LIVING AT PEACE WITH GOD

We live in a world that longs for peace and stability…a calm and confident spirit. I don’t know if we chase after anything much more than that. We might affirm that other things take priority, but we functionally reveal that we pursue any means possible to live at peace with other people, the Lord, and even ourselves. I’ve recently started leading a book study for the 3rd/4th time…can’t really remember, but I found old notes for at least 2 other studies.

It bears mentioning that I wouldn’t necessary want to endorse one of the specific authors due to some serious allegations of unrepentant sin. This happened well after the book was published, but it’s concerning enough to mention. Of course, I’m reminded of the many times in Scripture that God used ungodly or evil people to accomplish His plans…people like Pilate and Judas and Pharaoh, to name a few. God can use anyone, anything, at any time. So, since there is such profound truth to be explored…and such a need in our culture to do so…I found myself again reaching for the Peacemaking Women book and wanted to share some nuggets of truth that have been so helpful to me. It should be telling that even though I’ve read and taught/led this study multiple times, I still feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface in general…and often have found that I’m still struggling with the saaaaaame issues I did back in 2009 when I first began.

Having said that, I thought it might be helpful to share some of the biggest “takeaways” as we walk through the study again…a mini-series, so-to-speak! So consider this the first installment of the Wednesday Word…delivered on Thursday because migraines love me and have been derailing all the best-laid plans of late…obvs because I’m super fun to hang around.

“Conflicts often arise when we experience a disconnect between our confessional theology (what we profess to believe about God) and our practical theology (how we actually think and live). When our relationship with God becomes cold and distant, or when we face conflict and internal strife, we rarely think to ourselves, ‘I may have a theology problem.’ Instead, we usually look for quick fixes in self-help ‘how-to’s.’ Theology is good theology when it changes us…when our hearts are controlled by the theology we confess. ‘People change when biblical truth becomes more loud and vivid than previous life experience.’ -David Powlison.”

Goodness. Gracious. Great balls of fire. That is probably the most succinct summary I’ve ever heard for the chaos of the heart…mine and yours. There are so so many things I affirm about the Lord and for which I am truly so so grateful. But my life…the way I functionally live each day…doesn’t always reflect them.

*God delights in me…I think and feel like I’m the biggest disappointment to Him, and He’s obvs waiting to kick me to the curb.

*I’ve been adopted into the family of God…I live like an orphan, yearning for scraps while ignoring the feast laid out for me.

*All my good deeds and righteousness are as filthy rags…I think and feel like God is more pleased with me when I do godly ministry.

*God supplies all my needs…I want Christ to just pick up my slack, rather than relying on Him for everything.

*When I sin, I can turn to Christ in faith…I think and feel like I just need to try harder…do better.

See what I mean?!? There’s so often a disconnect between what I profess to believe about God and the way I actually think and live. And then I spiral when the weight of my own sin or the heartache of loved ones or the profound sorrows of a broken world overwhelm my “profession.” I want an easy fix…something I can do…to make it all better. I say Christ is my King, but I really just want to scoot over just enough so there’s room for both of us on the throne of my life. It’s not a good fit. What I really need is to surrender both the throne and the control of my life to the one who’s ALREADY sovereign. God doesn’t love me more when I live righteously. He delights in me because I am in His Son, whom He loves completely.

In my mind, one of the biggest mysteries of the cross is the imputed righteousness of Christ. How does God not see all my sins and failings when it seems like my mind has a perpetual magnifying glass on them? How does the righteousness of Christ cover it all like it was never there?!? This struggle is further evidence of my too-small view of both the holiness of God that demanded justice and the righteousness of Christ that covers every debt and transgression. God doesn’t delight in me because I’m awesome…He delights over me because He sees His Son’s “perfect goodness.”

So why does this truth need to be on constant repeat in our minds? “People change when biblical truth becomes more loud and vivid than previous life experience.” Eva’s life has been, and is surely now, loud…maybe yours is too. Biblical truth must be louder. That is the foundation of living a life of peace.