Less Striving, More Abiding.

He is with you. He is for you. 

C.S. Lewis once wrote that God whispers in our pleasures and shouts in our pain. 

There has been a sound on the horizon that started as a quiet rumbling; only slightly louder than pending calamity. People felt it in their bones; this ever-present help, a calm amidst the chaos. It was easy to ignore, but you knew it was there—it was something you could call into attention whenever needed. The problem was, for most of us, it wasn’t really needed. We have all that we need! We are Americans. We are prosperous, blessed indeed. We were rising to the top, soaring like eagles. Were there some of us who were poor & destitute? Sure! But that was certainly not the norm. We were a people of prosperity. Free, Brave, and oh so divisive. It was easy to argue about every little thing when the big things didn’t seem to matter because the blessings were raining down, right? It’s easy to ignore the voice of if You love me, obey my commands when everything has been going so well, right? 

 When carnal needs seem to be met and fulfilled, it’s a lot easier to convince yourself out of the need for a Savior. When you are reaping the joys and whispers of pleasures, you can shove the pain so deep that you ignore it. It’s like popping an 800MG of Ibprofin every time you feel discomfort: Mask it with a ‘something’ until it becomes like a ‘nothing.’ THERE, but not as noticeable. Functionable pain… that’s been the name of the game. Convenient Christianity: We can go to church, or not whenever we feel like it. Tap in to the Spirit when needed, and then shake it like a polaroid picture on Monday (because, you know…we are under the law of grace, right?) 

There has been a question: Knocking on the door of our hearts: Return to me. Return to your first love. But the busy and the hustle and striving…. It seemed much more spiritual than the act of abiding. Even Christians were busy doing the “Lord’s Work” but forsaking Holiness. Forsaking the Kingdom-mandate: Love God, Love others. We complicate the simple message of the Gospel, because let’s be honest with ourselves: simple is always harder to execute than complicated is to perform. 

The pain is waking us up to that rumble, that shout; louder than all the calamity. My yoke is easy, my burden is light. Come to me, all you heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. I am the Good Shepherd. My Grace is sufficient for you. Pick up your cross… follow Me.

There is a returning to His Presence and a realization of His goodness that is coming out of this divine leveling of our playing field. The whole world has been awakened to the brokenness and pain that has been lurking in silence, and as the calamity and uncertainty rises, there is a resurgence of miracles and the joy of the Lord. 

God is doing what He always does: Making a Miracle out of the mess. Giving a gift out of loss. Bringing life out of death. Bringing pleasure out of pain. He is with you. He is for you. He is giving us today our daily bread. 

Less Striving, more abiding. Less Fear, More Love. Less anxiety, more hope. Less anger ,more joy. 

“But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,    what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,    be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously—    take God seriously.” -Micah 6:8 (MSG) 

-RS.