“Jesus replied, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand” (John 13:7).
Considering all that is going on in our world right now, I would say this is an understatement!
One of the questions I have received lately has goes something like this: “What is God doing? Where is God in this? Why isn’t God doing something?”
The thing about these questions is that it doesn’t matter where you stand on President Trump. You can ask these questions whether you support President Trump or you support impeaching President Trump.
So what does that tell us?
First, it tells us that we need to be careful not to allow our political leanings determine how we view God. God is not a God for the Republicans. God is not a God for the Democrats. God is not even a God for Americans. God is a God for ALL people. God loves ALL sinners. So much so that God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to die for ALL sinners. ALL SINNERS.
God is for all people. We err every time when we make God a God for a select group of people.
The second thing this text teaches us is that we are finite. There are some things we will never understand, and there are some things we will only understand with the passage of time.
What we know for certain is that God is in control. Nothing happening today is catching God by surprise. God has a plan for you and for our world.
One day we will all look back and see why God made us wait. And we will see that it was for the good and for the glory of God.
“But love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18b).
Find yourself more irritable than normal?
Small things set you off
minor decisions are found taxing
routine choices seem daunting
You find things more difficult and tiresome.
Hmmm. What’s going on?
I want you to know it’s normal for you to feel this way. Even without major painful events like the racial protests over BLM over the summer or the desecration of our House and Senate chambers this past week, the pandemic has been difficult for all of us.
The pandemic – with all the social distancing, closure of cafes and restaurants, limits to gatherings, closure of businesses, malls, gyms, etc. – has taken a toll.
You see, each of us have an emotional bank account. The pandemic has been a slow drain on our emotional bank account. And, what’s worse, the usual things we normally do to replenish our emotional bank account – getting together with people we love, having a quiet time at the cafe to recharge, gathering in God’s house to recalibrate with the church family – have been taken away by the pandemic. As a result, most of us our emotional bank accounts are nearing depletion.
So, if you’re feeling spent, cut yourself some slack. It’s normal that you feel this way.
But, also know that it’s not okay to stay depleted. We will end up making poor decisions, decisions we will regret if we stay depleted.
More than ever, it’s essential we practice self-care. While a lot of things we normally do to stay emotionally healthy are not available to us, there is still much you can do to replenish your bank account.
What are the things that fill you? What are the things that add to your emotional bank account? Please take a moment to jot those things down. After you’ve identified the things that fill you and add to your emotional bank account, be intentional about adding that to your daily/weekly schedule.
Here’s the thing about filling your emotional bank account. No one is going to do these things for you. You are the only one who can make this happen for you. Being intentional means recognizing the constant slow draw and scheduling those activities and conversations that will replenish you.
This starts with regular worship. We need to worship because without a regular time of recalibration with God, we will find ourselves empty.
Secondly, don’t ignore daily time with God in prayer and God’s word. This time with God is absolutely essential.
Third, keep meeting, conversing, checking in with people who replenish you.
These are things we can all do to stay on top of caring for ourselves.
As our verse reminds us we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. When we are empty we no longer have the capacity to care for others. It starts with you being gentle with yourself and practicing self-care.
You are not in this alone. The leaders at the Little Church and Lakewoodgrace are working hard to provide you with the tools to practice self-care. We do this because we want the Little Church and Lakewoodgrace to be a beacon of light and hope. To do that, we need you to be emotionally and spiritually healthy.
Finally, God is with us. God has given each of us everything we need to not only survive the pandemic, but to thrive during the pandemic.
Be gentle on yourself. Recognize the times we are living in. Have an intentional plan of self-care and a plan to replenish your emotional bank account.
You are in my prayers. Know you are loved. Be well. Practice good self-care.
“Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness” (Psalm 29:2).
Being angry is easy. Being frustrated is easy. Anger and frustration require no action on our part. Anger and frustration happen to us. They are emotions we feel. We are passive in anger and frustration. We do not cause it. We merely feel it.
Anyone can be angry and frustrated.
The word “ascribe” in our text is written in the imperative. God commands us to ascribe.
What does ascribe mean? It means to give.
What does God command us to give? God commands us to give glory to God and to worship him.
Isn’t that interesting? Why does God command us to give or ascribe to him glory?
Perhaps it’s because everyone can be angry and frustrated with things, but only those who know that God is sovereign, that God is good, that God is in control can turn from their anger and frustration. Only those who know God are able to refocus and recalibrate their vision on God and the splendor of his holiness in order to give glory to God and worship him.
Friends, everyone is frustrated and angry. What our world needs from Christ-followers is not more frustration and anger. The world needs Christ-followers who know that God is good, to live in that reality. Because God is good and because God is sovereign, that there is much to be grateful for.
You cannot change the world by being like the world. You can only change the world by being different than the world.
When it comes to God’s glory and the splendor of his holiness, we don’t have to make up stuff to be grateful for. God is more than enough. As long as we have God, we have reason to give thanks. All we have to do is to turn our focus from the world to God; all we have to do is to recalibrate our thinking from our own thoughts to God’s glory.
This doesn’t happen by accident. This takes intentionality and will.
As you start this day, join with me in turning our focus to God and his glory. Join with me in recalibrating our minds to the splendor of his holiness.
Take a moment to sit with this verse and truth. Then, think of at least three things you are grateful for. Write them down. Start your day with gratitude and worship, and keep them with you as an anchor throughout the day.
