This week, a friend spent her youngest son’s birthday at the cemetery instead of at a birthday party. It’s the third year they’ve “celebrated” in this way.
This week, I realized that my dad’s condition isn’t getting better.
This week, both of my daughters shared their pain with me, pain due to sins of the past that neither of them had anything to do with.
This week, old pain I thought I’d forgotten resurfaced, and I had to battle with forgiveness once again.
This week, I was overwhelmed at the brokenness of the world I live in.
And then stumbled across this quote on a day I desperately needed to hear it:
“If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable: think of as a place of training and correction and it’s not so bad.”
- CS Lewis (from God in the Dock)
While this realization doesn’t take away the pain of a broken world, it does give much-needed perspective.
For those who have surrendered to Christ, this world is NOT all there is. For the follower of Christ, this truth is what gives us the kind of joy that transcends reason and circumstance, and what gives us hope in the midst of brokenness.
This ruler of this world (Satan) tries to convince us that life is all about being happy; that we should raise our children to be “happy” rather than Christlike; that if we are not wealthy and successful, we must be doing something wrong. But those are lies from the pit of hell.
“Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” – Luke 9:23
“In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not say good-bye to all his possessions cannot be My disciple.” – Luke 14:33
Contrary to what many preach or profess, Christianity does not guarantee health and wealth and success. In fact, Jesus tells us we may lose everything we have in order to follow Him. Jesus says we have to be willing to give up all our possessions, that we must put Him first above even our own families, that we may not even have a home if we follow Him, and that following Him means we no longer have the right to determine the direction of our own lives… but He is enough: Jesus Christ is worthy of all our affection.
Amen. Colossians 3:2-3 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Every day that I live is one day closer to being with Jesus and that gives me all the joy in the world.
Once again, you have made me think and said exactly what I needed to hear at this moment. Well said as usual.
Penny recently posted..Sisters!
Absolutely. Great post. I am so blessed to have such an inspiring friend in you in blogland and in real life!
Tina recently posted..Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Tree
That CS Lewis quote is awesome. I’ve re-read it 3-4 times…. love it.
dustin recently posted..Kingdom Speak
Jamie, thanks so much for this reminder. I was actually reading something along these lines today. You are right, He is enough and is worthy of all our affection.
btw, love your blog here, very cool! Just added you on RSS/Twitter and looking forward to connecting with you. Will pass your site along to my wife (@carrieduvall) as well. Have a great day!
Nathan Duvall recently posted..Showdown in the Desert
It’s sobering-the thought that this world is a battleground and something we aren’t suppose to turn back into Eden for our own pleasure. I’ve been struggling too. I wrote about it in my last post: “The Wrestling that Precedes Peace”
I know what it is like for wounds to be re-opened. Will pray for you this week as you go through this.
Michelle recently posted..Blow That Whistle!