The Secret Places of Our Will: A Dance with God’s Purpose

“Our battles are first won or lost in the secret places of our will, never in full view of the world.”

Think about it; the personal battles we face are not fought in arenas filled with cheering crowds. They’re fought in the quiet corners of our minds and hearts, where we wrestle with our desires, decisions, and God’s will for our lives. The world may never see these battles, but they are as real and significant as any physical war.

Take a moment to consider those things you wrestle with in your private thoughts. Maybe it’s a decision about your career, family, or a personal habit you want to change. Whatever it is, know that you’re not alone in these struggles.

“You’ll never have any idea what other people are really going through. Just know that other believers wrestle with God’s will, just like you.”

Isn’t that a comforting thought? We all face challenges, and we all wrestle with God’s will in our lives. Sometimes we wonder why things aren’t going our way or why we feel a nagging sensation that something is amiss. The beautiful part of this struggle is that it leads us closer to understanding God’s purpose for our lives.

The wrestling is not a sign of weakness or failure; it’s a dance, a continuous process of aligning our will with God’s. When we wrestle, we engage, we ask questions, we seek understanding, and in the process, we grow stronger and closer to the Creator.

Now, here’s the upbeat part: These battles, these wrestlings with God’s will, they shape us into the individuals we are meant to be. They prepare us for bigger roles in life, molding us into stronger, more compassionate beings. They teach us empathy, patience, and resilience.

Next time you find yourself in a secret battle, don’t be disheartened. Embrace it! Know that in that struggle, you are finding your path, shaping your character, and learning to dance with God’s will.

Remember, your fellow believers are dancing too. Maybe not to the same tune or in the same way, but they are engaged in the same beautiful, sometimes complex dance with destiny.

So, let’s celebrate these battles. Let’s find joy in the wrestlings. Let’s encourage each other and understand that we’re all on this journey together, each finding our way, each learning our steps, and each dancing our unique dance with God’s purpose.

Talk soon!

Less than a week ago I had eye surgery. I haven’t said a whole lot about the nature of the surgery itself. I’ll say that it hasn’t been pleasant, but it wasn’t risky. I’m doing well, and can go back to work next week.

I’ve been homebound, which for an introvert isn’t the worst thing that can happen. What has been challenging, though, is that for the first few post-op days I had to restrict screen time – very limited computer, television, iPhone, all that. Nor could I read. Any of these activities made it feel like my eyeballs were melting and running down my cheeks. There’s an image for you – reference Raiders of the Lost Ark to complete the picture.

Thank God for Audible. There is nothing wrong with having someone else read to you.

What’s been interesting, and at times downright bizarre, is how aware I’ve been of time.

I never get bored. Seriously. I can always find something to do. Boredom seems to equate to time … the more you have on your hands, the more likely boredom becomes.

And yet, time rushes by. It doesn’t matter the state of your health, what you find to do with yourself, or how busy or idle you are. Time is time. Our perception of it is what makes it real to us. It doesn’t matter if you’re cleaning the bathtub or composing a symphony. It moves at the same pace regardless of my request to speed things up, or slow things down.

Laying on the couch with cold compresses over my eyes, in self-imposed darkness, I got to thinking about where the time has gone, and I’m talking about 67 years of time.

The usual thoughts crop up. Watching our kids grow up and start families. Experiencing body parts wearing out. Thinking about places I’ve lived, churches I’ve served, people who have crossed my path that made indelible impressions on me, and watching the seasons change.

To use a shopworn phrase: “It is what it is.” Time, I mean.

Know what I can do, though? In spite of the flow of time, I can make choices as how to use it. Things around me change all the time. I just need to make wise decisions in the midst of all that change. I am not powerless. I can choose. I have the power to choose.

You do, too. You can absolutely choose the quality of your life even if you can’t control the outcome of what’s happening around you.

What I’m seeing in these days are so many people yearning for a return to what once was, whatever that is to them. They don’t want to change unless it can take them back to a perceived better place.

Well, pilgrim, things do change, sometimes rapidly, and there is plenty that we’ll never go back to. We have to grapple with that.

I am not exempt from how life keeps moving in me and around me. And there’s a conclusion that is certain: unless Jesus delays his return (and I’m so dang ready for that!) then I am going to pass away. You too.

While that sounds grim, it’s really not. Our deaths should be a healthy consideration, because it helps us determine what we need to be about in the meantime.

It’s simple, really. We need to make wise choices. I can’t spend my life paralyzed thinking about how awful things are. I mean, we live in a fallen world. Should we expect anything other than awfulness?

What are we supposed to do, then?

Slow down a bit. (I’ve been forced to do that, and it ain’t all bad.)

We live in the midst of chaos, and it will continue relentlessly.

Try standing still.

You know what the end game is. I get the picture of storm-driven ocean waves crashing against a rock – the waves part and spray and the rock stays firm.

Beloved, you can actually choose to be that rock. Read that again. It’s absolutely true. Don’t play the victim. Don’t bemoan how awful things are. (And my mantra: Avoid the news, except for the things you can actually take action on. Feel free to watch sports and weather, though. Most everything else will put you in a dark place, and you don’t need to do that to yourself.)

Yeah, there are changes that need to be made. I’m not advocating abdicating your responsibilities as a parent, son, daughter, friend, citizen, church member, or anything like that. There are things to be improved, values to embrace and defend, and priorities to set.

Know this: if we’re going to make any changes, it’s time to do that right now, because time is limited. You have to choose, and you’re supernaturally equipped to do just that. Life is a gift, and a long(er) life isn’t guaranteed. How you choose will impact your present and shape your future.

In October of 2016 I gave up worrying. It didn’t seem to help. I recommend doing that.

Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. Maybe just “whelmed.”

Ancient script has some good stuff to encourage you.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

As always, believer, I feel obligated to share this: Whatever you’re facing, it’s gonna be alright. It always has been, and always will be. Without fail. Easy? Probably not. The ultimate victory? It’s all yours.

Choose wisely and make things more fulfilling and rewarding for yourself.

Talk later! Responses are encouraged and welcome.

Gratitude and thankfulness are easy to overlook.

It’s a perverse part of our nature to gravitate toward the negative, to bemoan the fact that things aren’t going as we wish they would. Whining, complaining? That comes easy. But to count our blessings, to show gratitude and thankfulness – that can be challenging.

My contention is that forgetting gratitude and thankfulness erodes our very souls. If we want to cultivate hope in perfectly awful days, we can do better.

As Christians, we have to be mindful that God is sovereign over all things. I mean, dang – I can act as though things are out of control, and in reality, they never are. Never.

Everything that happens to us is ultimately for our good and His glory. If we could embrace that – and that’s something we all already know – we’d have a deep sense of gratitude and thankfulness, even when circumstances would lead us to curl up in a ball.

So, beloved, let’s ponder six reasons why gratitude and thankfulness are essential for cultivating hope. This’ll preach.

All my points are going to be pretty self-evident. Don’t look for any earth-shattering revelations. We’re back to basics today.

1 – Gratitude and thankfulness remind us of God’s goodness and faithfulness.

When we’re grateful, we focus on the blessings in our lives rather than the difficulties. This is a great perspective to have; it helps us remember that God is good and that He has been faithful to us in the past.

The Bible tells us that God is good, and everything He does is good (Psalm 119:68). When we focus on what we have instead of what we lack, we begin to see the abundance of blessings God has given us.

The Israelites could teach whining on a collegiate level. In Exodus, these folks were wandering around in the desert complaining about their circumstances. (Of course, we’d never be guilty of such a thing.) God says, “Aight, folks, here’s your manna. Here’s your quail. Nowquitcherbellyachin.”

God provided in short order. Think He won’t provide for us, too? Philippians 4:6-7, right? There’s a path to gratitude and thankfulness right there.

2 – Thankfulness and gratitude help us to focus on what we have, rather than what we lack.

This is a companion thought to that first point, and another facet of gratitude and thankfulness. When we’re grateful for what we have, we’re less likely to focus on what we don’t have. That perspective helps us to be content with our current circumstances, even if they aren’t ideal. Believe that?

Contentment is an essential ingredient for cultivating hope. It allows us to trust that God is working all things together for our good.

The apostle Paul wrote, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:11-12.) Paul’s contentment was rooted in his gratitude for the Lord’s provision, and it enabled him to have hope in the midst of difficult circumstances. Take that, complainers!

3 – Gratitude and thankfulness help us cultivate joy.

When it comes to gratitude and thankfulness, those values lead to joy. Every single time. What powerful tools!

The Bible tells us that joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). When we cultivate gratitude, we open our hearts to receive the joy that God desires to give us.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, we are commanded to “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” When we choose to be grateful, we are aligning our hearts with God’s will for our lives, which can bring great joy and hope.

As always, be wary of putting joy and happiness on the same level. Happiness is transient – it’s based on circumstances of the moment and can be fleeting. A really good pizza can make me happy, but sooner or later I’ll be hungry again. Joy keeps me well-fed and perpetually content.

4 – Thankfulness and gratitude help us overcome anxiety.

Have you ever thought about this? Worry can be so pervasive. Maybe that’s your kryptonite. It might be that you worry because you worry. Because, as a believer, worry is sinful, right?

Anxiety can be a significant barrier to cultivating hope, but gratitude can help us overcome it. When we focus on what we have instead of what we lack, we begin to see that God is faithful and that He will provide for our needs.

You have plenty. I’m not just talking about stuff and things. We could stay in that arena and you’d have to admit you have all you need to sustain yourself. I’m also talking about those wonderful intangibles, things like your salvation. It’s not going to be taken away from you.

Here’s gold-standard scripture. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus encourages us not to worry about our needs but to trust that God will provide for us. He says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” When we choose to be grateful, we are choosing to trust in God’s provision and to let go of our anxieties. You can choose. Isn’t that amazing.

5 – Gratitude and thankfulness help us to love others.

This is an interesting point.

When we are grateful, we are more likely to show love and kindness to others. Gratitude helps us to see the good in people and to appreciate the ways in which they bless our lives.

I know this can be hard. How can you be thankful for someone who did you wrong?

There is a supernatural element to this, obviously. In the flesh, it’s well nigh impossible to be grateful for those bad people in your life. Yet God engineers circumstances so that our lives intersect with the most unlovable people, and there is always a divine reason for that.

In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, we are told that love is patient, kind, and keeps no record of wrongs. When we choose to be grateful for the people in our lives, even the stinkers, we are cultivating love and kindness towards them.

6 – Gratitude and thankfulness help us to see God’s provision.

I keep circling back around to this one, trying to frame it in an accessible way.

The Bible tells us that God is the source of all blessings and that every good and perfect gift comes from Him (James 1:17). When we focus on what we have instead of what we lack, we can see the many ways in which God has provided for us.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we are told to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. When we choose to be grateful and thankful, we are acknowledging God’s provision in our lives, which can bring hope and encouragement in difficult times.

It all comes down to the all-sufficiency of God. The Bible tells us that God is faithful and that He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6.) The promise of His presence is a promise to claim. You don’t face anything in life on your own. Absolutely nothing.

You are not alone in your struggles. Other people might not get it, or you. People are gifts from God (and you may wish some had a generous return policy … it’s like, “Hey, God, You can have this one back!”)

Just remember. God is with you, even in your darkest moments. Gratitude and thankfulness will help you experience that.

Talk later.

Who wouldn’t want a better life? It can be yours.

What was it the old preacher said? “Put the hay where the sheep can get to it.”

Maybe today you’re feeling sheepish, and need some good hay. I hope this’ll fit the bill.

The context: I’ve spoken before about the gap between where I want and need to be and where I actually am. Chances are you know what I’m talking about. It’s a matter of having values and standards, and knowing clearly what they are … and not acting on them in real-life situations.

Or, you ask for advice and if it doesn’t appeal to you – even if it’s good – you don’t take it.

Worst of all, you’re aware that your attitudes, and the actions that grow from them, are stifling your growth. You get frustrated, and paralyzed, and you stay in the same sorry state you’re already in. And THAT leads to self-loathing and a sense of being unworthy.

Take heart. It doesn’t have to remain that way. You can have a better life, but you do have to act.

Let me share six thoughts with you. Each thought should ideally lead to action on your part and lead you toward a better life.  Let’s strive for deeds and not just words with this list, okay?

1. Hate no one, no matter how much they’ve wronged you. (And I’m sure you’re saying, c’mon, Tony, that’s not what I wanted to hear right out of the chute.) For some, hate comes easily, and I wouldn’t presume in this simple blog to try to analyze the why’s. It may be that ingrained childish impulse to hurt back when we’ve been hurt (as if that would change anything.) I’m not persuaded that hating anyone for any reason ends up positively for the person doing the hating. I’m not discounting the crystalline pain that comes when someone does you wrong. What I do want to state is that hate won’t undo what has already happened. That’s rear-view mirror stuff. And that person entered your life for a reason, as unfathomable as that might be. We can learn lessons from good and bad people. Bottom line: hating someone else doesn’t change a thing. If anything, it makes you feel even worse.
2. Live humbly, no matter how wealthy you are. This may not be an issue for you, because you feel you don’t have much to begin with. This actually has more to do with our Western fixation on “stuff” – acquiring and holding onto material things. I’ll admit that there are thing I appreciate – air conditioning in my car, my Instant Pot, my iPhone. I am thoroughly unimpressed with people who flaunt their things. If you determine your worth based on your “worth,” then how will you feel when you don’t have it any more? The goal is to simply live humbly, as in “live within your means,” and be grateful for that. I struggle with delayed gratification, because when I want something I want it then. That’s put me in a tough place more than once. Right now, take a moment and look around. My guess is you have everything you need and a lot of things you simply want, and that’s not a bad thing. You are doing fine. Better than fine, actually. You already have a better life than many.
3. Think positively, no matter how hard life is. This is not some pop psychology, pump yourself up directive. You can start by realizing that you are not unique and that there are a couple of gazillion other people who have faced or are facing the same challenges you are. That may not lessen your pain, but there is some comfort in knowing you aren’t alone. Second, thinking positively may not change your situation, but it will change you. You for sure can’t change other people, and you may not be able to change your circumstances. You can change your heart. This should be self-evident. I mean, don’t you feel better when you embrace the positive rather than dwell on the negative? You are responsible. You can change your outlook. Pity the person who builds themselves a cage of misery, places themselves in it, and locks the door and tosses away the key. When you don’t think positively, what you are saying is that you are psychic to the extent that you know exactly what is going to happen, i.e., things will never get any better. You are positive because there is always hope of a better life.
4. Give much, even if you’ve been given little. We can start with giving away tangible things – money, for instance. I know money is hard to come by, and there is something in our primordial nature that makes us want to cling to what we have. Even now, I’m watching our grandson try to grasp the concept of sharing, and it doesn’t come easy. He’s pretty selective about what he shares, and with who. But you know how good you feel when you’re able to help someone else out? How about if that was a lifestyle? And if you’re operating from a scarcity mindset, just remember that you are living in abundance. For believers, remember that ancient script tells us that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. That’s a nice transitional thought to the principle of giving yourself away. Is there anything more noble or rewarding than spending yourself in a cause bigger than yourself? Or giving yourself to someone who can be blessed because of you? You may not have much money, but you do have a big ol’ heart. Be expansive. Be extravagant.
5. Forgive all, especially yourself. This is a companion thought to #1, above. Here’s the reality – folks have done you bad. You may even have a “nemesis” out there, someone who is simply out to get you. Or they’ve already gotten you. I’ve looked hard, and I can’t for the life of me find justification to not forgive. There’s not a loophole in sight. Forgiveness isn’t conditional. We could tease out some scenarios where you might feel justified in saying, “I just can’t forgive so-and-so for what they did,” but that justification won’t stand up under the reality of what we are commanded to do. Then there’s the matter of forgiving yourself. This is a tough one. You know yourself, your heart, and what you’ve done. It may be that there is real shame attached to something in your past. Again, though, you can’t take it back. Don’t pretend that feeling bad about yourself will make you feel better. There is a biblical concept called “repentance,” which means not only do you feel conviction about what you’ve done, but you resolve to accept Forgiveness and turn away from the thing that caused personal grief in the first place. Don’t dwell on the bad you’ve done. Concentrate on the good that is in you.
6. Never stop praying for the best for everyone. If you ever catch yourself wishing ill will on someone else, shame on you. How would wanting someone to hurt help you? There may be a perverse satisfaction in seeing “someone get what was coming to them,” but it is a satisfaction based on our own selfish sense of vengeance. I’ve heard this all my life, but I’ve finally accepted that it’s hard to hate someone when you’re praying for them. You’ll have to determine what someone else’s “best” is as you pray for them. A good place to start is to pray for that person’s hard heart, that it be softened and opened to the possibility of goodness and peace. Pray for a better life for them! My former boss says “hurt people hurt people,” and that’s a pretty wise statement. Wouldn’t your own heart be softened if you knew someone who dislikes you was praying for you?

These six thoughts are all interconnected, and one is not more important than the other. So do a little introspection, determine where you need to go to work, and get after it. You can be hopeful. Who you are not is not who you’re destined to remain.

Doesn’t “getting rest” sound appealing? Not rest in the sense you need to recharge before taking on some other task. Rather, it’s just getting rest because you are supposed to get rest.

I ran across this on someone else’s Instagram page:

I had to check out The Nap Ministry, and I found that they aren’t a Christian site, so I want to be wary about the term “ministry.” Still, the sentiment expressed here fits in well with the ancient mandate of Sabbath. That’s not something we do well in 2021, at least here in the West, or the United States.

We equate busyness with godliness. Where’d that come from?

Face it: You are probably carrying a much greater load than you should be. We all do. We have obligations, responsibilities, and simple work that we think we have to fulfill.

I’d suggest that if we don’t have ways to lighten that load, we’re gonna ultimately be crushed, of no use to ourselves or anyone else.

There’s a component of guilt involved in this situation, too. We feel we’re totally and uniquely responsible for doing our duty. Well, we are obligated to our duties. Problem is, we struggle to distinguish what our own duties are, and invariably we load more stuff on ourselves. Then we hold out our martyr cards for someone else to punch, and we get a sick satisfaction out of knowing we’ve worked and served really hard.

“Getting rest,” then, seems to be the same as being lazy.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

You’re probably already ahead of me on this, but ancient script says this in Matthew 11:28-30:

²⁸ “Come to me,all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

From time to time, I’m asked if I have a “life verse.” I really don’t – it just depends on what season of life I’m in at any given time, and often I’ll find a passage that speaks to me. This one is especially resonant these days.

Know why? I’m tired.

I’m tired of meanness. I’m tired of people shaming each other because they don’t see things the same way (in politics, in pandemics, in a whole host of other areas.) I’m tired of people going for the “gotcha” on social media. I don’t want to assume motives on the part of others, but it seems that some are trying to persuade their peers to come around to their way of thinking.

Let me say that implying the other person is an idiot is not a good way to win fans. And while I love a funny meme as much as the next person, it doesn’t hurt to do a motive check before posting. Are you trying to be helpful, encouraging, or just plain funny – or are you getting some sort of validation by displaying your superior, smug attitude because you know better than everyone else?

I know I’m coming across as sanctimonious. Moving on … we were talking about getting rest, right?

Backing up to my scripture reference … there are plenty of reasons to turn to Jesus in these days (and, of course, there are always plenty of reasons to do so!) Sometimes we need healing, other times purpose, and always we need encouragement. Maybe we don’t come to Jesus because of stress and the need for rest like we should.

I’m talking about the kind of stress that comes from a tired mind and weary soul. Lets’s collectively ‘fess up – at some point, we’re all gonna deal with either tension, worry, fear, anxiety, depression, or a combination of all these. That’s why that photo I posted above might be helpful.

But, that’s just a short-term fix. Because at some point, you have to get up from that nap and re-enter the external world.

You’re gonna be impressed with my grasp of the obvious here, but the only thing that will help is God Himself. Just spending time with Him alone.

I think so many of our problems in life grow from our inability to simply be still.

It’s matter of sitting down with God, asking “Is there anything you need to tell me?” And then just shutting the heck up and listening.

Another issue? It might be that you are trying to control too much.

You think everything relies on you, and you’re responsible for making it all right.

This is a tough one for me. I have never perceived myself as being a control freak – a tendency I see in others that drives me nuts – but I do see that there are plenty of times when I want others to be getting rest while I sacrifice my own need for rest for them.

Well, Tony, you are not the Assistant to the Holy Spirit. I can resign and the world won’t fall apart.

Since most of us don’t live in an agrarian society any more, the concept of being yoked doesn’t mean a lot. The illustration Jesus is going for here is the picture of two farm animals, oxen, specifically, being bound together with their necks in a piece of wood called a yoke. That yoke halves the load for those animals. It’s a partnership.

We were never designed to carry all the stress in our lives by ourselves. I mean – duh – Jesus is saying He’ll carry part of the load for us. It’s how we’re hardwired as believers – we’re supposed to depend on Him.

One part of this yoke analogy we don’t think about is that the yoke is also a symbol of control. Oxen are yoked together because the farmer wants them to move in the same direction.

My admittedly obvious observation is that we can get in serious trouble when we don’t go in the same direction as Jesus. We experience stress and grief when we try to do things our own way.

I mean – we’re always gonna be yoked to something – other’s expectations, our perceived necessity to the world, or even our own selfish wants.

If I’m gonna be yoked to something, then, I want it to be the easiest yoke I can choose. Getting rest is the result.

Jesus wants us to learn humility and gentleness from Him. That’s the opposite of arrogance and aggression. That’s one reason that, as of late, I’ve tried not to post anything on social media that isn’t positive, uplifting, or funny – and that means not trying to be funny at the expense of someone else. (And, as I’ve often noted, humor is in the eye of the beholder, and my sense of funny and yours might not match up. But I mean no harm!)

Ultimately, you are not in control of everything in your life. You might jump way out ahead of what God is teaching you, and the consequences of your words and actions can come back and bite you in the nether regions.

The antidote, then, is to trust Him. If getting rest is what you need, here’s a promise you want to claim.

Talk later!

It may feel like we collectively, and you, specifically, are in a bad way – but it’s not all that bad.

“Tony,” you say, “you gotta be kidding me.”

It’s true, though. It’s not all that bad. I’ve had a little epiphany, courtesy of a federal judge and Yale law professor named Guido Calabresi. 

You can check him out, but I want to share a little parable that he’s been telling law students for decades. It’s paraphrased, but you’ll get the gist of it, and you’ll realize it’s not all that bad.

Calabresi asks students to imagine what it’d be like if a god came to earth and offered all society an invention that would forever change and improve daily life. It would allow folks to spend more time with friends and family, see new places, experience new things. There would be, however, a high cost. If the god bestowed this invention on us, then he would also choose 1000 young men and women and strike them dead.

So, would you take the god up on this deal? Calabresi’s students would invariably say NO. Then Calabresi would deliver the zinger: “What’s the difference between this and the automobile?”

You can check the stats for yourself, but cars kill far more than 1000 people a year. In the United States, it’s about 40,000 annually. And we generally don’t give that a thought. Car accidents have always been a part of our lives. Chances are you’ve been in one or at least know folks who have been. In spite of this, we believe that cars are not all that bad.

You may be way ahead of me by now, but the point is clear: We, as humans, can be irrational about risk.

Think about it. There are things that are risky, for sure. Driving is one thing. Pollution is bad. We don’t think about that.

What we do latch onto, though, are those random and highly unlikely things. I, for one, am not a great flyer. Plane crashes bother me. The odds, though, are incredibly low that I’ll die in an airplane incident.

Other things that terrify folks might include shark attacks, getting struck by lightning, or getting kicked in the head by a mule. Or, even, dying from COVID-19. You may get it (I did), but the odds of you dying from it are almost negligible.

The companion terror to that recently has been the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. I’m not of a mind today to get in a vaccine debate … my counsel all along has been to talk to your personal physician and do what he or she recommends. They most likely know more than you do. Don’t let your Google search trump their medical degree.

Regarding Johnson and Johnson – at this writing, six women have developed rare blood clots within three weeks after receiving it, and one of them died. About 6.8 million had received the vaccine by then. Again, just playing the numbers, the odds of getting blood clots from J&J is less than one in a million.

So why do we let such minuscule things like this bother us, when it’s not all that bad?

Part of it, these days, is because so much new is coming at us. In the early days of the pandemic, we were all like deer in the headlights – as in, “What the heck is happening here?”

The media, of course, contributes to our fear. I call it “Pandemic Porn” – it’s like the news is tailored to get some sort of weird backward negative thrill from us. It’s always “look how bad things are!” And, of course, shark attacks are newsworthy, and video footage finds itself in an endless social loop.

Don’t hate, and don’t judge, but I’m persuaded that COVID is curable, because the vaccines seem to have nearly eliminated death, hospitalization, and other connected illnesses. You may disagree, but remember – my experts can beat up your experts.

Still, one thing we can agree on is that for many people, vaccinated and otherwise, there is a lingering obsession over the risks of COVID. And this blog isn’t all about COVID – it’s more about our skewed worldview, brought on by a host of factors, that leads people to think things are eternally awful. But things simply aren’t all that bad.

I can state that with confidence. Know why?

It’s because I embrace the fact of the bigness and sovereignty of God.

Here’s a little exercise: Grab a piece of paper and a pen. Make a list of everything that is out of God’s control.

Be honest. There isn’t a list to be made. Because (drum roll) there is nothing outside of God’s control.

Problem is, we act like there might be some random renegade molecule out there in creation that God doesn’t control, and that one little thing can absolutely destroy the right and righteous order of things.

You know that’s not so. Nothing happens randomly. Either God wills it or He allows it. Either way, He calls the shots.

That may be why some people reject God entirely. They don’t like to think there is a genuine Supreme Being Who is sovereign over everything. Sovereign over you, your friends and family, over all governments, over all illnesses, over it all.

It stands to spiritual reason, then, that if God is indeed sovereign, then we can face life fearlessly. Because things aren’t all that bad.

Oh, sure, with our finite human eyes, things look bad. By human standards, there are plenty of things that are bad. Cancer is bad. Poverty is bad. Racism is bad. The list goes on.

But, against the backdrop of eternity, things aren’t that bad. I am a stranger here. A pilgrim and a sojourner. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Believer, we need to embrace the truth of that last sentence. Once we genuinely understand that, duh, God’s got this, then we can relax. He knows what He’s doing. He’s God, and He’s been at this a long time.

I don’t want to make light of the struggles you’re facing. We all struggle. What I do want to leave you with, though, is the secure knowledge that God knows what you’re facing, you are prone to irrational fears, and He understands you much better than you understand yourself. And He’s walking beside you 24/7/365.

Be well.

Have you ever been guilty of putting God in a box?

Before you rise up in ire at me, let me explain.

All my life – and I mean all my life – I’ve tended to go to extremes when thinking about God and relating to Him.

For me, He can be a God of extremes. He’s either the God of all comfort, or the God of white-hot rage. Same coin, two sides, I’d reason.

That is putting God in a box. It’s a subtle form of idolatry – it’s like I’m forcing Him (at least in my head) to be something He may or may not be.

In that context, there may have been times when I presumed to tell God how He ought to handle me. If I was experiencing joy and grace, I’d say, “Oh, God, I don’t deserve this. I haven’t earned this. How can you be so gracious to such a worm as I?”

Conversely, I might say in times of heartache and sorrow, “God, you need to lay off me. In football, I’d call this ‘piling on.’ You need to cut me some slack.”

Neither one of these sentiments is exactly wrong. But it does smack of trying to put God in a box. If He’s in a box, then it’s easy enough to examine Him. He’s limited, right?

There is a subtle danger in trying to “figure out” God. Certainly He revealed Himself in Jesus, and that should be sufficient. Still, we sometimes want answers, and we want them on our terms, in a way that suits us.

As always, I’m not discrediting the primal cry prayer of “why?” I’m all about being honest and transparent with the Almighty (as if He didn’t know my heart already.) What I’m getting at is just for us to understand and accept that about the time you think you have it all figured out, and have God in a box, He’s fixin’ to bust the box.

There are some pretty significant implications here for all of us. Those implications should give you lots of hope and encouragement.

We tend to put God in one of two boxes, which I’ve already hinted at. He is either all-loving, approving of whatever we do (mutant grace – more on that in a minute); or He’s all-judging, condemning us for the way we live our lives.

So …

• He is all-loving, and He delights in forgiveness. That’s grace. But mutant grace is when we take His nature for granted. Yes, if you’re a believer, you are forgiven. Forgiven of all your sins – past, present, future. But we are not to exploit that. That particular box will be blown to smithereens, because even though you’re forgiven, He won’t tolerate known, willful sin.
• God has subtle ways to correct us and bring us back into a right relationship with Him. Okay … sometimes He isn’t so subtle. Grace is free, but it’s not cheap. Point is, He’s going to do whatever He needs to in order to conform you to the image of Jesus. Hold on tight.
• Conversely, if you check out the other box, it’s not airtight either. He is a God of rage – He hates sin in all its manifestations. He won’t tolerate it. But – and this is a big but – He is so, so patient. He gives us plenty of plenty of chances to live a life that honors Him. He’s not some cosmic potentate demanding His pound of flesh.

What are the implications of this for you personally? What happens when you insist in trying to put God in a box?

• Think about the times when you expected God to act a certain way and He didn’t. How did that make you feel?
• His ways are not your ways. Neither are His thoughts your thoughts.
• He always, always, always has His best interests in mind, not yours. He doesn’t exist to please you.
• HOWEVER – He loves you unspeakably lots, and all that He does in and through and with you is in the context of that love.
• I promise – God is a God of surprises. He will always act according to His nature, and He will always bring glory to Himself. The surprise comes when we think we have it all figured out, and He shows us a part of His nature we weren’t expecting. That, actually, is pretty cool.

So forget trying to put God in a box. It won’t work.

God does not lower His standards to accommodate us, but instead He extends to us the nail-scarred hand of forgiveness to raise us up to His level of righteousness.

O be joyful.

Unforgiveness is not an option. At least, it shouldn’t be.

Here’s why.

During this past week, the nation and world were witness to an amazing legal trial in Dallas. Here’s what www.Relevantmagazine.com shared (and the photo credit is theirs, too):

This week, former police officer Amber Guyger was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the murder of her neighbor Botham Jean. 

Jean was at home by himself when Guyger entered his apartment by mistake, and shot and killed him. He was just 26 years old. Yesterday, after the sentencing, Botham’s younger brother Brandt addressed the court, and delivered a powerful message to Guyger. 

Brandt then nervously asked the judge if he could give Guyger a hug.

The judge also gave Guyger a Bible – and my understanding is that it was the judge’s personal Bible. The folks from Freedom From Religion have just about gone into anaphylactic shock over that.

For Brandt, unforgiveness was not an option.

How about you?

And, my followup question:

Why wouldn’t you forgive? Unforgiveness is not an option.

I’m sure you have plenty of answers to that. It certainly is easy to harbor unforgiveness, even bitterness. Aren’t grudges fun anyway?

Isn’t it a pleasure to despise someone else?

Of course it is. We all enjoy locking eyes with someone who has wronged us or someone we care about and feel that delicious blossoming of malice. It’s fun to wish ill-will on someone else.

Or not.

C’mon, now. What purpose does unforgiveness serve? Who exactly do we want to hurt?

If someone has wronged you or otherwise hurt you, and you haven’t forgiven them, to what end does your unforgiveness lead you?

It won’t take you to a pleasant place. I guarantee it.

• For one, unforgiveness won’t take you back in time. It won’t undo what has been done. It’s called the “past” for a reason.
• Second, it won’t change the person that you won’t forgive. They are who they are. Besides, you can’t change anyone. That’s out of your hands.
• Third, it will change you. It simply makes you feel bad, at the very least. And if you don’t feel bad by being consumed with ill-will, well, I’m guessing you have other issues, too. Maybe your soul has become bitter and shriveled.

Why wouldn’t you forgive? It may be that you’re in a place of such pain that you can’t be anything but negative.

That’s bogus. Because you can always, always, always choose to forgive. Unforgiveness is not an option because you have a will that makes it possible.

It may be that we don’t forgive because we prefer personal misery instead.

Forgiveness is liberating. It brings life and freedom. It gives us authority over ourselves, and, in a sense, gives us authority over the person we didn’t want to forgive. And it shows that we may be a bigger person than they are. That’s not a license to show some sort of “I’m better than they are” attitude. It simply means that we aren’t going to let someone else’s actions devalue us. Forgiveness gives us value.

Then, for the believer, there’s this: Take a look at the Cross.

Did Jesus deserve that? Did He have any reason to die for us, ungrateful little people that we are? Scripture is clear that it was our sin that put Him up there, writhing in agony. Not only did He forgive those that physically put Him up there in real time, He forgave us. He made provision for anyone, anytime, anywhere to receive this supernatural forgiveness.

You’ve heard this thousands of times, but hear it again: We can forgive because He first forgave us. We are supernaturally empowered to forgive others because of Him. For Christ-followers, unforgiveness is not an option.

Paraphrasing R.C. Sproul:

Unforgiveness is having the desire in our hearts to do the will of the enemy of God.

Let this be fresh to you, because the implications are staggering.

You can face life with your head held high and your spirit soaring. And it’s because you can do what Jesus did.

P.S. I’d be honored if you’d check out the free course offered in the Transformational Encouragement Academy and leave some feedback. I want this to be the best resource ever. Check it out here.