Drowning in Shallow

Whether our calendars are bursting at the seams or nearly empty...the need to slow down remains regardless. The speed of our minds and hearts can easily drown out the inner quiet that hearing from God requires.

Harsh words, critical judgements and inflammatory sarcasm are far too easy to find these days. We’re all facing the need for forgiveness somehow. Regardless of the size or brand of transgression, we’re called to fight bitterness and forgive. But how?   Here are some observations that have helped me.

There’s seems to be lots of confusion, guilt, pressure and urgency around the topic of Biblical forgiveness. If we misunderstand what we’re called to, we find ways of coping with our bent definitions that short-circuit the whole reason to forgive in the first place. Distortions of the purpose of forgiveness pose a barrier to deepening relationship between us and God.   So let’s start there: why forgive? 

When we worship a God who's story of love for us is wrought with suffering and sacrifice, and He calls us to knowing Him in progressively deepening relationship by walking the road He paved for us... where do we find relief from the pain and heartache as we journey?  He alone provides it.

We all have reasons to have "confidence in the flesh", and yet, we are called to count everything as loss compared to knowing Jesus. What is knowing God better than to you? Tune in to hear the list I'm learning to write.

“But it’s so long to wait!” This honest, un-polished exclamation can often be heard in our home by our excitable, expressive four year old daughter.  I long for resolve in my life in a number of areas. I suspect you probably do, too.  Let's find hope in Psalm 57.

How do you recite God's goodness? Family. Home. Spouse. Kids. Health. Job. Could this recounting of God’s goodness reveal my zeal for comfort, my privileges, and my love for this world? If after this tangible list my voice starts to fade and maybe I even struggle to continue to delineate His goodness, then it would be wise tap on the brakes and challenge the way I define and measure the goodness of God.

How in the world can there be peace within a storm? When uncertainty, loss, and pain abound...where can we find anchor when our circumstances remain unchanged?

This allegory describes how the unwelcome visitors of Grief, Invisibility, Muteness, Betrayal, and Solitude impact daily life.  Where is hope amidst their stays? Have a listen to find out. If you are hosting these visitors too, you are not alone.  

How do we navigate building trust when it's been broken?  We want to be authentic, we might feel pressure or rushed to re-build trust...but we also know that people are not worthy of our ultimate trust. Where do we go from here?

When I hear accusations about myself swirling in my head, their source can be from many places. Sometimes it’s my insecurities. Or sin. Sometimes its accusations from another. Sometimes it’s the enemy of my soul himself. Sometimes, its combinations, and other times, it’s all of the above. When I’ve heard and felt these attacks the last few days, I’ve started repeating the following things to myself: I’m not on trial.

What do we do when we feel like our trials are going around and around in circles?!  Where is God?

How do we disentangle ourselves from the negative experiences we have relationally, while engaging with God and His love? Let's explore a bit in Psalm 27. There are nuggets of gold here.

Dear Christian,    Don’t forget to grieve.   While truths about God’s goodness and character and the hope we have are certainly anchors in times of heartache…   if we neglect to name loss, grief, betrayal, difficulty and turmoil…

We’re all waiting. We live much of life “in the middle.” Waiting for the bigger pieces of what affects our everyday life to find resolution.   Psalm 62 tells me that I have a choice of where I direct my waiting. 

When our limited humanity is exposed, do we respond by offering weak attempts to encourage? Do we "allow" the boundaries of humanity begrudgingly? Offering cheap grace by saying, "It's ok to be [insert human limitation here.]" There is so much more encouragement available, friends. God remembers that we are dust. It is healthy, wise, loving, appropriate and right to operate within the boundaries He gave us. It glorifies Him.

Do you peek over into other's lives and wonder, "How do they do ALL of THAT?" Do you battle feeling inferior (or superior) to others? Take a listen and see if this stirs up and food for thought that might help equalize your perspective. 

Where did DROWNING IN SHALLOW and ENCOURAGED with Janelle come from? Learn a bit about your host and writer, Janelle, and the place her own encouragement stems from. Shallow platitudes can cause us to feel like we're drowning in difficulty all alone. But knowing we don't have to minimize the storm to find true hope, grants relief to be honest, and truly need Emmanuel.