Imagine this (if you can):

You’ve just been driven from your homeland – from the country and the way of life that you know and love. There’s no way to feel but robbed and defeated.

Now you’re stuck living with “the enemy” – in captivity – for 70 years. It’s a recipe for misery. How could you go on?

This was the set-up for a verse you probably know well:

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
(Jeremiah 29:11 – NIV)

The people of Israel had been taken from Jerusalem and were now held captive in Babylon – and would be there for 70 years. But God says good things are coming.

Really? Okay… so I guess we’ll just wait and hope and pray for 70 years to pass…

That might have been the people’s response, if God had not said something to the contrary just a few sentences prior.

And that might be our response, too, when life doesn’t turn out the way we expected.

No, if you’re reading this, you’re most likely not in captivity. You’re probably someplace relatively comfortable – at least with access to a computer or smartphone.

But even so, do you ever (or always) have a sense that life isn’t exactly what you want it to be? Whether it’s the “big” stuff like money, health and relationships, or the little stuff… like the traffic that was moving a little too slow this morning, or the Starbucks line that was a little too long.

So what do you do? Maybe you remind yourself of Jeremiah 29:11 and you think:

I guess this is God’s plan.  I’ve just gotta wait and hope and pray for better days ahead.

I know that’s been my response in the past. But then one day I came to the realization that while this might seem to be an effective coping mechanism — “God is in control” — it’s actually a recipe for watching 70 years go by and then one day waking up to find “I just missed my entire life.”

And while our enemy would love that — “the thief’s purpose is to steal…”– it’s the exact opposite of God’s plan for us: “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10 – NLT)

That’s why, before Jeremiah 29:11, God told the people of Israel:

“Build houses and make yourselves at home. Put in gardens and eat what grows in that country. Marry and have children. Encourage your children to marry and have children so that you’ll thrive in that country and not waste away.”  (Jeremiah 29:5-6 – The Message)

Did you get that?!

God told them to live and thrive and not waste away – even while they were in captivity, facing circumstances and conditions that were far from ideal.

He’s telling you and me the same thing today.

Too often (in my opinion), the “Christian way” is to hope for a miracle when we come up against challenges. But what does that really do for us?

To quote Matthew Henry’s commentary on this passage, it just leads us to be “unsettled and consequently uneasy… always tiring [ourselves]… with the expectations of relief…” until our “disappointment at last would sink [us] into despair and make [our] condition much more miserable than otherwise it would be.”

Been there, done that. (You?)

It sounds like quite the opposite of the life that Jesus and Paul spoke of in last week’s passages, doesn’t it? Remember how they wrote about living:

• freely and lightly
• with a real affection for others
• with an exuberance about life
• with serenity
• with the ability to stick to our commitments
• without feeling the need to force your way
• with the ability to direct your energies wisely

Often, I think, we wait for a “miracle” to allow us to feel those things and to be able to live that way. The truth is, though, that we find that life when we decide to find that life. God makes it possible, but it’s up to us to choose to walk into it.

It’s a choice we can make right now, in this moment… and in every moment.

Easier said than done? Yes, and we’re going to address that in the weeks ahead. There are some very real strategies and practices that are available to us — and when we engage in them, God meets us there, and we experience that grace that is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9)… and that is a miracle.

Until next time, choose to LIVE in this moment, whatever this moment is.

Peace and blessings to you.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
(Matthew 11:28-30 - The Message)

Are you experiencing “real rest,” living “freely and lightly,” and having an “exuberance about life” on a regular basis? If not, then please sign up below to receive this new series via email, as I share insights and strategies and practices that have allowed me to taste what Jesus and Paul speak of in the verses above, in new ways… and I hope they’ll do the same for you.

Along the way, I invite you to share your comments — agreements, disagreements, stories, experiences — so we can make this a real conversation. And if these messages speak to you, please share them with others others who are tired, worn out and burned out so we can help them, too.

To living freely and lightly,
Shawn

I began writing Peace in the Storm almost five years ago, after Elizabeth and I had gone through what we would call one of the most difficult years of our lives, but also one of the best. In the midst of the troubles we faced during that time, as I read the Bible, God provided me with what was truly a “peace which exceeds anything we can understand” (Philippians 4:7 NLT), and I wanted to share the Scriptures that had comforted me with the hope that they may also comfort others who were going through difficult times — and it seemed that hurting people were all around us at that time.

Of course, hurting people are always all around us — the only question is whether or not we notice them. I realized this clearly again at church on Sunday, when the pastor opened up the altar for all those who were experiencing significant pain or trials in their lives. So many people went forward that he never even got to the sermon. I remember hearing one woman bawling. I have no idea what she’s facing in her life, but there is no doubt she was feeling deep pain. Again, I remembered: hurting people are all around us. Some days it’s me who’s hurting. Some days it’s you. Some days it’s someone we know. Every day it’s people we don’t know. We’re all looking for peace in the storms of life.

And so, here’s a recent lesson I learned that I pray will bring peace to you as it did to me…

As some of you know, Elizabeth and I have been in the process of adopting for almost a year now – by “in the process” I mean having a home study done, filling out lots of paperwork, etc., on the way to getting on the waiting list of a couple of adoption agencies. So far, we’ve come close to having a baby twice, and actually, we did have a failed placement (meaning the birth mother placed her baby with us and then changed her mind) a couple of months ago. That happened before we had made any official announcement that “we have a baby!” simply because we knew we were still within that uncertain period during which the mother had that right. It was painful, but we’ve healed and we’re once again in waiting, anticipating the arrival of our baby one day – hopefully soon!

It was once again in a stormy experience — that failed placement — where I learned something about God that brought comfort to me. You see, there were several things about our match (adoption term) with that baby that made it seem to be a “God thing.” Several unusual “signs” that seemed to be a message from God saying “This is your baby!” Then it all fell apart. Have you ever experienced anything like that? What do you do? Do you question God? Wonder if He’s a liar? Just give up on “signs”? We were asking “What is God doing?” “How can He allow this to happen?” “Why?” When the adoption fell through, we had to wonder if it was ever in God’s plan at all, or if that adoption was ever in His will. Of
course I can’t speak for God, but here’s the conclusion I came to:

We live on earth, not in heaven. Things don’t always work according to His will here. Does He reign over everything? Yes, of course. But there are imperfect humans involved, too, and God gives us free will as we know. He doesn’t force anything. So all of the “signs” leading up to this adoption may have absolutely been from God. The fact the adoption fell through doesn’t mean that they
weren’t. I believe that it may very well be that it was God’s will for that baby to be adopted by us, but it was not the mother’s will, apparently, and God allows her to make that choice.

Some people were praying with us during this process. Were their prayers not heard? Does God not have the power to answer them? Of course they were heard, and God can do anything. But again, we live on earth, not in heaven. What we’ve experienced, I believe, is an example of God restraining Himself, and it must be so difficult for Him. We know God loves children, we know this child is God’s creation, and we know that our home would have been so much better for him (based on some things we learned along the way). So how could it not have been in God’s will that this child be placed in our home? Likewise, I’m sure it is God’s will that all of the hurting, suffering children around the world be placed in loving environments. But this is earth. This is not heaven.

Jesus prayed that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). If God’s will being done on earth “as it is in heaven” were a given, that prayer would not have to be spoken. In heaven, everything will work perfectly according to God’s plan – and what an awesome thing that will be! – but as long as we are here, we have to live with the consequences of our original sin which changed everything.

Is this a comforting message or a depressing one? It’s comforting to me because it’s real, and I think sometimes our Christian beliefs are missing a dose of reality. We don’t need any more “Christianese.” That only leads us to get mad at God, or to give up on Him. To those who were praying with us, I would say: Don’t question the importance of prayer. Don’t question whether or not you said the right words. God is God, worthy of all praise. He is not to blame. We started this. He gave us (as humans) the highest responsibility, and we blew it in the Garden. Now here we are.

God still loves us. He still hates to see us hurt. That’s why He sent His Son to save us. Things are not as they are in heaven. As long as we’re here on earth, we’re going to have to live through some pain. He will still be right beside us, though, and He gives us peace and comfort to endure. And just as He has been working to save that little boy since before he was born, I know He will continue. Remember, “…we know that God causes everything to work together for the good…” (Romans 8:28 NLT) He is the great Redeemer!

Thanks, as always, for reading. I’m praying for peace for you.

I'm praying for the proverbial sea to be parted today. Whether God does or doesn't, it's good to be reminded that He can. If He doesn't, still I trust Him. Our God is an awesome God. With wisdom and power, He reigns. Never forget, or never be afraid, to call on Him:

"…you refuse to ask for my help. You have grown tired of me!" (Isaiah 43:22 – NLT)

Let that not be said of us.

Whether you are enduring chronic illness yourself or not, please check out the "Christians with Chronic Illness" blog carnival for links to some touching, powerful, wonderfully written articles from 15 different blogs. You'll either find inspiration for your own life, or you'll experience the blessing of suffering with those who suffer, or both. I promise it will be worth your time!

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." – James 1:2 (New Living Translation)

The version of the Bible I was reading offline – also New Living Translation, but apparently a different edition – replaces "consider" with "let," which for some reason strikes me more powerfully. The point being, simply, that trouble does not automatically bring joy (obviously). We must choose to view that trouble as an opportunity for joy – even great joy!

Thoughts? Testimonies?

"O Come All Ye Faithful…"
by John Fischer

…And not so faithful, too.

There is a saying that was popular in the early days of the church. Paul called it a "trustworthy saying" in a letter to Timothy: "If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will disown us; if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself" (2 Timothy 2:11-13 NIV).

Have you ever come to the Christmas season, caught yourself singing, "O Come All Ye Faithful," and wondered: "Who's that? Who can say they have been faithful to Christ?" If we were honest, could anyone say they were entirely faithful in their walk with God? I would want to add, "Compared to what?" because "faithful" would have to be a relative thing. We all fail Him. We all struggle with faith. We all prove to be unfaithful partners with God.

In other words, if our security with God depended on our faithfulness to Him, I'm afraid we would all be in bad shape; but the good news is: our security with God depends on His faithfulness to us.

Jesus chided his disciples for having "little faith," but He did not kick them off the team for it. He called His followers an "unbelieving generation," but He did not abandon them. And in spite of the saying above about disowning those who disown Him, Jesus apparently made an exception to that rule for Peter, who on three occasions disowned having any part of Christ. He later forgave Peter and accepted him back.

As we come to the end of another year, I'm sure we can all recall times when we struggled with faith, had a hard time finding it, or perhaps found ourselves unfaithful to God. Some may be in such a place right now. This is a time to worship God for His faithfulness to us. We may have let go of Him, but He will never let go of us, because we are His, and He cannot disown what belongs to Him.

So for us, faith is a relative thing. We all struggle with our own demons. Maybe for you, "faithful" means you're ready to get yourself back in the fold. Can't think of a better time to do it.

"O come all ye faithful…" and not so faithful, too! It doesn't matter as much how you come, but that you come. Get yourself to Him; that's what counts.

If you would like to learn more about John Fischer or subscribe to his "Catch of the Day" emails, please click here.

1. Inspired by a sermon series at our church, I’ve tried to go back and look at Jesus and Christianity in a new light. We get so used to all the Christian talk and thinking and interpretation that it’s good, I think, to dust off our faith and rediscover (or discover) why we believe what we believe. I was surprised at how many things I held true for no other reason than tradition and "that’s what you’re supposed to believe." And believing something just because it’s tradition or just because it seems to be the "right" thing to believe doesn’t make it wrong. But it’s sort of like a science experiment… You can read the findings of the experiment and think, "Oh, cool," and you know what you need to know. But it’s not the same as if you conduct the experiment and experience the outcome first-hand, making the findings truly come alive to you. So what have been my findings during this season of rediscovery? In short, God is good and Jesus saves – both now and for eternity. Did I not know that before? Of course I did. But God is even bigger and better to me now than He was before.
2. Whereas the New Testament book of James may sound a lot like a "contemporary" version of the Law with lots of do’s and don’ts, I recently saw it described as a book of community ethics. In other words, "this is how the community of Christian believers can best live together." It’s not law. It’s a recommended way of living. And when you follow the recommended way of living, peace follows.
3. I read the book of Philemon a few weeks ago (which is a letter from Paul to the host of the Christian church gathering in Colosse, named Philemon). This man, Philemon, is described as a good man, but he was also a slaveowner – that was part of the culture at that time, and the rights and wrongs of it are for another time and place. One of his slaves, Onesimus, escaped and crossed paths with Paul while he was in prison in Rome (Paul was in prison, not Onesimus). Paul eventually sent young Onesimus, whom he called a son, back to Philemon. In this letter to Philemon, Paul told him to receive Onesimus not as a slave, but as a brother – yet Philemon did still own his rights as a slave. Here’s what I learned from this story: (1) Christianity does not break the "rules" of this world. Christianity did not free Onesimus from slavery in an earthly sense. Paul still had to send him back to Philemon, because that was the right, law-abiding thing to do. And while Paul was radical in many ways, he was not a lawbreaker. (2) Christianity does call the kingdom of God to earth in that while Onesimus was still a slave here, he was a son in the kingdom of God, just the same as Philemon was, and Philemon was instructed to receive him as a brother. So the ways of the kingdom rule even in the midst of contradictory circumstances here on earth. Remember, we are to fix our eyes on what is unseen, not what is seen. This, it seems to me, is demonstration of how that works. No matter what our circumstances look like here on earth, we must look deeper… What do they look like in heaven?

And I suppose I’ll close with that, and I pray that God will somehow speak through these words. I welcome your comments, questions, disagreements, etc.

Thanks for stopping by to read, and may God give you peace, wisdom and understanding – now and always.