Our choice is this:
Learn the stressful responses that culture teaches, or
Live out of the counter-cultural, less stressful repose of God.Our culture says:
It's your life. Sue or at least come down on those who wrong you. Demand your rights.God says:
Give me your rights to your life. I will show you how to love those who wrong you.When drama is queen in our life, we enter the heat of every battle--every cross word with a friend or relative or colleague--and fight for our position. We rally others by sharing what has been done to us, hoping for their help (and support for our side) in the fray.
When God is king in our life, we sidestep the heat of battle and absorb the offense, giving it to God right in that moment and waiting on his help with our reaction. He will take the hurt on himself and give us words to say that promote love. It is the most uncanny thing.
Living on God's side of the fence requires time and practice. It means learning enough about him and sitting with him frequently enough that his ways become the beacon we set ourselves toward. We'll stray often but then wisely reset; over time, we will absorb his strength. Then, in the heat of the battle, we will remember to enlist his help.
We have stressed ourselves in every way in our American culture. We overeat, overmedicate, overspend, and overreact.
If only we could redirect over. Give over ourselves to God. He would show us the way forward.
The grass really is greener on his side of the fence.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength@gmail.com.
