Having Heart In A Sometimes Heartless World
Day 146 - The Real Deal
Scripture focus: How long, O Lord, must I call for help but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Habakkuk 1:2-3 NIV
The counselor came in to say good bye to a couple leaving rehab. Giddy with anticipation, both were optimistic that treatment had equipped the addict and her beloved codependent with the tools they needed to restore their family. Both had worked their programs diligently; they each developed an after-care program; they were ready to go home and get started on their new life.
"Guys, I have loved working with you! You're both doing great. But I want to offer you one word of warning. It's going to get worse before it gets better."
Stunned, they nod politely and dismiss his warning as overly pessimistic. Maybe all those years as a counselor have jaded his perspective, they think. Perhaps his other clients lack the depth of love and commitment that resides in the heart of these two, they conclude.
Two months later, frustrated and afraid, these two recall the words of their therapist. And they wonder how he got so smart. If they call this therapist and confess their initial skepticism at his warning, he'll laugh at their new-found faith in his prognosticating abilities.
Whether we find our way back to God through trial and tribulation or other less stressful pathways, we sometimes think that a faith-filled life results in a stress-free existence. Destruction, violence, strife, conflict, injustice - all those yukky realities happen on planet earth - even to those who believe.
God doesn't offer us a pipe dream of conflict-free living on planet earth. Instead, he offers:
His presence in the midst of the mess - whether we "feel" his nearness or not. Principles for how we can respond appropriately to the issues we inevitably encounter - our presence can bring resurrection, peace, calm, and justice to any and every situation as we live out our God-created identity. A new view. When we come to believe, God hands us a pair of God-vision goggles and instructions on their use. We can become the people who bring hope to the hopeless. Awareness that knowing all the answers isn't the key to eternal life. Knowing the One who holds the answers in his hand frees us to be the ones who follow his lead.
Recommended reading: 2 Samuel 5 and 6 in the morning; John 14 and Psalm 120 in the evening
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