i'll be there

This post started as I was driving home from a weekend away with some friends. The words to one of the songs we were listening to struck me. The lyrics declared someone would be there for someone through everything. I started to think about how for disciples of Christ, that really is something that only God can be. (The song is not a Christian song, so I kind of doubt that the writers of the song would have expected this train of thought to come from their song.)

I'll Be There (Faber Drive)



As I listened to those words I thought about how hard we can often try to be the one who will be there for everything someone we love needs. It's an admirable ideal. But, I think the reality is that we won't always be able to do so. There are times when we will fail to be the one who is there.

But, the good thing is that, as disciples of Christ, we have Someone who is always there. Other people can be there for us, and often they will be. But, the times when they aren't, we still aren't alone.

the family of God

With Mother's Day approaching I have found my thoughts turning to my Mom and the important place she has in my life. As I thought about that, I started to think about other women in my life who have played a role in making me who I am today. None of them take the place of my Mom, but many of them have poured into me in ways that helped me to grow.

And I think that is how the family of God is supposed to work. Our biological families have a huge role to play, but it shouldn't end with them. The family of God should be a continuation of our biological families.

That continuation is in the good and the bad. And, that does mean, that there will be times when they drive us crazy or hurt us, whether intentionally or unintentionally - because that is what families do. They aren't perfect. They make mistakes. But when something goes wrong, we deal with it. We apologize, forgive, and figure out how to move forward from that point.

As I sit in a coffee shop and write this, I have a continually growing list of women in my life who have poured into me in various ways and have played a role in some way in helping me become who I am today. Some have come alongside as sisters. Some have been youth leaders. Some have been summer camp cabin leaders. Some have been dorm moms when I was at Bible college. Some have been mentors. Some have been pastors. Some have been Bible study leaders. Some have been women I've worked alongside with in ministry opportunities. God has used them in my life, and I'm blessed because of it.

wrestling with the truth of Scripture

"I don't like that Scripture has that to say."

"I wish that wasn't in the Bible."

"That seems harsh."

Have you ever said things like that after you read something in Scripture? Have you ever read something and been challenged by it, but you wish it wasn't in Scripture and you hadn't read it? Do you have verses or passages, or maybe books, that you wish weren't in Scripture? If you answered "yes" to these questions, would you admit that out loud to another person?

I think if we're honest, we all have things we really wish Scripture didn't say. Whether we would admit it out loud or not. Sometimes Scripture says things that are hard. Or Scripture says things that really get into our business and we don't like it. Even if we know that Scripture is true and good and we need to live according to what it says, I think we all have times when we really wish there were things it didn't say. We know Scripture is God's Word to us, but that doesn't mean it's always easy to read and obey.

I'm in the middle of study on the book of James right now, and he definitely gets in your business. And he's very to the point with what he says. You can't miss his point. Which is a good thing, but sometimes you read something and you really wish he didn't say that. That's the place I've been recently. I've been wrestling with a verse in Scripture that I really wish wasn't there or at least didn't say what it does.

So, what do you do? How do you deal with it when you're faced with something in Scripture that you're really struggling with?

I don't know that there is a certain way to deal with it. As I've wrestled with this verse for the last while, I've come to the conclusion that my best option is to talk to God about it. He knows what His Word says and He's not shocked that we struggle with sometimes. We can go to Him and honestly tell Him we're struggling with what that part of His Word says and we can tell Him why. And then we listen for Him to speak to us. And as we struggle with it, we grow in our relationship with God.

We may never get to the point where we like what it says. The verse or passage may continue to challenge us. But, as we grow in our relationship with God, we learn to trust Him more and more that what He says is for our good, even when we don't like it. And maybe, over time, we grow to see how true and loving and good that hard part of Scripture is.

We can't just throw out parts of Scripture that we don't like - even if we may secretly wish we could. As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." Even when we struggle with what it says, that is true. Sometimes we may just have to declare that we believe that about Scripture we struggle with.

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12