Servant's Life

Sometimes, we like to wallow in our misery.  Just for a while mind you.  We throw ourselves a little pity party and invite everyone we know to join us.  And, it’s okay for a time.

Eventually, however, we must remember that the fruit of the spirit is not anger, melancholy, confusion and doubt.  Lord, have mercy.  Aren’t we all glad about that?

Yet, the truth is that there are those times when we find ourselves in the desert.  And, the fruit of the spirit, it’s not always blooming freely in those dry and barren places.  Or is it?

The people who survive the sword will find favor in the desert.   –Jeremiah 31:2 NIV

If we endure the trial we will find favor in our desert place.

There are hard times in everyone’s life.  No one is exempt.  However, even when we are in a desert with no sign of life in sight, God knows our exact location and situation.

The people who survive the sword will find favor in the desert; I will come to give rest…  –Jeremiah 31:2 NIV

He sees us and He will come to us.  We just have to persevere and trust.  We can not give up on Him because He will come.

He will show Himself gracious.  He will meet us in the midst of our desert and show us that undeserved, unwarranted and wonderful favor.  He will provide rest and refreshment for the weary wanderer.

Jennifer Rothschild makes a statement in one of her Bible studies, It doesn’t have to be well with your circumstances in order to be well with your soul.

Notice that the Lord doesn’t say that He will come and remove you from the desert.  He will come and show you favor.  He will come and give you rest.

He will do something far more amazing than removing you from your barren place.  Do you see it?  He will join you in the desert…

He will go where He does not have to go and do what He does not have to do.

It is just His way.

A recent Bible teacher used a dancing analogy and suddenly it’s always in my mind.  Quick, slow, slow.  Quick, slow, slow.  That’s the rhythm of a godly life.

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. – James 1:19

It’s not the way of the flesh.  Flesh wants to strike out when wounded.  Human nature wants others to hurt when we hurt.  All too often, we look for ways to share the pain.  But that simply is not God’s way.  Quick, slow, slow.  Quick, slow, slow.

And, sometimes, the slow is painful.  The keeping silent while others rage.  The decision to not return anger for anger.  It takes effort to train our hearts in the steps of this unnatural dance.

No dance is successful unless one leads and one follows.  We would be best to stand down and let the one who created the dance lead the way.

The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. – Exodus 14:14

Quick, slow, slow.  Quick, slow, slow.

When we allow ourselves to be taken over by the godly rhythm, this dance of life is a bit easier…softer. We find that there is beauty in the brokenness.  We begin to recognize others who are learning the same moves and we can appreciate the effort it takes.

Then, when tempted to judge or misunderstand or simply lash out, we can smile and nod because we understand.

We understand the dance and we recognize those movements.  We give grace to those still learning the steps.

Quick, slow, slow.  

Quick, slow, slow.

The biggest misconception about following God is that it will be easy.  We want to believe that, if we are doing the right thing, then things will go smoothly for us.  Maybe we will avoid some of the hardships others must face.  If you have walked this faith journey for any length of time, however, you know that “easy” is not usually one of the stops on the way.

The thing is, Christ doesn’t even pretend that it will be easy.

In this world, you will have troubles… – John 16:33

Troubles…that is what we are promised.  And, yet, aren’t we so surprised when something in our lives goes awry?

We have a real enemy who walks among us.  Satan roams around seeking to steal, kill and destroy.  And, let’s be honest, sometimes he gets some pretty good licks in.  Jobs are lost.  Relationships are broken. Dreams are destroyed.  This broken, fallen earth?  It’s Satan’s playground for sure.

But Christ did not leave us with you will have troubles…

In this world, you will have troubles. But take heart! I have overcome the world. - John 16:33

Christ is bigger than the problems of this world…even the really big ones.  We have to take off the rose-colored glasses, however, when we follow Him.  If we confuse the Christian walk with a life of ease, then we are too easily shaken when the storms of life show up.

Instead, when facing struggles of any kind, we can say to ourselves…Christ has overcome.  Christ has overcome. 

And, because we know He has overcome, we can follow Him through the fire.

Often, Christ leads us down the rocky road…not the smoothly paved path.  It’s just His way.  And His way is good…not safe or easy…but good.