to us and took up our cause in a beautifully intimate way. We are right to rely upon his heart for us—his high priestly concern and attunement to our needs. We are right to treasure his very intercessions for us before the Father. We are right to believe that Jesus is for us.
Jesus is God. The Word is God. And, the Word has made God known to man.
Think of it—this one who cooked the disciples breakfast (John 21:1-14) is the one who is only begotten of the Father, in eternal bliss within the Godhead. God has spoken. And, he has done so through this wonder of a Person, Jesus Christ.
Jesus, I want to hear the words of these verses as though for the first time. I want to react with utter gratitude that you came to this earth to take on flesh and dwell with us. I want to wonder at the ministry you took up for my rescue. I thank you for being the Word made flesh. I thank you for the self-disclosure of God. The garden of Eden closed the opportunity to walk with you—until you came to this earthly soil and made a home with us. You caused to be possible what we, mankind, destroyed with sin. You, the Word, have made yourself known to us. And, as I begin this new year, I thank you for speaking to me in Jesus, the Word.
He Is Our Stability
When I set my head down on my pillow each night, I have peace and rest that I know Jesus Christ. I have made the ask: I have trusted in him for my salvation. I don’t fully know why, but it was frightening to trust in him and only him for the salvation of my soul. Trusting in myself is what I knew. It is what I felt comfortable doing. But then, I put myself in his arms alone, and I rested there. I was safe and secure. He is our stability of salvation.
Each night as I rest, and before my mind falls into its sleep, I think about Jesus and the firm foundation that I have with him. I think about how I can lean on him—that he is my rest and my peace. Each night, I renew my decision to trust in Jesus for my salvation by resting in him. If something were to happen to me in my sleep, I would still be resting on him when I awoke in the realms of glory.
Yet, still, while reflecting here and resting here on this earth, he is the stability of my day. I know what to expect, walking with my dear Jesus. I know that he will surprise me with his plans for my life. I know that he will surprise me with how he leads and blesses me. I know that he will take me into interesting and new directions. I know that he will reveal my life to me as it moves forward. While he is surprising and inventive concerning my life direction and his leadership of me, he is also stable.
I know that he is holy and pure and true. I know that he is leading me for his Name’s sake. I know that his love will never end—it will go on forever and ever. It is an everlasting love. I know that my walk is solid when I walk in his ways. I know that my days are full of his mercy and dependent upon his abounding grace. I know that he will be there in prayer, listening and guiding my spirit forward. I know that he lifts me and prepares me for what he wants me to do.
I believe that Jesus likes to be our place of security and solidity. I believe with all my heart that he loves when his saints depend upon him alone. There is peace in knowing that Jesus is our security and safety. I think about all of the evil forces of this world—the realm of demons and devil. He will protect us from attack and from all temptation, providing a way out. Jesus is the King, and his kingdom is present here wherever he is acknowledged as the King—wherever he is obeyed as such. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. And, as a participant in his realm, I know that all of the forces of evil without and all of the evil tendencies within will meet their demise.
Knowing that Jesus rules the world is the stability of our lives and existences. He is our stabling force. When we are overwhelmed by the workings of the world and by the spiritual forces that are against us, he commands us well through his power and glory shining in and through us through the Holy Spirit. There is nothing about our lives that surprises God. There is nothing about our futures that catches him off-guard. If we are in a time of testing, we can trust that Jesus is the Rock upon which we can lean.
At times, there will be testing in our lives. There will be trials and patches of rough earth upon which we need to travel. But our prayers work because God has deemed our prayer to be effective with him. Our cries to him work. He answers them. We know that he loves to answer the prayers of his saints. And, he will rush to our side, being our guide and our fearless presence. He will send his help of stabilizing strength. Jesus is worth our trust. He will guide us through—sometimes with a different path or different results than on our minds. But he will guide us through nonetheless. Our paths will be straight through whatever we face.
The Lord stabilizes us through our salvation, through his charming leadership, through his steadfast character, through grappling with all of the forces of evil against us, and through experiencing difficulties in our lives. There is security in knowing the King of kings. And, though perhaps we would prefer that he rush us to his presence the moment we accept salvation, we can trust that he is working out his plan and ways for his purposes and glory. And we—we have the opportunity to show him our love for him now through our reliance upon him, and our trust that he is our good all of the days of our lives.