"For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within. But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus; and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more." 2 Corinthians 7:5-7
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Almost everyone I talk to is, in some way, weary, down or discouraged or downright depressed. We were made to be able to refuel, to have community, to gather as believers to encourage one another, to be able to go out and about freely. This is a time when many of us feel the stress pressing down on us.
Feeling like a misfit is also something I have dealt with for many years. I am an idealist and passionate about living life purposefully in a world that is violent, relentless, filled with conflict and argumentative. This drains me to my toenails. And yet, from feeling this way before, I know that I am in good company—Job despaired of his life while being one of the godliest men on earth, same with Elijah, Jeremiah and more.
As a "good Christian woman" I used to think that if I was truly loving God and walking with Him, I would have a positive, faith-filled attitude all the time. Guilt for disappointing God would occasionally stand pointing it's finger of accusation and I would feel disappointed in myself in an existential way.
Yet, as an older woman, I have become intimately acquainted with the seasons of life and have come to realize that disappointment in others, disgust with the world's values, despair with some of the raging darkness in the international as well as personal arena of my life, was a common experience through my years and also for many through out scripture.
Many years ago, many storms back, I wrote: The joy-filled life is not found by diminishing my God-given responsibilities as a woman, wife, and mother, nor can I find joy merely by refusing to face the hard realities of life in a fallen world. There is a tension that God is asking me to acknowledge and accept ~ the tension between ideals and realities. True joy is found by living somewhere between the ideal life and daily realities. That is where Jesus meets me, where His Holy Spirit empowers, and where I learn how to live the Christian life with supernatural joy. To celebrate life is simply a choice." -Seasons of a Mother's Heart
Hebrews 11 is a chapter in the Bible I come to again and again. Here we see the heroes of faith, those who have lived boldly, stepped out in faith, “conquered kingdoms, closed the mouths of lions,” and more. But we read, finally, that these were not looking for satisfaction or fulfillment in this world, but waiting expectantly for God to reveal His kingdom that would not be shaken. We see in the list Moses, David, Gideon, Daniel and so many more:
By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death.
But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Hebrews 11: 33-35
May we be like these heroes of faith, looking to God, investing in His kingdom ways, even now amidst the darkness, and may we live for our lives after the resurrection.
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