Week 4: Day 2

Scripture: Hebrews 11:32-40, 12:1-2

This Fall was a very difficult season of life. It felt like I was swimming in the ocean, barely able to touch and trying to keep my nose above the water. And then, just as my feet would touch the ground, another wave would come with fury and would knock me back under, filling my nose and mouth and eyes with water, salty and dry. Many days I would wake up and all I could do was breathe. In and out.

In and out. And brace myself for the waves that never seemed to break or end. And then, I would swim with all that I had.

"Ooh!" said Susan, "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion."

"That you will, dearie, and no mistake," said Mrs.

Beaver; "if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly."

"Then he isn't safe?" said Lucy.

"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver; "don't you hear what Mrs.

Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe?

'course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."

"I'm longing to see him," said Peter, "even if I do feel frightened when it comes to the point."

-"The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" by C.S.

Lewis

The King in the manger came that God might give us something better. His coming began the process of putting it all back together. But today and some days the broken is far easier to see and to feel. Theologians call this tension the Already and the Not Yet. The birth and death of Jesus mean that the Kingdom of God has "already" come. And the reality is that the Kingdom of God has "not yet" come in fullness.

So for now, we live in the tension. The tension is a hard and a sweet place to be. Thank God for the stories of the strong. And thank God for the stories of the weak and the incomplete. And thank God for the King, who is never safe and always good, who authored and perfected this faith and is with us all the while. Because He is good. He's the king, I tell you.

Prayer:

The troubles of my heart are tearing me apart.

How I need Your saving hand to grant me a new start. Lonely and afraid, I call upon Your name.

Save me from my enemies and cover all my shame.

I will lift my eyes from this fragile life, for you will rescue me. I lift up my soul to you who makes things whole. Oh, mercy love of old, in you I place my hope. So guide me in Your truth, be my strong refuge. Oh, forgive my doubting heart and lead me back to You. Help me to believe, Your love is all I need and that even when the storm is strong, you will provide for me. Even in my darkest place, there's a promise I will claim: Those whose hope is in Your grace, they will never be ashamed. In you I place my hope. Amen.

-from the song "I Place My Hope" by Ellie Bannister & Ben Bannister, based on Psalm 25