Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are bring renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16
I'm sitting downtown Portland in the window of Stumptown coffee on Stark street. There is a constant buzz of espresso machines, coffee grinding and mismatched conversation. The skies are grey outside the window and the people watching is extraordinarily entertaining.
I mean, we are in Portland.
Sometimes I wonder, what is she going through, or what could they be laughing about? Why does he seem so upset? I bet those two white-haired ladies have been friends for a long, long time. Why is she in such a hurry? I see these individuals walking around and know they have their own universe of a story. Their unique journey through life has caused the deepened wrinkles in their forehead or the limp they now walk with. They could be having the worst day of their lives and I would have no idea on this side of the window.
I was recently in a conversation with someone who was facing some difficult circumstances ahead. Amidst some of my [hopefully] encouraging words, I offered, "well...this too shall pass," and immediately wondered if I should have said it. Sure, there are some circumstances in which I really do believe that. If there is an event looming ahead, or something we know we will be facing, it actually will come and it will pass.
But this too shall pass suggests that something will come and go, and then we can sigh in relief and simply move on.
What about those things that actually won't pass—those moments that leave a permanent mark on your heart and deepen the wrinkles in your forehead? What about the death that just devastated your family or the sexual or verbal abuse you've experienced? What about your autoimmune disease that no one else understands? What about the home you just lost or the divorce papers you just signed? What about the horrible dreams you've had from PTSD or the abortion you were pressured to have? What about the hurtful way you were let go from your job, or the betrayal you experienced from someone you looked up to?
These experiences do not just come and go like a birthday party on a calendar.
These are the things that, as spiritual beings, affect how we view our world and how we view God in our lives. These are the things that have the capacity to grow us deeper and deeper in the reliance of our faith in Jesus, or spin us further and further away from understanding his compassionate heart for us.
This too shall pass says that we will get over it. It says that we may not be changed by it but will continue on just as we were. It does not say that our unique heartaches will become a part of our soul and change the way we live and worship on a daily basis.
The phrase is not found anywhere in the Bible, though one of the closest scriptures that kind of supports its idea in a much fuller capacity is 2 Corinthians 4:16-18:
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.These verses in 2 Corinthians give us an eternal perspective that helps us to set our eyes and root our hearts deeper in our hope in Jesus. While the world will see a desperate situation, outwardly wasting away, we have the hope and the faith tools to live through our heartache and troubles, allowing them to change us and deepen the well within our soul. When we invite the presence of God into our hearts, our homes, our lives, we are able to persist through life with a heightened spiritual awareness that, somehow and in some way, offers a joy and peace that cannot be explained.
But even with that anchor of joy and peace, we are still allowed to grieve, and grieve deeply. We are still allowed to be angry, though we are cautioned to not sin in our anger (Ephesians 4:26). We are still allowed to feel utter disappointment and question God's sovereignty. God created within us a universe of emotions and mental processing that is truly fascinating. He even gave people a passion to help others figure out how to process their deepest emotions, because realistically, that health work is needed.
(Side note: I used to think that seeing a Christian counselor would mean that I was admitting something was terribly wrong with me. Oh, how wrong I was. Now I go twice a month and wish every person that is able would find a good counselor. It is so helpful and amazing to realize how even the most simple of experiences can affect our perceptions of ourselves and the world around us. If you've ever wondered what finally having freedom to say whatever you need to say feels like, I highly recommend finding a good counselor!)
Situations may pass, but the effects of them are going to change us in some way for the rest of our lives. To live a life of worship takes work and sacrifice. To press on and to fix our eyes on what is unseen takes steadfast dedication. To allow ourselves to be renewed day by day takes persistence and a desire to know God's heart more.
But it's so worth it. His peace is so worth it.
At our women's retreat this last weekend, the main speaker, Carol Kent, gave us a series of choices and accompanying scriptures to memorize that will help guide our hearts through the dark moments that won't simply pass by. She has an extraordinary story of pain and forgiveness, and choosing these things is a daily way of worship in her own life.
I encourage you to read these slowly, and out loud. Think about the words and how they pertain to your own life.
Choose Life John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Choose Trust Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.
Choose Vulnerability Psalm 38:9
All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.
Choose Gratitude Phillipians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Choose Forgiveness - of Yourself and of Others Colossians 3:13-14
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you have a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Choose Purposeful Action Isaiah 43:19
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness, and streams in the wasteland.
Do not lose heart. Though the world may see you outwardly wasting away, choose to be renewed personally day by day. In all your ways, invite the Lord to be with you. Fix your eyes on what is unseen, what is eternal, and your new limp or the deepened wrinkles in your forehead will deepen the well within your soul and give you a perspective where love and life abounds.
Thank you for reading.
Jamie
jrobison@b4church.org
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