Category: Stay Sane

The new year often brings with it excitement at new possibilities, but it also brings with it a lot of the unknown. It’s easy to struggle knowing which way is the right way to forge ahead. How do we face all that is to come…the good and the bad, the planned and the unexpected?

It’s hard to believe a new year is already upon us. The older I get, and really I’m not old at all, the faster time seems to move. Still, with each new year comes a sense of new beginnings. The struggles of the last year are met with a renewed hope that this year could be the year of finally seeing God’s promises fulfilled. Anticipation at what may come and perhaps a tinge of nervousness about the unknown propel us to look at the future feeling ready to make the coming year better than ever…at least that’s what we plan, right?

As we enter together into a new year, I want to look to a well known psalm to give us a well balanced view into what lies ahead—both what we know and what remains unknown. I want us to anchor our anticipation of what we expect to happen and our uneasiness of the unknown which occurs without warning in the One who is with us through all of it. So let’s take a look at Psalm 23 (HCSB).

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.
He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake.
Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

Right: When the path makes sense

There is so much in these six verses. I’m not going to take one verse at a time, but I want us to look at each thought chunk. No one knows everything that will happen in the coming year. However, we can start each year with the truth that God is our Shepherd.

He guides us, His sheep, along the journey prepared for us. As such, there will be places on the path this coming year that are still, peaceful, calm. There will be green pastures and quiet waters to rest and refresh and renew our lives in. These are the paths that feel right. When I am in green pastures, calmed by the sound of quiet waters gently flowing, all seems right in my world. I breathe easy. There is a lightness to life in these renewing and refreshing places along the path.

Right: When the path turns unexpectedly

However, sometimes I find the path taking me down a dark turn. The road turns rocky, and I quickly lose my balance. Stumbling over stubble I didn’t see, I fall. The unexpected leaves me beaten up and bruised. The darkness surrounding me finds me fearing the unknown that lies ahead. Certainly I took a wrong turn. Nothing about these parts of the path feel right. Surely, I’ve wandered down the wrong trail.

Yet the right paths David, the psalmist, mentions go from green pastures and quiet waters of renewal right into the darkest valley. Many translations call it “the valley of the shadow of death.” The dark places in life, they can feel that way, can’t they. David acknowledges that our Lord, our Shepherd leads us on paths that include the dark valley—“even when.” There is no if. The right path He leads us on for His name’s sake will make its way through darkness and valleys.

While in the darkness, the lies are easier to believe because I cannot see. I retreat within myself thinking I am safer only trusting me.  Shrunk into myself, I listen to the lies running on repeat in my head and forget the truth. I find myself trapped, afraid to take the next step without knowing where it will take me…is it leading me to the way out? Is it taking me deeper into the darkness, further into the valley? I feel certain I am alone.

Right: An anchor to steady stumbling feet

Thankfully, there is comfort even in the darkness, in the valleys I must travel through one step at a time.  Even in that valley where darkness surrounds me and panic easily takes over, I do not have to fear.  I am not alone.  Danger may lurk in the darkest valley, but I can take comfort knowing it will not overtake me.  God is with me.  Though I may not see Him in the dark, He is still there.  He has not, He will not, leave me.

Dear ones, when you too find yourself in the dark or the valley, afraid and feeling alone, remember this one truth. He is with you. When you don’t see the danger up ahead, He does. He is still a good Shepherd, and He cares for you even in the valley of the shadow of death. This path is still right. His kingdom purposes are still working in your life. Though you may not see, He is the God who sees. Though you may stumble and fall, He will lift you up and place your feet on solid ground again. Fear no evil, for your God is with you in the darkness, the valley, the unknown.

We cannot know what lies around the corner. Perhaps around the bend the light dawns and quiet waters bring much needed renewal. Or maybe just around the bend the light dims and darkness sets in. The unknown is often frightening itself. Yet we know, our Shepherd guides us and stays with us both through green pastures and dark valleys. In the end, when our path on earth is complete, we find the path—with the darkness and the pastures—lead us to dwell in our Father’s house forever.

Right: Considering the path ahead

Whether we are in green pastures by quiet waters or stumbling our way in the darkest valley, we must anchor ourselves on the truth that God is with us in all of it. The times we feel we must have taken a wrong turn, we find assurance that this valley is still the right path, and God is still with us. Other times, while He renews us by quiet waters in green pastures, we breathe deeply of His faithfulness to always lead the way.

As you enter into this new year, as you walk the path laid out before you, remember this one truth. The Lord, your Shepherd, guides you.

Are you in green pastures? The Lord, your Shepherd, renews you there. Breathe deeply. He is with you.

Are you in the darkest valley? The Lord, your Shepherd, sees for you there. Take heart. He is with you.

Are you fearful of the unknown ahead of you? Fear not. The Lord, your Shepherd, is with you.

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The valley is dark and full of unknowns, but God loves us. In this love, fear no longer remains.

Judgement will divide and destroy us from within. As followers of Christ, we are to live in unity by loving one another, even when we disagree. 

In the movie Captain America: Civil War (Yes, this is a life lesson from a superhero movie. I’m a mom to boys, what can I say?), the bad guy knows that he is not strong enough to fight and destroy the Avengers. So instead, he causes division among them so that they will destroy themselves. Only the Avengers are strong enough to fight each other.

Isn’t this what is happening? Our enemy knows that he is not strong enough to destroy us. He is, however, conniving enough to manipulate us into destroying each other.

Unity: The Opposing Sides

There is an incredible amount of divisiveness bombarding us. There is constant pressure making us feel like we need to take sides. And if we try to actually listen to the other side, we may face ridicule by the side we are supposedly on. Wow, that’s confusing. Too many sides. I don’t know about you, but I don’t really fit on a side.

We face division politically..

If you are a democrat, you must want to kill all the unborn babies. If you are republican, you must be racist and sexist. If you are libertarian, you must…smoke pot?

We face division with parenting…

If you bottle feed, you must be selfish and not want to give of yourself. If you wear your baby, you must not be able to set boundaries. If you send your children to public school, you must not care about the influences on their life.

And of course, we face division spiritually…

Unity: Among Believers

In private. As Christians we are to point out to one another if we are living in sin. That truly is the loving thing to do, even though it is uncomfortable. This confrontation, however, is to be done in love, and directly to that individual.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

John 13:34-35

After listening. Before speaking, listening is essential. Make sure that all the information is known and understood. No one is able to judge, and condemn, when we are only getting our information from outside sources.

If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Matthew 18:15-17

Unity: Even In Disagreements

But what if it’s not a sin issue? What if it is just a disagreement?

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Romans 12:18

We are intricate creatures, each having different passions and perspectives. We are absolutely going to disagree. Maybe we just don’t need to battle it out on social media. However, if we do find ourselves debating in view of others, then it needs to be done with respect and love. We need to remember that people are watching our actions and reading our words.

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

John 13:35

Unity: Ending the Judgement

Is it disagreeing, or judging?

In our culture right now we are so concerned with not offending people that we are more afraid than ever to disagree, but have never been more judgmental. Maybe, if we learn to understand people, and/or assume the best of them, we can get beyond ourselves and leave the judging thing to The Lord. After all, He’s the only one that truly knows our hearts anyways, right?

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Matthew 7:1-2

For me, the best way to combat division (whether it’s from sin, a disagreement, or simply being judgmental) is to encourage the one I am “at odds” with.

The areas we need the most encouragement are the areas we are weakest in. Therefore, these areas are the most vulnerable to judgement because we are not doing them as well as we would like. Perhaps we need to encourage others to live with the qualities that truly matter:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

When we see others struggling in these areas, let us speak words of encouragement to them, rather than tearing them down with ridicule. Instead of dumping shame on top of them, build them up in love. This is living in unity.

All scriptures used is from the ESV

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NordWood Themes

Running…

It is tempting to run away from conflict, but God will meet us in the midst of it.
He will bond us together in love with others.

To fully appreciate a gift, we need to understand the sacrifice of the giver. Likewise, to fully appreciate provision, we need to understand our need. 

If you ever receive a gift from me, you may not know it is from me. There is nothing noble here. It’s because I don’t ever think to put a card with it. In fact, at Christmas time I just write on the package with a Sharpie. I also don’t always wrap the present. It may just come wrapped up in a paper bag. I will try to put some tissue paper around it, but I make no guarantees.

This is because I am not a good gift giver. I think about it too late, and as all of you out there who love gifts know, the most important part of the gift is the planning involved. When a lot of thought has been put into a gift, it really is the thought that counts.

I also have come to realize that I need to work on gift receiving. In fact, I recently gave my mother-in-law an apology for my behavior in the past. See, gift giving is high on her love language scale (whereas it is my lowest), and it finally dawned on me that all the things I just brushed aside was her saying that she loves me! Yep, I was jerk. She graciously accepted my apology and said that we only know what we know at the time.

In this season of gift giving, we need to know how to show our appreciation. Some gifts have required sacrifice, and some gifts provide provision. We can appreciate both the diamond earrings and the skillet, even though they are very different kinds of gifts. A gift does not always require sacrifice, just as a gift is not always something we need.

Appreciate: Provision

The first Valentines Day my not-yet-husband and I celebrated was not one of his better moments. Or, at least this is how we tell the story. That year (our first year) he gave me a skillet. Not so romantic, right? But truth be told, it was a very thoughtful gift. I had just recently moved into my own home, and I did not have big skillet. Or much of anything, really. The skillet was full of spices, and herbs, and things to stock my shelves. He saw that I had a need, and he wanted to provide for it. We used that skillet for nearly 13 years!

We all have a need. It’s not for more money, or a nicer car, or a new position. Our need is for a Savior. Before we can truly appreciate the gift of provision offered, we have to see how desperate our need is. Without a Savior, we are dead. That’s a pretty big need.

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins… But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us… made us alive together with Christ.

Ephesians 2:1, 4-5, ESV

I am the most despicable person I know. I can say this, because I only know my own heart. And let me tell you, I can be pretty awful in my thoughts. When I was a new mom, and hormonal, and exhausted, I saw who I was without a facade. I was not able to put up the nice-southern-girl front. Thankfully, I was able to see myself that in that way. Never have I forgotten how great my need was. I often would sing the hymn, “I need Thee, oh, I need Thee; every hour I need Thee.” My life was definitely hour-by-hour during that season.

Because I am able to see my need, I can appreciate the gift of provision. For both my Savior, and the skillet.

Appreciate: Sacrifice

Now, the part of the skillet story that usually gets left out, is that my not-yet-husband also wrote me a poem. It was sweet, and beautiful, and it was sacrificial because he was sharing a part of his heart. Over the years, my husband has written several poems for me, and has handmade many gifts. These are my favorites. I know that he could have gone to the store and purchased an item that was similar. But knowing that he takes the time to research how to make something, and then spend the time creating it, truly makes me feel special. It is the sacrifice that I appreciate.

All of us want to feel like we are worth spending time one, worth fighting for, worth sacrificing for. The beauty of this, is that it is true. God not only sent His son to provide for us, He sent His son to sacrifice for us. Only by His suffering, and taking our punishment, are we able to have this gift of being alive with Christ.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 3:17, ESV

Because I have this tiny glimpse of the sacrifice, I can appreciate the gift of grace given to me.

Appreciate: The Ultimate Gift

God is the ultimate gift-giver. By giving us Jesus, He demonstrated sacrifice, as well as providing for our ultimate need. The law of the old testament reveals to us our need. Only by recognizing our depravity, can we appreciate the provision. Only by recognizing the cross, can we appreciate the sacrifice.

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