Having a Heart in a Sometimes Heartless World
Day 183 – Week 27 - Discouragement
Scripture focus: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
“I am so discouraged. I just don’t think I’m making much progress in my spiritual journey. It seems like I struggle with the same feelings of shame and depression no matter what I do!”
“You know – I have that same issue!” - pipes in a stranger from the next table.
In the end, my girlfriend and I have a perfectly lovely conversation with a complete stranger about what a desperately devoted follower of Christ should feel on a day-to-day basis. (I personally think “desperately devoted” is a clue.)
In Eugene Peterson’s translation of the bible (The Message), we find this passage in the book of Galatians. “But what happens when we live God’s way?” [Good. This is our question. What does happen to our emotions when we live God’s way? I’m immediately reminded of what the NIV translation says about this same topic, in the same verses, of the same book – Galatians – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Frankly, it’s this verse that my new and old friend wrestles with over lunch. Is this what happens when we live God’s way? What if we think we are living God’s way – but we don’t always experience the fruitfulness of Galatians 5:22? What are we missing?]
Peterson continues – “He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard – things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”
Three observations:
1. My friend Rachel drove back in the middle of the night in pouring down rain to make it to class on time – simply because she made the commitment to do so. It felt scary and terrible – but she did it.
2. I’ve got a friend with an eating disorder. She went to treatment because she feels affection for her children. She doesn’t feel very peaceful about the decision and she’d prefer to isolate with her disease – but she did it.
3. There’s this guy I know who is dying of cancer. He’s surrounding himself with the people and things he loves. He laughs more than he cries. He reports a newfound awareness of the holiness of people and things. He wants a cure for his cancer. If you push him, he might just admit to his deep and profound sorrow over leaving behind young children and a wife he adores. But he need not force his way in life - he’s directing and marshalling his energies wisely. He’s also in extreme pain and suffering – but he does the next right thing.
Maybe we should start thinking about the possibility that this kind of fruitful living is happening in our lives – but we’re missing it because we’re so focused on feeling love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control!
This month, we’ll focus on the messy mingling of faith and feelings in our devotional time!
Recommended reading: 2 Kings 17 and 18 in the morning; Acts 20 and 21 in the evening
“I am so discouraged. I just don’t think I’m making much progress in my spiritual journey. It seems like I struggle with the same feelings of shame and depression no matter what I do!”
“You know – I have that same issue!” - pipes in a stranger from the next table.
In the end, my girlfriend and I have a perfectly lovely conversation with a complete stranger about what a desperately devoted follower of Christ should feel on a day-to-day basis. (I personally think “desperately devoted” is a clue.)
In Eugene Peterson’s translation of the bible (The Message), we find this passage in the book of Galatians. “But what happens when we live God’s way?” [Good. This is our question. What does happen to our emotions when we live God’s way? I’m immediately reminded of what the NIV translation says about this same topic, in the same verses, of the same book – Galatians – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Frankly, it’s this verse that my new and old friend wrestles with over lunch. Is this what happens when we live God’s way? What if we think we are living God’s way – but we don’t always experience the fruitfulness of Galatians 5:22? What are we missing?]
Peterson continues – “He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard – things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”
Three observations:
1. My friend Rachel drove back in the middle of the night in pouring down rain to make it to class on time – simply because she made the commitment to do so. It felt scary and terrible – but she did it.
2. I’ve got a friend with an eating disorder. She went to treatment because she feels affection for her children. She doesn’t feel very peaceful about the decision and she’d prefer to isolate with her disease – but she did it.
3. There’s this guy I know who is dying of cancer. He’s surrounding himself with the people and things he loves. He laughs more than he cries. He reports a newfound awareness of the holiness of people and things. He wants a cure for his cancer. If you push him, he might just admit to his deep and profound sorrow over leaving behind young children and a wife he adores. But he need not force his way in life - he’s directing and marshalling his energies wisely. He’s also in extreme pain and suffering – but he does the next right thing.
Maybe we should start thinking about the possibility that this kind of fruitful living is happening in our lives – but we’re missing it because we’re so focused on feeling love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control!
This month, we’ll focus on the messy mingling of faith and feelings in our devotional time!
Recommended reading: 2 Kings 17 and 18 in the morning; Acts 20 and 21 in the evening
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