In pre-marital counseling and often meeting with folks for coffee and listening to what is going on in their lives, I often share this sentence that has kept me sane when so much has seemed to be unraveling. It reminds us of what is most deeply true about the world we live in and how we can best respond in the midst of it all.
I live in a fallen world,
Although many of us would prefer to pretend that we live in an Eden-like paradise, our own everyday experiences─ around us and within us─ remind us of the brutal reality of the profoundly broken world each of us lives in. Around us we see political strife, racial tension, dysfunctional families, famine, war. Sadly, the list could go on and on. Within us we often see pride, hypocrisy, anxiety, anger, depression.
What is an appropriate response when the reality of our broken world crashes into your life and your heart? I believe that scripture commends the oft-forgotten emotional movement of grieving and groaning deeply. Grieving looks the pain square in the face; groaning is the pain longing for something better. In a culture that’s addicted to pleasure and allergic to sorrow of any kind, entering into grief and groaning is a step towards entering into our present reality.
I live in a fallen world,
into which the kingdom of God is coming,
Yet, a shattered world and sorrowing hearts do not exhaust the reality of what’s happening in the world you live in. God is on the move and his kingdom is coming. What is this kingdom? Jesus’ own ministry shows that it is the restorative reign of God breaking into this broken world. This kingdom’s coming is often imperceptible to our eyes, hidden as it is in weakness and suffering. Yet the outcome will be inevitable, as it marches powerfully forward by the proclamation of mercy and grace. It may seem insignificant now, yet it’s final installment will be incomprehensible, almost too glorious to take in. Though its initial arrival makes us genuinely new, its ultimate coming will make all things completely new.
In the midst of grieving and groaning the fallenness of the world, the coming of the kingdom empowers our hearts with joyful expectation that God’s restorative reign is working around the world and around the clock to bring all things to a beautiful and breathtaking conclusion. And you get to be a part of it!
I live in a fallen world,
into which the kingdom of God is coming,
and over which my loving heavenly Father is in total control.
You will experience seasons and circumstances that often give your heart whiplash. Sunshine for one day and then clouds for months. Joy and gratitude amidst success and encouragement and then grief and pain amidst loss and darkness. This is where Scripture speaks with clarity and mystery: it speaks with clarity declaring that we have a loving Father who is in absolute control; it speaks with mystery declaring the same truth- that God is sovereign over the highs and lows, the sunshine and the rain. It is the mystery of sovereignty but it is the mystery of sovereignty not of some general, distant God ‘up there,’ but of a loving Father who gave his Son for you to be reconciled to him.
Thus, you trust him completely. When tears have clouded your ability to see clearly, you trust him. When joy is overflowing in your heart, you trust him. He gave his Son for you and has proven himself trustworthy, now your heart can trust him completely.
Hold on to this sentence. It summarizes a lot of scriptural teaching and can keep you sane when it seems like everything is unraveling.
Comments