Don’t be surprised. But more importantly, don’t be dismayed.
Know this: the extent to which you enter into this painful mess with God is the extent to which genuine Life is released in you. It’s like a swinging pendulum. Confront your pain and mess with God this much. Swing—He releases Life in you to the same measure. They are balanced and equal.
And through our world of COVID-19, racism, and cancer—deep, devastating mess—here are four steps we can take to start living fully alive as we enter the mess.
1. Move Toward Life
When we think of life, we instantly think of the obvious—energy, passion, and joy. And, yes, these are signs of God’s vitality released to every living thing. I, like you, want that vitality! And I certainly want it for my kids. But not so obvious to us is the weird and uncomfortable. Mess is poised and primed for Life. Pay attention to the broken, the injustice, and the disruption. God moves in those circles. Moving toward what makes you uncomfortable, through prayer, scripture, and honest discussion, moves you toward God, who is Life.
2. Engage with God.
Mourn loss. Mourn mess. Confess every bit of pent-up pain you can find in there. Face it and engage with God around it. “God, I miss my friends; God my job is gone; God, I realize I would actually prefer things go well for me. I’d actually prefer that to You. I want You, but not more than I want this mess to go away.” Tell Him. Be honest. I’ve recently engaged with God this way, saying, “I’m just so sad, Lord. No, actually if I’m honest, I’m angry. What a waste it would seem to me if, after I put my needs and my career on hold to build into these boys, just as we begin to see the fruit of our labor, You’d allow this. ‘David, look at you fly!’ and You’d allow the plane to go crashing to the ground mid soar. I’m hurt, sad, and, yes, I’m angry, Lord.” Tell Him.
3. Plead for Power.
Dead places are ripe for Life. “God, breathe out Your resurrection power. God, come into those broken, messy, even dead places and breathe in me, now.” Plead for power over your secret stash of racial disdain. Plead for power over using your kid as your report card and trophy. Plead for resurrection power to raise your hopelessness to Life!
4. Get up.
Today you get up in power—never mind tomorrow, my dear sister—today, this day, get up in power. Today, petition God, “Show me, O God, what to pick up and put down.” And in power, pick up the phone and put down the ego. In love, pick up the strained conversation and put down the fists. In resurrection power, pick up the project and put down the distractions. Get up. Then do no more. But do no less.
There are days I wish I could pull up the covers and hide. These four steps are what help get me up and release a greater measure of Life in me each day. I’m becoming more aware there is no other way.
Pain is the portal to life. Mess is the entry to living. They are equal in measure when engaged with the God who is Life.
So will you enter into the mess today?
