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Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Cultivating Through Cheap Shots: The Covid-Hack Debacle of 2021

"Welcome to the thick of it, where it’s beautiful and messy and fueled by grace. A flourishing life is possible, no perfection required. In fact, it’s in the imperfect- the dirt- where good things grow."

- Lara Casey, Cultivate

The end of 2021 carried with it many cheap shots and frustrating circumstances. Apart from getting Covid the week of Christmas, my Facebook account was hacked beyond recovery. This week of rest quickly became a week of testing as I struggled to sleep through the night, aiding a sleep-digressing 2 year old and my own ailing sinus pressure. I could just cry from the weight of it all, and I often did. The only thing fueling me each and every morning was coffee and the hope of cultivating something new for my life.

I started reading the book Cultivate by Lara Casey with my friend Alicia back in November. She and I met on a women’s campout and became instant friends. Perhaps the last instant gratification of the year, honestly. Since starting the book, we have encouraged one another to slow down, grow good things, and step into a more intentional life (as described in the book). There wasn’t a specific plan in place, just yet- but the plan was to follow Jesus and trust him whole-heartedly with our marriages, our children, our dreams, and our mess. My favorite face-time comment Alicia made about the message of the book was “ We don’t grow a thing! God grows it all, ya know? I’m a friggin’ sinner!” It wasn’t shameful to admit our faults to one another. These realizations became anthems we would carry with us into our workplace and household. And it was in this tilling of the soil that groundbreaking work began for me. Work that would help me to persevere through what December would bring.

If we make it through December, we’ll be fine.- Merle Haggard

In my conversations and multiple confessions to Alicia, here are the things I desired to cultivate most:

Reading the word of God more intentionally
Prayer and Meditation
The relationship between children
My relationship with my husband

Now, consider the frustrational end of my 2021. Can you just look and see what God did?

I had all the time in the world to read my bible now that I couldn’t go anywhere or get on Facebook! While I was up every hour of the night with my son, I had infinite opportunities to pray over him and our family. The bond between my kids grew as playdates and outings ceased. Having Jared home to talk with, talk movies with, and just hold for a little longer became such precious time to reflect on all that God had given us. Yes, the end of this year carried with it many cheap shots and frustrating circumstances, but because of the work He was already doing in my heart, I was able to become more diligent in cultivating change in these areas of my life.

Hear me on this. God is in the business of putting you exactly where you long to be.

Never in a million years would I have ever wanted to be off of social media. I’m not proud to say this but it seriously would have taken an army to get me off of it. So he sent a hacker. They went into my account, changed my password, my email, rerouted things in a way that I couldn’t even get it back through the proper channels recommended to me by every Facebook help site. Nothing in my adult life has been more violating or visionary than the undoubtedly horrific toll this took on me. To see my page reappear, not have access to it, and to be able to do nothing about it? Not even to delete it? I hate the way this makes me feel, to be essentially kicked out of what I’ve built for the last decade or more. Poof. All gone. Digital doom. I had built a castle on sand. It was a wake-up call.

I will never put myself in a point of vulnerability with anything other than the Almighty like this ever again. I want to give the in and outs of my life solely to Him. I want my total trust, my highest praise, and all of my reaching to stretch toward Him.

So blessed to serve a God who would be willing to disappoint me in order to deliver me.

In hopes of getting the other one reported and deleted, I decided to create another Facebook account. As I type this to you, the heart change I feel is indescribable. You’re reading words from a person that is approval-seeking, who struggles to combat her slightly addictive personality, and she’s upset that she has to be on Facebook. I maybe get on it a few times a day to see if someone found a way to successfully report my old account as being hacked. I have some friends and family on there but it’s mainly just to check in every once in a while. I have confidence that it will not consume me, and you know why? Because I’ve been captivated by much more appealing things.

A note from my 4 year old daughter that say “I love win you play PJ Masks wiff me.”

Puzzles with my toddler who laughs when I say circle or truck with my “teacher voice”.

My husband laughing in the living room because our son is toting the entirety of his bedding up and down the stairs for the fourth time that day.

Holding hands on the couch because we have nowhere else we’d rather be.

And waking up early to find this nugget of wisdom tucked away in the first chapter of James:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

I believe that steadfastness is beginning to have it’s full effect in the Banks household. Gosh, I sure do feel complete. My standing opinion is that everything seems to be perfectly imperfect, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have all I’ll ever need. That, my friends, is what the Lord has done. My earnest prayer is that He may have His full effect in your life today.

Pray

All we've ever needed is You, God. All of the approval. All of the attention. All of the success. All of the comfort. It's always been in You. We pray that you create more space in the new year for us to draw nearer to You. Do away with the things that aren't pointing us to You, Jesus. Turn down the volume on the world, shoulder the burdens of our addictions, and sit with us in the silence as we seek Your face. Let us see every trial as pathway toward victory in You. Amen.

Reflect

Think about the thing you love most, that if you were to lose it, your faith might be challenged. Put that thing in the hand of God. Ask Him to help you hold it.

Have you ever experienced a time in your life where you felt like it all came crashing down at once? Did you remain faithful and steadfast? Explain.

What would it look like if God truly made space for the things we wish to cultivate? Would we welcome those changes?

Look at James 1:2-4. Would you consider yourself perfect? Complete? Do you view your life as abundant or lacking? Take inventory of your thoughts and write down your honest assessment.

Do Something

I love this definition.

cultivate: to grow or raise (something) under conditions that you can control.

Make a list of things that you wish to grow in the new year. Then, make a list of things that have been getting in the way of that change. NOW, circle the things within that list that you can control. Underline the things that you cannot control.
Look at this list you've marked up. How can you utilize the controlled conditions to grow new things this year? The things out of your control? That becomes part of your daily prayer list. Pray over those things and surrender them to the Lord. See what changes happen when you do!
Print out a picture of a flower or use an actual vase of flowers and put this list of things you wish to cultivate next to it. This way you can be mindful of these things as you go throughout your day.

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Dissapointed: Learning to Say His Name

*As always, you can listen to this blog and content on the See Good Things Podcast

She bent over her son’s crib, fighting back tears and exhausted from having to redirect his strong-willed nature once again. It was only 12:30 in the afternoon but it felt like the sun could set at any moment. Her whole existence seemed to be wrapped up in keeping him out of harm's way. Evenings were often occupied with thoughts about him growing up and she feared that she’d never be able to understand how to best love him. He was fast approaching his second birthday and still hadn’t said her name. He hadn’t said any words, really. Nothing consistently, anyway. She worried about his well-being, his development, and the delays she was seeing. Her heart longed to connect to her baby boy who'd roughed himself into a rip-roaring toddler.

He was strong as an ox, riding around on balance bikes, and climbing out of his crib like a champ. While incredibly delightful and zany, he had an undeniably quick-temper. Most days, there was a "story" to tell, that ended with some sort of bruise or abrasion. When he’d exhausted all other options and finally calmed down from crying, he’d walk over and stumble headfirst into her lap. Still, the one thing she desired most was to hear him say her name, Momma, but he wouldn't say it.

It was at this moment, riddled with worry, that this young mother realized the source of her exhaustion wasn’t fatigue.

It was disappointment.

In that confession, the fight for control was suddenly over. Tears flooded her eyes and down the sides of her face. She wiped her cheek with the sleeve of her sweatshirt and whispered “So, this is what it feels like to be You, Father.”

Friend, are you in a season of disappointment? Are things not working out the way that you intended them to be? Are people not living up to your expectations of them? Do you feel lost and disconnected in some way?

We have all been there. Wishing things were different and not understanding the season that we’re in. My reminder to you this week is that you have a Father that longs for you to look up and say His name. He differs from this young mother in that He knows the plans He has for you. He knows the season that you’re in and where you’re headed. He’s not worried about you and He’s not disappointed in You. He’s ready and waiting for you. The young mother will be incredibly grateful when her son finally says “Momma” and a new level of connection can occur- but she will be most benefited by reconnecting to her Father in Heaven and remembering how to say His name.

I should know.

Because I am her.

Pray

God cares about the things we care about. I tell this to my daughter all of the time and we pray it often as we give thanks to God for things He has done. I want to pray this over anyone reading my thoughts today. Wherever it may find you. I hope it becomes a staple prayer for you as well.

Lord, you care about the things that we care about. Even the little things. The things that upset us and hurt our hearts. You love us and you care about those things. Help us to see the ways in which you are holding us and healing us even in the little things. You are a Good God. Amen

Reflect

Take time to write your responses down.

1. Are you in a season of disappointment? How so?

2. So you feel disconnected in some way? Explain.

3. Do you find yourself putting more expectations on yourself or on others? Why do you think that is?

Do Something

Think of someone in your community or church body that is going through a time of difficulty. How could you help? Send a not of encouragement? Give a gift card or bring over a meal? Reach out and lighten someone's load today. Do it all in the name of Jesus, and remind them to say His name in their time of worry and disappointment:)
Find a Psalm to pray over your week. Most of the Psalms are honest, vulnerable, and authentic in their reach and pursuit of the Father. Be held by them.

Sunday, October 31, 2021

God and the Goodie Bag

Halloween Night. 1996. We’re walking back to the car, headed home from our third Trick or Treating excursion. This last round, we hit up the “rich side” of town. That’s where the good stuff is. I’m dragging, my costume is sagging at the waist, makeup smeared into my eyes and mouth, and my whole body longs for my Space Jam comforter and warm bed.

I look over at my baby sister’s trick or treat bucket and see that she’s got a box of Dots. Heyyyyyyy, I think to myself, that’s not fair. I didn’t get any! I quickly strike up a trade but she’s not having it. She’s tired and I’m relentless. We end up fighting in the back seat of the car and my mom turns around and utters the worst phrase known to man.

That’s it! You’re not getting any candy!

Oh man, you guys. I wish I could say that this was an isolated incident, but the truth is- I just picked a year. This kind of thing took place more often than not. Something like ‘94, ‘95, ‘96, and on up to the early 2000’s. It was a coin toss to see which one of us would strike first. I wish I could say these patterns of behavior are long behind me, but they’re not. From time to time, I’m still the same selfish little 8 year old I was back then. Looking in someone else’s goodie bag and wishing I had what they had.

Later on, when we were “ungrounded”, we got a chance to try again. This time, digging deeper into our goodie bags to find a ton of things we don’t even recall getting! We would then be so pleased with our individual take that we didn’t mind pouring it all out on the floor and sharing, trading, or just giving each other pieces we didn’t care for. We were kinder to one another and more gentle having seen the full contents of our bounty.

You see where I’m going with this, dontcha?

Yes! Our God is the sweetest and most generous giver. My friends, we are just scratching the surface of all He has in store for us. We look at our neighbor’s well manicured lawn and wish we had “greener grass”, more time, and better resources but we don’t realize that inside our own life, God has stored up a wealth of riches that we’ve yet to discover because we aren’t digging deep enough! We envy what others seem to have in their bag without even taking a look inside our own.

When I’m wise enough to dig into the word of the Lord, and gaze upon the goodness of His grace, I have a perspective that goes beyond what I thought I was entitled to. I’m no longer fighting for what I don’t have. I’m rejoicing and praising God for what He’s blessed me with. My thoughts turn toward heaven and my soul shouts Whoa! Look at what the Lord has done! I’m more eager to share with others and give myself freely to those who are in need of something I may possess. I can look at someone’s blessing and be encouraged by God’s provision in their life rather than harbor jealousy that He’s not doing the same thing for me.

Ok. One more thing, and I’ll let you get to trick or treating.

Every year, my mom ended up with all the Whoppers. I can’t stand them. While we rummaged through our pile, she’d bend down and say, “hey give ‘em here; I’ll take those.” I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why she liked them.

Sometimes God gives us things in our bag that we don’t really care for. Probably something we’re pretty insecure about. A shy personality, a procrastinating nature, a thick and tangled head of hair, or a quirkiness that no one can pinpoint. When we are in a family of believers, someone will kneel down beside you, embrace your insecurities, and say “I’ll take those. I love those.” And it is SO nice to be loved in that way. Just how Jesus intended.

So let’s spread out our bounty this Halloween Day! Let’s dig deep into our bags and see allllllll that the Great Giver has provided so that we may be in the sweet spirit of sharing and proclaiming good things over one another.

Love, Kari

Here are a few more of my costumes over the years. Just for fun:)

I'm the second little one on the left. I think I may have been Cotton Candy? Or a Carebear.....

This was for a science class in college. I was "Gamma Ray". 

College again. Cereal Killer. Get it?

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

This Is What You Asked For

The pajamas were on. It was 6:30….pm. I observed my children from the comfort of the front porch stoop. It felt nice to sit down for a change. I had survived another “Monday”, and was feeling less than thankful. Griffin and Cola flew past me in the front yard, riding on their green Powerwheels dune buggy. I smiled. They are so gosh darn cute, I thought. A little crazy though, very very hard to handle sometimes, and…. Suddenly I felt the Lord tell me “This is what you asked for.”

Refocusing on my little ones, I considered the times I cried out to God to help me become a mother, years before Cola was born. I laughed, remembering when I wrote in my journal, “Lord, I know I’m supposed to just ask for a healthy baby, and I don’t want to overstep here, but could it please be a boy?” Now that they’re both here, I feel submerged at times. Drowning in “mom guilt”, feeling like I don’t prioritize them enough.

I thought about different areas of service to friends, family, my job, and other commitments. I keep saying yes to things, knowing full well that once again, I’ll end up in this same posture. I hate how I keep doing this, I thought. I sat there feeling bad about booking myself ‘til kingdom come. Conflicted and discontent. Again, the Lord spoke to my heart- This is what you asked for.

To have a full life with a big friends group. To volunteer where my heart felt led, while staying active with and attentive to my kids. To engage in late night conversations with my spouse, make an effort to visit to see family, and to cook more meals at home.

So many things, I asked for. So many things to juggle.

I spent the rest of the evening looking out for these “answered prayers”. What were the “big asks” in my life? Did those gifts from the Lord cause gratitude or grievance to flow from my heart?

Last year, about this time, I wrote about being burdened by our blessings. What if, in reality- God never meant for us to be overwhelmed? What if we’re the ones who asked for more and then ran off without asking for His help?

Here’s my confession, church. I often think that I’m forsaken. I recognize all that He’s done for me, but I forget that He still holds it all. When I don’t know how to manage it, I feel like I’m letting Him down. Like I’m not trustworthy with what He’s given me. Then I run myself ragged trying to keep up with the weight of that burden. Feeling like He’s left me to fend for myself. It’s a lie straight from Satan- to think that you’re left to do it on your own. Jesus even said “I am with you always, to the ends of the earth.” (Matthew 28:20)

God told Moses, “I will be with you.”

He reminded Joshua, “Wherever you go, I go.”

Through Isaiah He called to Israel saying, “I will feed you, carry you in My arms, gently lead you, and hold you close to My heart.” (Isaiah 40:11)

David declared, “God does not abandon His people; His heritage. He holds my right hand and guides me with His counsel. Whom have I but Him?” (Psalm 94:14, 73:23-25)

God doesn’t “help those that help themselves”. God helps those who turn to Him and ask. for. help. It’s time I take inventory of the answered prayers in my life. May I approach each one with a new understanding that the Lord of All is in the business of redeeming my feeble attempt at controlling it all.

Maybe then, the conversation with my Heavenly Father will look more like this:

This is what you asked for.

Ok Lord, now show me how it works.

Lord, I haven’t a clue. I’m grateful, but I’m buried in these blessings. Show me how You intend to use the things You’ve given me. What would you have me say to this friend? When should I approach this issue at work? Where do I invest my time and finances? How would you have me show grace to my children? And in the name of all that is holy, how am I supposed to relate to this man you so graciously gave me?

I know I asked for it all. And I thank You for every ounce of it. Please show me how it works.

That’s my prayer for us this time around. That we would be open to seeing our answered prayers, recalling where they came from, and bringing our generous God back into frame so we can better picture His plan for us. There’s no shame in needing a never-changing God to direct us in this ever-changing heap of blessings.

Kari

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Pushed Out- Recalling What's Really Real

A few weeks ago, the Children’s Ministry started a variety of new and exciting programs! Their goal is to bring the message of truth to transform and shape some of the youngest minds of our congregation. Children’s Church brings the Sunday morning message to even the smallest of ears:)

Full disclosure: bringing the bible to a bunch of inquisitive children is no small task! One must be prepared. One must be ready to answer the most outlandish and curious riddles known to man! Like “So… Ms. Kari....did the whale have a room inside of it!?”

There’s a hidden blessing of accountability in all that questioning, if we choose to see it that way. When the children are reaching for answers, it summons the heart and mind of the adult to go deeper into the endless ocean of God’s wonder, grace, and majesty.

Honestly? It makes me a little nervous each week as I go in to prepare. Reading through the lens of a child, I’m looking at details in these classic bible stories and they seem to be hitting me for the first time! It’s like “I don’t remember hearing this at all! Since when did it say that Jonah threw a hissy fit whenever the people of Nineveh were saved? What a jerk! I think my Sunday School teacher left that part out.”

I can name a handful of men and women in my formative years that invested a lot of time in my biblical upbringing. The Sunday School teachers, Wednesday night volunteers, and church camp chaperones. We spoke of the bible often and I’m sure that wonderful things were spoken over me. However, when I really stop and think about my childhood, there’s a lot I don’t remember. Some things do stick out though, and I recall incredible truths, filled with details and information from scripture that brought me to a greater understanding of the Jesus I know and love today.

So maybe the problem isn’t that I didn’t hear all that much about Jonah. Maybe something else got in the way. Of course someone told me all about the wondrous love of Jesus. Maybe it’s just that a lot has been said since then.

For instance, I remember hearing how Jesus wasn’t real, around the time I found out Santa wasn’t real. I recall being at a lunch table in the 6th grade when a close friend made a snarky comment about how “church people are just hypocrites'' and it confused me a great deal. I loved church people! I had friends in high school tell me that I was a prude and a goody goody. It became all too clear that nothing I valued was valued outside the walls of my church. The experiences of Jesus and the bible around me began to shape me from the inside out.

So what happened to the truths spoken over me all those years ago?

Simply put- They got pushed out.

You’re not my friend anymore.

No one’s going to like you if you don’t do it.

If you really loved God, you would stop sinning.

You’re just not my type.

No one cares what you think.

You’re a Jesus Freak.

This is way more fun than some stupid bible study.

The church is a joke. They’re all set in their ways.

Those people don’t love God. Stay away from them.

Instead of opening my bible to combat what I was hearing, I tuned in to every channel where these lies were being spoken. I would rather sing the tune of a popular song than to be made fun of for the melody in my heart.

What are we allowing the world to speak over us? What negative influences are pushing out all the positive kingdom advances of our youth? How has “The Jesus Of Back Then” faded into the background of our lives? How did He go from being the main character in our story to being casted in a supporting role?

I’ll be the first to say it. “Lord, forgive me.”

Good news is all around us in the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It ought to be the cry of our hearts that Jesus’ name would ring louder than any sound. Not as a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:41), but as the majestic and powerful melody that it is. (Psalm 29:1-4) I repent of the things I let push out the goodness of God’s love and lordship over my life. It’s time to take back those years, dig back in, and hold ourselves accountable to recalling what’s really real.

Kari

Friday, August 27, 2021

close enough.

When Jared and I first got married, I thought I knew everything there was to know about him. He wore cool shoes, held a good job, loved Jesus, and seemed to like me a lot :) As for the other details, I figured they’d come naturally. As far as his likes and dislikes were concerned, I was confident I had him pegged.

I soon found out my post-nuptial assumptions were dead wrong. I actually knew very little about my new handsome hubby. In fact, I had more misinformation about him than I realized, which led to one misunderstanding after another. Believe it or not, it all started with a bag of Reese's pieces.

I thought Jared loved Reese's pieces candies. For Christmas, I would put them in his stocking. Anniversaries, birthdays, movie nights, “just ‘cause” presents, … you name it. I’d throw in a box of those chocolate coated peanut butter circles and wait for his reaction. Best wife ever! Or so I thought. One day, he finally spoke up. It’s important to note how difficult it must have been for him to say this. He’s the sweetest guy on the face of the planet but he had finally endured enough.

“Babe. I don’t like these.”

“What do you mean you don’t like these? You LOVE these!” I jested.

“No I don’t. I’ve never liked these.” He used the word never. It crushed me. Inside, I was red-faced.

“But I buy these for you all of the time.” I argued.

“I know you do. And I don’t like them. I like Reese's peanut butterCUPS. Not pieces.”

It didn’t stop there. Over the next several months, it all started to unravel. Suddenly, I was wrong about everything. I thought “What Happens in Vegas” was his favorite movie. Wrong. Watching baseball was his favorite pastime. Wrong. I bought him several flat-billed caps only to discover that he found them to be “too boxy.” Wrong again. He didn’t seem to like anything I picked out for him; I was failing at every attempt I made to move forward.

It’s painful to describe how this made me feel … like a lousy wife, a terrible listener, and an ignorant friend. How could I be in love with this guy when it seemed like I barely knew him? For a time, I started to doubt that we were even supposed to be together.

Instead of taking each of those instances as opportunities for closeness, I chose to walk in the shame and upset that comes from being wrong. These could have been occasions for insight into yet another side of my sweet husband but I allowed it to become a huge stumbling block in our marriage. Rather than embracing this new information, I wanted to have absolutely nothing to do with it. In that season of our relationship, you could have asked me anything about Jared and I would have told you, “I have no idea. Sorry. Can’t help you.”

Fortunately; I had godly friends who helped me wake up, stop moping, and encouraged me to grow closer to my husband instead of grumbling over a B-rated movie and some candy preferences. As luck would have it, I also had an insanely patient husband who saw me fail miserably time and time again and kindly helped me get to know who he really was. As I allowed for space for him to speak, he in turn became more vocal. Truthfully, we began to thrive. I have to say, he grows sweeter with time.

As this season took a shift, I became more confident in engaging with Jared, planning for him, and speaking on his behalf. My “I have no idea,” turned into “Oh, he would love that!” or “I’m not sure, let me ask him.” I’ve gained a newfound confidence as his wife and friend. I can honestly write this with a smile because I know there’s still so much I don’t know about that man, but I now delight in the newness of his ever-changing personality and interests.

Gummy bears. Those are his absolute favorite. Nowadays, I can plan a movie night in which I pick up the pizza (another favorite), buy the candy, and select a movie I think we’d both enjoy. Granted, I’m not always spot on, but I’m close enough. Close enough to love him and appreciate the fact that he loves me even in my unknowing.

Friends, I must confess that the same is true with my relationship with Jesus. Time and time again, I think I have Him pegged and yet, I constantly misstep in my pursuit of Him. I think I know everything there is to know about His word, but I’m painfully mistaken and unsettled as a result. I mistreat His people, misrepresent His word, and misunderstand His heart. Oftentimes, it causes me to grow frustrated because I’ve been in a relationship with Him for so long and yet, I still seem to know very little.

Just as it was with my spouse, the Father is slowly revealing things about Himself that are different than we’ve grown accustomed to understanding. It’s hard to accept in the beginning. But I find that if I can swallow my pride, engage in conversation with Him through prayer, and seek after His heart, I can receive far more than I ever did in fighting for what I thought I knew. Whether you’re brand new to the faith or thirty years in, it is a dangerous assumption to believe that you have God pegged. There will come a time in your life when you’ll be reading scripture, scratch your head, and think “this doesn’t look like You. I have no idea what this means.” The faith-filled life is a constant surrender to the things we don’t quite comprehend. It’s only when I surrender my assumptions that I find peace and confidence in truly knowing Him.

The good news is that our God, while vast and complex, is never-changing and never-failing. To misunderstand Him is an honest mistake. A mistake we have all made. Give yourself a break. Of course you’re not going to understand it all; He’s the one who’s all-knowing! There’s freedom found in the realization that He is bigger, and greater, and far more than we could ever fathom. There is so much about Him that we will never fully understand and those gray areas will only serve to strengthen our faith if we let them. My prayer is that when we feel that gentle correction fall upon us, we would welcome it. We would earnestly seek to dive deeper. We would know Him more.

I leave you with this verse. May it go before you, excite you into seeking more, and guide your heart into depths unknown :)

Love, Kari

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever- faith, hope, and love- and the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:11-13

Pray

Lord, help us to delight in our misunderstandings. May it draw us nearer to Your heart. Let the covenant of Your grace in our lives sustain us in the unknowing. In Your mighty and majestic ways, may we find freedom in the lovely realization that we don't have to know it all. Help us to rest in the peace that surpasses all understanding. Amen

Reflect

1. How comfortable are you with things you don't understand? What fears arise when you come across things that are clearly out of your control?

2. How do you feel when someone acts out of character? Does it concern you? Why or why not? Do people in relationship with you feel free to "change" areas of their life if need be?

3. For the following questions, mark your answers on a scale of 1-10.

How well do you think you know God's will for your life?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

How much of scripture makes sense to you?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

How much of scripture do you feel uncertain about?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

4. How do you approach new ideas in scripture? When's the last time you read something that caused pause? How did you react?

Do Something

Speak with your local pastor about some of the things troubling you in scripture. See if they have any resources they could recommend that might help you make peace with these areas of "unknowing".

Get familiar with parts of the bible that are foreign to you. See if you can participate in a book study with another friend or bible study group.

Pray over your concerns. Pray over your doubts. Pray over your fears. Ask others to partner with you in prayer as you admit to the things that are beyond your comprehension. Take delight in them!

Write down areas in your relationships where you are having trouble with someone's sudden change or shift in "who you know them to be". Pray over these things and ask God to give you peace and discernment moving forward.

See Good Things

Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Cultivating Through Cheap Shots: The Covid-Hack Debacle of 2021

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Dissapointed: Learning to Say His Name

Sunday, October 31, 2021

God and the Goodie Bag

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

This Is What You Asked For

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Pushed Out- Recalling What's Really Real

Friday, August 27, 2021

close enough.

This Week's Devotional

The Little Blue Tractor- A Mother's Investment