We enjoyed a wonderful week away with family at the DisneyWorld Resort, but it is also good to be back home. Any of you who know me well, know that have a bit of a cynical side. I must admit that that part of me didn't take a vacation last week. I do want to admit upfront that I did thoroughly enjoy my time with family and my experiences at all four Disney theme parks. That being said, let me share with you one thought coming out of my week.
There is a song that you will often hear, especially at the Magic Kingdom. Here are a few lines from the chorus:
Just believe and if you imagine,
Just believe and your dreams will come true.
While these words make for great fairy tales, they don't always work out in real life. Unfortunately, I believe that many people, often followers of Jesus, apply this idea to life. But life is not a fairy tale. Dreams don't always come true. We don't always get what we imagine if we just believe. Real life doesn't work that way.
In the real world, people sin. In the real world, people let us down. In the real world, there is pain and suffering.
This doesn't mean we don't imagine. It doesn't mean we can't dream. But it does mean we must acknowledge we live in a broken and suffering world. We cannot escape this world. Rather, we must embrace the reality of this world and encourage one another along the way.
I like stories with a happy ending. I will even sometimes cry at the end. But, I cannot allow myself to buy into the lie these stories seem to convey that everything will also turn out the way we want.
I try to live life by the following mantra: "Hope for the best, plan for the worst." I like to call it cautious optimism. Not only does it shape my outlook on life; it shapes my approach to prayer.
When I pray with an attitude of "Just believe and if you imagine, just believe and your dreams will come true," then I am setting myself up for disappointment. God is not like a theme park built with decorations and facades. God was upfront with the realities of life. God lived these realities in the person of Jesus Christ.
Because of God's willingness to live in our world, we have the ultimate promise of a place where there will be no tears and no sorrow. We live in the tension between what is and what is to come. But until that day comes when we experience the return of Christ, we must live in the reality of our world. Our prayer life must balance the brokenness of today with the promise yet to come. That's not a fantasy; it's the reality of God's faithfulness in a world waiting to be redeemed.
shine!
Jason
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Sunday, June 05, 2011
No Rock like God
In the midst of her prayer shortly after the birth of Samuel, Hannah says, “There is no Rock like our God” (2 Samuel 2:2)
What does it mean for God to be our Rock?
I think we often think of God more like a lucky charm. When we need the charm, we pull it out and wish for what we want. I don’t think that’s what Hannah had in mind when she called God a Rock.
A rock is steady. Whether the waves beat against it or the waters are calm, the rock remains. Come rain or shine, the rock remains. A rock can be a place to stand that does not move and provides stability.
Yes, Hannah’s prayer was answered. But Hannah’s response is different than a lot of our responses. It seems as though people tend to have two responses to prayer. Either they get upset when God doesn’t answer or they forget to give God credit or fulfil their commitment to God when the prayer is answered.
I think the reason that Hannah’s story is so incredible is that she kept her commitment to God after the prayer was answered. Many people would have probably said something like the following: “Thanks for the child, God. I appreciate you answering my prayer.” That was not Hannah’s response. Hannah said the following:
“I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” (1 Samuel 1:27-28)
The next time you pray and God answers, remember that God is the Rock who knows and provides for us. But God is not our personal genie. We must not forget “that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good.” (Romans 8:28)
God does not answer prayers for our individual, personal benefit. God moves in ways that consider all things and the redemption of all of Creation. Prayers are not a collection of individual requests that stack up for God to grant. Rather, prayers are a collective cry of Creation seeking the One who can make all things new.
Hannah must have had some understanding of that. When Samuel was born she did not keep him. Rather, she gave Samuel to the Lord and realized that her prayer was not answered just so she could be a mother. Rather, God used her prayer as a way to bring forth a mighty prophet who blessed the entire nation of Israel.
May we be people who seek an attitude like Hannah’s and offer prayers that frame our individual needs and desires in the larger framework of God’s mission to rescue all of Creation.
shine!
Jason
What does it mean for God to be our Rock?
I think we often think of God more like a lucky charm. When we need the charm, we pull it out and wish for what we want. I don’t think that’s what Hannah had in mind when she called God a Rock.
A rock is steady. Whether the waves beat against it or the waters are calm, the rock remains. Come rain or shine, the rock remains. A rock can be a place to stand that does not move and provides stability.
Yes, Hannah’s prayer was answered. But Hannah’s response is different than a lot of our responses. It seems as though people tend to have two responses to prayer. Either they get upset when God doesn’t answer or they forget to give God credit or fulfil their commitment to God when the prayer is answered.
I think the reason that Hannah’s story is so incredible is that she kept her commitment to God after the prayer was answered. Many people would have probably said something like the following: “Thanks for the child, God. I appreciate you answering my prayer.” That was not Hannah’s response. Hannah said the following:
“I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” (1 Samuel 1:27-28)
The next time you pray and God answers, remember that God is the Rock who knows and provides for us. But God is not our personal genie. We must not forget “that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good.” (Romans 8:28)
God does not answer prayers for our individual, personal benefit. God moves in ways that consider all things and the redemption of all of Creation. Prayers are not a collection of individual requests that stack up for God to grant. Rather, prayers are a collective cry of Creation seeking the One who can make all things new.
Hannah must have had some understanding of that. When Samuel was born she did not keep him. Rather, she gave Samuel to the Lord and realized that her prayer was not answered just so she could be a mother. Rather, God used her prayer as a way to bring forth a mighty prophet who blessed the entire nation of Israel.
May we be people who seek an attitude like Hannah’s and offer prayers that frame our individual needs and desires in the larger framework of God’s mission to rescue all of Creation.
shine!
Jason
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