Proverbs 14:4
Not having an ox makes it very easy to keep the stall clean and neat. You don’t have to do the hard work of cleaning up its crap.
But guess what.
You’re starving to death because you have no ox power to farm with!
When you’re not close to anyone, when you don’t really let anyone in to the deep parts of your life, you can keep everything pretty neat and tidy looking. But we all know you’re starving. You’re dying to tell someone what you’re struggling with. You ache to connect, to know you’re not alone, to know you’re not a total weirdo.
Well, we’re all weirdos. We all struggle with that “one big thing.” Everyone has it…or you’re lying. If it’s anything we’ve learned in ministry, it’s that every single person struggles with something, no matter how neat and tidy the barn looks.
So you’re not perfect. So you don’t have it all together all the time. Big smelly deal! Oh wow, like you’re sooooooo unique. You mean you struggle with something? Well you weak and pathetic loser, I have conquered all sin and temptation in my life, so I cannot hang out with you or listen to your confessional nonsense.
Right.
One of the greatest things we can offer people as followers of Jesus, is to listen without judgement. To embrace someone in their embarrassment and shame. To be fully known and fully accepted. This is the love of Jesus.
So it’s about time you sucked it up and joined the Struggling Weirdos Club, because we’re all members and Jesus knows it already. It’s just that some of us haven’t applied for our membership card yet. But oh how liberating it is when you officially sign up! Your struggles start to lessen. You go longer in between dark times, you recover more quickly, because you are sharing it, exposing it to the light, receiving support, taking it to the true Source of power and love that conquers all.
Do you want neat and tidy? Or messy and meaningful?
Matthew 14:29-30
“Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
When you look down, you drown.
Looking to Jesus for guidance, inspiration, direction, and strength, you will no doubt do great things.
No matter who you are.
We can accomplish anything in the power of the resurrection.
Looking at the obstacles at our feet, we trip and fall. Energy flows where direction goes. Whatever you focus on, you give power to over your life. Focus on the obstacles in your life, and you empower them to block you more and more from true life. Focus on Jesus more, and you allow His power more into your life and over all darkness. All authority has been given to Him.
As someone said,
Stop telling God how big your problems are, and start telling your problems how big your God is!