Knocked Down: A Response, Galations 3, And A Few Glimers of Redemption

This post is part 3 of a series about having the wind knocked out of me by the Lord.  Biggest. Understatement. Ever. For the beginning of the story click here, and for part 2, click here.

I am haunted by J.R.’s statement that most of the time it is best to lean into what God is doing in our lives right now and the opportunities that He has brought and trust that out of that He will bring what He will. God has a very ambitious and crazy goal- to save humanity and the path to that goal was self-sacrifice and, ultimately, death and that somehow that brought life. If our God walked such a path, how can we expect to walk a different one?

I need to lay down my pride, but that is the heart of the matter, is it not? The catch 22 in this situation is that I can’t lay down my pride and I can’t really wrestle with this truth because it is counter to my ambitious nature and my pride.

But I am not questioning my call, in the midst of all that, there is one thing that remains pure, and I am so encouraged by that. I am encouraged by the very clear call of the Spirit on my life to work with youth and academics. I am so encouraged by the core of the things that You have given me and that don’t change, even with my sin. And there is sin here. I think that is part of why I am so uncomfortable: I am uneasy having my sin exposed and my motives laid bare. I am uneasy knowing that I have sinned and that it is not in the least hidden- not from You eyes and not from the eyes of others. I am laid bare in my pride. My pride at doing what You have called my to do- Oh foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched me, indeed?

When did this sin creep in? And where did my heart grab onto it? And why does it hurt? But it does. It hurts to know that I have left the keeper of my heart and soul and walked somewhere that He has not intended me to, that I have taken His good gifts and used them for my own gain, and used them to get fame for myself and not the Famous One. Here is my sin, and here is my angst, and here is my failing. I have failed in this.

How do I lean into what You have given me when I have marred it? But there is Your grace again, burning bridges and welcoming me with every start, pulling out a chair and saying “sit and eat my meat.” I do have mixed motives, I want glory and fame, but here You are, with your Spirit, pointing out my motives and gently, firmly asking me to lay it down and walk that path in front of me with humility. Feed my lambs, Sarah. Do you love me? Then feed my lambs.

Here is your grace, purifying me. It sucks, and I am grateful.

getting back in the groove of ministry- eating well.

The thing about ministry is that it is easy to "do." It's easy to email, plan, hold meetings, and communicate with people. It is easy to schedule things and to create spreadsheets with contact information and updates and diagrams of how I want small groups to pan out. All these things have been very challenging for me in the last week or two. These are things that I do all the time for my job, and I am quite good at them. I get paid to communicate with students and parents in whatever form works best for them. So, I am suprisied that I am finding it so challenging to do the exact same things with youth ministry. I am having a hard time picking up the phone to call volunteers, to chat with people at church, and to send emails. This is confusing, as these are things that I would LOVE to do on any given day without "being in ministry." There is something about a position and list of responsibilities that makes this harder for me. But that does not really make any sense. I am not different, so why do these tasks feel different to me? Is it that so much more of me is on the line? Is is that I am risking so much more?

I am really not sure why it has been so difficult for me the past few weeks. So today I gave myself the space to "do" nothing - to pray. I am leaning into the awkwardness and bringing that before God and just sitting there. Just being with the God who knows, and who is Center. And that breathing in of Aslan's breath is enough. It is food: vegetables, meat and potatoes for the soul. I don't know that it will make it easier to talk to anyone at church tomorrow, I don't know that it will mean that the meeting tomorrow evening will be any different. But I do know that I need a good meal.

Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back,
        Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack
        From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
        If I lack'd anything.

"A guest," I answer'd, "worthy to be here";
        Love said, "You shall be he."
"I, the unkind, the ungrateful? ah my dear,
        I cannot look on thee."
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
        "Who made the eyes but I?"

"Truth, Lord, but I have marr'd them; let my shame
        Go where it doth deserve."
"And know you not," says Love, "who bore the blame?"
        "My dear, then I will serve."
"You must sit down," says Love, "and taste my meat."
        So I did sit and eat.

 -George Herbert