Opposing Realities

We have been put on this planet at this time to walk with and point to the One who matters most.

On Monday night and Tuesday of this week, Trent and I were with 100 other church-planting pastors and their wives. We enjoyed some fantastic food, made new friends, and had a sweet time of worship. On Tuesday morning, the women gathered for some time together without the men. When women who love Jesus gather and are genuine and transparent, something special always happens. These are the times I look forward to the most.

This Tuesday morning did not disappoint. As we went around the table and shared where we saw God at work in our churches and where we needed prayer personally, God’s gracious presence in and around us was so palpable.

Women asked for prayer for dire health concerns; tumors found, ER trips taken in the last month, and conditions that medication wasn’t controlling. Women were wondering how long they would be able to stay at their church, how long before they would be asked to leave due to the overwhelming problems they had inherited. A younger pastor’s wife was seeking a mentor and pouring out her struggles, longing for advice. An older pastor’s wife was wondering if and how the Lord would continue to use her for His kingdom. I confessed my own struggles with doubt, fears for the future, and unbelief. As I listened and prayed, heard and attempted to understand, these categories were large in my mind.

Creation:

I was made for meaningful work.

I was made for intimacy with God.

I was made to be unashamed.

I was made for work to be free, easy, and light.

I was made to be valued and enjoyed.

I was made to be safe, significant, and loved.

This was the world God created us to live in. Where bodies didn’t age and die. Where there was intimacy with God and each other. No loneliness or craving for significance. All good longings. Things we were made for. But we know that did not last long. Sin entered the world, and we entered into the Fall where we still live today.

Fall:

I sin- I gossip, envy, am full of pride, I lie, I worship idols

I am sinned against- I am gossiped about, I am lied to, I am hurt, left out and resented.

I suffer- I get sick, I lose people to death and deterioration, I can’t cure my hurting child.

These were the hurts I was hearing from my pastor-wife-friends. The world is broken, we are broken, and we long to be whole. That’s where our Hero, Jesus, steps in. He is so loving. He did not leave us to ourselves but came to redeem.

Redemption: In Christ

I am loved and accepted.

I am chosen and adopted.

I am forgiven and made new.

I have the God of all comfort and endurance with me at all times.

I am never alone.

I have grace that is sufficient for today.

Because of Jesus, we now have hope, freedom, grace, help, adoption into His family, and his constant care and presence. He is redeeming all things and situations. So in the midst of the hard, there is hope for today and for our future. This brings us to our final category: eternal and complete restoration.

Eternal Restoration:

I will never cry again.

I will see Jesus face-to-face.

I will never feel pain, shame, or alienation again.

I will never sin or be sinned against.

All sad things will be made untrue.

I will be at perfect peace.

How we long for that day! Come, Lord Jesus! But until then, we will continue to live in the reality of the Fall- it’s broken now; and Redemption- He is working in, around, despite, and through us. He is making all things new.

In the Now and the Not Yet, we will continue to hold opposing realities:

We are broken and beautiful.

We have dignity and depravity.

We are all wounded, and we all wound.

We are saints and sinners.

We are going to struggle, and life will be hard. And Jesus reminds us, In this world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33

So how will we live and love today as we journey toward eternity? How will we walk each other home? Our stories matter. Our lives matter. We have been put on this planet at this time to walk with and point to the One who matters most. As my pastor-wife-friends struggle, and I struggle, my prayer is that I will see and remember all these categories, but live and focus on the redemption that is ours today in Christ Jesus. He is making all things new. He is faithful and He will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24