Where God's Word Meets Our Mess
My friend Emma* serves in several different ways at my church. She helps in the youth group, she sings during worship services, and she’s on a planning committee—among many other things! When she talks about her involvement in various ministries, I sometimes wonder: Should I serve more at church?
As a Hallmark movie junkie, I don’t typically enjoy movies like Uncharted. But I do enjoy actors like Tom Holland—hence why I watched Uncharted. Though this movie had a few flaws, its overarching theme was surprisingly good.
But. I did hear something in a sermon several months ago that has changed my perspective on why God “withholds” good things from us—and it’s something that you need to hear, too.
I know that I already wrote a New Year's post, but I had this idea for a poem that I couldn't not write (and when was the last time I published a poem on TTT?). You've probably been getting bombarded with a lot of content about growth and resolutions, which can be helpful but also overwhelming. I wrote this post as a reminder to myself (and to you!) that although it's important to strive for growth in our relationship with God, He has already sacrificed everything for our salvation and sanctification. And because of that, our faults and failures can be forgiven.
When I started to make the challenging transition from childhood to adulthood, I also started to feel angsty at Christmastime. I wanted Christmas to be a happy holiday, but that didn’t feel possible anymore. Nothing felt the same as it had felt when I was a little kid—giddy to buy gifts, make gifts, and (without a doubt) get gifts. What happened to all those Christmas feels that I had when I was a kid?
Sure, I said a couple quick prayers of panic. But instead of placing my trust in the Lord—that He would do whatever was best for me in this situation—I worried. I directly disobeyed Jesus’ command not to worry from Matthew 6 and Luke 12. I knew that Jesus wanted me to be faithful with what He had given me—a difficult scenario with the option to either worry or trust Him. And I failed Him.
If you think you’re the only one who can’t find the Christmas spirit—at least, the Christmas spirit that's described in Hallmark movies and pop songs—know that you're not. This time of year is emotionally challenging for many, many people. Still, no matter how you feel this Christmas, the truth hasn't changed.
Friends, God doesn't just see you at your highest moments; He sees you at your lowest moments, too. I encourage you to read Psalm 69 in its entirety, but I included part of it at the end of this poem. Feel God's peace as you read it and rest in His presence.
When you get stuck in a works-based mindset, open up your Bible and see what God says about grace. It's true that the Bible contains God's commands, but it's not true that you have to keep all of those commands to become (or stay) saved. Read the book of Romans if you don't believe me. You'll discover that He was, is, and will be better than we ever could be.
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 