There are things in this world that we will never be able to understand. Harsh realities of destruction and devastation. There are corners of this world that are so engulfed in darkness that it is impossible for us to imagine a light that could penetrate said darkness. There are corners of our hearts, much the same, that we don’t ever want to show, because we think that the light will only reveal more shame, more pain.
There are things in this world that cause us to run and hide. Things that force us to our knees. Things that beat us into submission, break us into a norm. There are things so hideous that it even drives people away from being able to acknowledge the presence or even existence of Jesus.
Fear is what holds this darkness together. It is the fear of the unknown that prevents us from jumping into the inner crevasses of our souls. It is fear that keeps us in our Americanized cult of Christianity. It is fear that plays the victor in our lives, sometimes before we even realize that we are afraid. Fear spreads doubt. Fear immobilizes us, crippling our very ability to function. Fear alters what we do and who we become.
Yet we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. - Romans 8:28-30
Now let me tell you something. Let me remind myself of this. We are all called. We are all gifted in ways beyond our understanding for things that we could never even imagine. Wether you can find the courage to believe in it or not, this is a promise: YOU ARE CALLED, MARKED AND ANOINTED THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD TO BRING FORTH HIS KINGDOM. And because you are called, you are justified, you are glorified. But more important than that, this calling makes us predestined to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:30-39
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
There is no fear in God’s glory. There is no fear in His Kingdom. There is no fear in the light, for in all things, understood or not, joyful or devastating, complicated or simple, God is victorious. And God has chosen you, therefore you are victorious.
Therefore we are left with a simple choice of faith. Can you drink from the cup? Can you find it within to brave that crippling fear and step out of the boat into the arms of the one who longs to fight your battles? Can you trust even when you are so blinded by the darkness that you don’t know up from down?
Lately I have been crippled by this fear. I can’t tell up from down anymore. I have more self doubt than I know what to do with. I am discouraged, shamed and broken. But in moments of clarity, I am reminded that this is not about what I fell. It is about what I know. And what I know is that I have been remade, that I am called to drink form the very cup of Christ. I know that this boat is more of a prison, slowly sinking in the storm of life than a provision of stability. I feel that I don’t want to invite God into this storm, but I know that I have done all I can on my own and it has fallen painfully short of what needs to be done. But mostly, right now I know that God is with us, and man can do what is possible, but only Jesus can do the impossible.
So Jesus, tonight I invite you into those dark places. Jesus come into those places that are impossible and explode your light into the furthest corners of those dark places. Jesus I can’t do this without you, no matter how hard I try. We Lord, cannot do this without you. Have compassion on us Jesus. Protect us. Love us. We need you!
