I have been praying and reflecting over what to blog about for quite some time. I am going to be real, I have experienced some of the lowest moments in my battle with depression these past six weeks. However, my God carries me. I know this, I have seen it. I want to share one thing the Lord revealed to me this past week.
On Sunday we studied Colossians 3:1-4. Josh Rose, the pastor, made a point that really stuck with me. The passage reads:
“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory”
He said he was tempted to begin his sermon going through all the commands of this scripture.
Set your sights…
Think about the things of heaven…
He explained how if he did that he would miss the heart of the passage, our location in Christ.
Since you have been raised to new life …
Your real life is hidden with Christ in God…
You will share in all his glory…
Josh Rose spent the entire time speaking to the beauty, love, power, and security of our location in Christ. We are raised to a new life and have become an entirely new creation. Our lives are hidden in the complete protection and security of Christ. One day we will share in his glory. We are in the world but not of it, we are his children.
After spending the majority of his talk explaining the importance of that he ended with some practical steps that are laid out in the passage. He said, “Now, live out your location by setting your mind on things above and thinking about heavenly things.”
At first, my eyes went straight to the to do list. The devil loves my self critical mind. He uses it to spiral me into guilt and shame. “See? Kim, if you could just fix your eyes on Jesus you would not be depressed. If you could just surrender you would not be hurting as much. This is your fault, you should be stronger than this.”
After that sermon, I left feeling inspired to live into my location in Christ. I had a strong desire to anchor back into the protection and security of Christ.
It occurred to me, reminding someone of who they are is the most effective way to encourage someone. There is something powerful that happens in someone’s spirit when they are reminded of who they are. The light comes back behind their eyes an they feel driven to act. Think of all the movies where there is a battle to fight. The warrior gets discouraged in his ability, but when he is reminded by someone who knows him well that he IS ALREADY a warrior he has the will to go and give it his all.
It is natural for me forget where my identity lies and drown in expectations and responsibilities. I end up throwing my hands up at God when I am in pain. I feel like I cannot pray enough, read enough, or believe enough to escape the pain. I forget the part that actually provides hope in the midst of pain. I forget the part that actually makes pursuing God restful and life giving. I lose the will to draw near to him because, I forget who I am.
On a particularly tough day a friend of mine asked me go spend five minutes of raw intentional prayer with God and then spend some time listening to Him. In that prayer, I threw my hands up at God and said to him “I can’t do what you want. I can’t pray things right now that are supposed to encourage me. I am angry, tired and I don’t trust you with a lot of things. I can’t get out of this myself so what do you want me to do.”
I expected to hear, “Go read the Bible more, pray differently, seek advice, think about heavenly things, but all I heard was- “Do exactly this, more often.”
It occurred to me later that God was saying, “Just come to me as you are. Play the role of being my child, distraught, tired and frustrated and cast your cares on me. Remember who you are. You are my beloved, I created every part of you, I know your heart, I know what you long for, what hurts you, what you are afraid of, give it all to me, trust me with it. You are strong not because you can outthink fear or surrender away pain, you are strong because you have me with you wherever you go and I do not change. Remember who you are.”
Anyone seen The Lion King? Simba experienced pain and loss and ran away from his problems. He lived in Hakuna Matata, the illusion of no worries. He was content there for a time until he was faced with the reality of responsibility by the visit of Nala. Even so, he rejects his responsibility and runs. He meets his father up in the clouds and Mufasa reminds him of who he is. Once inspired by his father and reminded that he is the new King of the pride, he goes back and fights.
I think this translates into so many areas of life.
What if all coaches said to their players you are capable, before telling them to kick harder?
What if all teachers said to their students you are intelligent, before they told them to multiply faster?
What if all parents said to their children, you are valuable before telling them to apply themselves more?
What if all believers took time to remember that God says, you are a new creation before trying to tackle hardship in their lives?
Luke 10:17-20 reads:
When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!”
“Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.
The same friend that asked me to pray for five minutes helped me see that even though Jesus celebrates the work that has been done, the real joy is that we are called citizens of heaven.
We rejoice FIRST that we are children because every good thing flows out of that. Apart from God, we can do nothing! (John 15:5)
My prayer for this year is that I would remember who I am first. I am a new creation, not of this world, hidden in Christ, fiercely loved, never alone, strong in Him. Let that truth be the seed that everything else grows from.
I fly to Atlanta tomorrow morning and then to India on August 7th. I am so excited to be with my squad again! I cannot wait to see how God uses us around the world this year. Thank you all for praying. What an amazing year we have ahead of us, use us in mighty ways Lord!
What shall we say in response to these things, if God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31
