Day 80 - A New Thing
Scripture focus: Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. Mark 16:8 NIV
I have a realtor friend whom I like to bug with silly questions. One day I asked him, "What do people say they want most in a new home?"
"Lots and lots of light," he replied without hesitation. "No one wants to live in a dark house."
I believe him. He's a great listener and an experienced realtor - he obviously knows what people desire in a dwelling. I think people desire to live in the light in every area of life. No one wakes up in the morning hoping that they'll walk around in a fog of confusion, under the dark oppression of depression. People want to walk in the light.
But we have a problem - as much as we desire light-living, many continue to experience dark-dwelling. What's up with that? I think we continue to stumble around in the darkness simply because we've stopped looking for the light. We've lost hope that a way out exists. We struggle to believe that God can do a new thing in and through and with us. "Our lives are stolen from us, and our hopes and dreams are killed off slowly over time. Old, tired patterns of futility will make us old and tired too." Running In Circles, p.80.
"Christ was all about breaking up old patterns. Do you remember to whom he first appeared after his resurrection? It was to women! In ancient times women were considered the worst witnesses. Their testimony wouldn't even hold up in court. Many women could not leave the house or courtyard without a man's permission. They were meant to stay passive and compliant, under the authority of father or husband. This was the old pattern - the norm. Yet Jesus taught something different. He taught women about trust and action. Trusting God, they were to move out in faith and become something new. They were to go and be his witnesses. Moments before, the women had thought there was no way out of their predicament. Jesus was dead. His body was gone. Suddenly they turned around and everything they had thought was hopeless was gloriously full of life and wonder. The resurrection had put them in a new place and reshaped their perspective. The potter's wheel of the cross where they had wept led to a resurrection morning in which they were liberated. 'You're it,' Jesus declared, 'You are my witnesses.' It was up to them to respond." Running In Circles, p. 80.
We were created for a big dream and abundant life. That may not be part of our current existence. No need to panic! Instead, start at the beginning. In the beginning God had big dreams for you. He still has big dreams for you. Perhaps your passion and God-given compulsion to walk has become misguided, and your feet have stumbled into darkness. Maybe you're dwelling in a shadowy valley of confusion. Once in awhile you try to flee your dark dwelling, only to run into a wall or stub your toe on a previously unseen object.
Take a deep, cleansing breath, and pause to prepare.
Finding your place in the story of abundant living is going to require you to break some old, dark-dwelling patterns. But take heart - God is in the light business, and his kids are too.
Recommended reading: Numbers 30 and 31 in the morning; Luke 4 and Psalm 63 in the evening
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