The "F" Word.

Yesterday, a wonderful friend of mine and I were sharing about our concerns and frustrations in life with each other over the phone. What we were sharing seems to be the general theme I have heard shared from many lately. It has to do with the “F” word, but not the one you might be thinking of.

Failure.  

Whether our failure is only perceived, or an actual gory mess that we have blundered our way into, we are all trying desperately to dodge this seemingly tenacious beast. There are times in our lives when it seems that no matter how hard we try, whether in our marriages, our families, our jobs, or even friendships we just fail.

There can be a crippling sense of shame that follows this slithering beast named failure. Paralyzing us as it wraps it tentacles around our hearts and minds, digging deep into the areas where our doubt and self worth intermingle. Like a haze of fog it clouds our views of the reality of who we are and who our God is.

The further we descend and entertain this beast the more he takes liberties with other areas of our lives and hearts. He infects us with his lies about our true nature... About whether God could really still love us. He bleeds images of our Heavenly Father shaking his head in disgust and disdain at yet another failed attempt in our life.  

Confidence can begin to crumble away like the land when it is in a drought.  Instead of running to someone for help as we begin this fall, often times the shame folds over our mouths like duct tape. We turn from the ones who love us and wander quietly away. Secretly hoping someone will notice the shadows of hopelessness overtaking the light in our eyes, but too scared to speak up.

Whatever the cause for your sense of failure; whether it’s a temptation you continually fall into; a ministry or business that has never really gotten off the ground; or you are caught in the contagious trappings of comparing yourself, your looks, your success to others… Please know this.

Stop. 

Stop looking down at your problems, your imperfections, and shortfalls. Stop looking down and look up.

Like a little child being bathed by their mother. She coaches her child to keep looking up as she washes the shampoo from his hair.

“Look up at me. Keep your eyes on me.”

She whispers gently to her beloved child trying to keep his head tilted upward so that the stinging soap can be safely washed away from his precious eyes. When her child is overtaken by doubt or fear and looks down, that’s when the soap pours down over his little face, stinging and burning his eyes.  What was it our mother’s told us?

“Look up.”

It works the same with our Heavenly father. He does not look at us and shake his head in disdain when we try and fail. He looks at us and coaches us in gentle whispers,

“Look up. Keep your eyes on me. The enemy will try and steal your joy, but I sent my son for you to follow so that my joy could be complete in you. Keep your eyes on me. It is in your weaknesses and perceived short comings where I can shine through you and do the impossible. I love you and want only the best for you. You are my child. “  

If our eyes are on Him we will see how He truly is. A father overjoyed in our open hands that may be unskilled, but when placed in His capable hands can do the amazing. When we fall, He is there whispering, “Look up my child." He offers his shoulder to lean on and His truth as our solid rock to stand on. When we repent he washes the shame away in the warm healing waters of forgiveness. He offers His shield during the attacks of the enemy and He whispers constantly, “Keep your eyes on me. This battle is mine.”

There are two stories I encourage you to look into this week, both are in Matthew 14: 15-32. Each time there was a key integral moment between human failure and the Lord doing something impossible through someone. In both situations the choices were caught between looking at the persons circumstances, and human inabilities or looking up at our Lord to what He can do with our weak hands, and diminished supplies.

Take courage my friend. 

God loves you more than you could ever imagine.

I am praying Paul's prayer for you today.

Ephesians 3:14-21

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

Are you struggling too friend? 

How can I pray for you?

Sandbox Memories and Endless Possibilities.

It was about 27 some years ago; there were 2 little blonde heads, bent together in the sand box of my childhood home. Taking turns, the heads would bob up and down as the little bodies dug a hole into the sand. My best friend and I were taking turns with the plastic shovel. Since it was no longer my turn, I was using both of my now grimy seven year old hands to scoop and scrape into the gravely sand. We continued on in determination as we made it through the last layer of sand in my sand box.  Foraging ever deeper we dug down into the dirt like tenacious Pirates searching for a long lost treasure.

I could feel and see the texture changing as the dark soil beneath was slowly being revealed. I knew we were getting close to our goal as my fingers grew cold, matching the temperature of the earth I was delving into. Still we kept plunging our shovel and little hands deeper down as we scratched away at the earth.

As I leaned down into our hole I reached with both hands, fingers out stretched and pulled away as much of the dirt I could muster back up the slanted wall of our ever growing hole. We giggled as we pondered the possibility of reaching China through our hole like they did on our favorite cartoons. 

A few more handfuls of the dark dirt were flung away, and our giggles quickly changed to excited exclamations of victory. We had finally found our long sought after damp, hard packed treasure. My best friend and I had struck the gold we had been digging for, the cold, and clammy, pack of grey clay nestled in the earth below. Today we were going to make something with this clay. It held endless possibilities in our young imaginative minds and clumsy little fingers. 

As I grew older I followed my longing to create in the art world. I can remember the musty smell and the way the wet clay would feel in my hands. I can recall the exhilaration I would feel as I pondered the possibilities for this unassuming simple lump of clay. 

Would I create a functional piece? Maybe I could spin a bowl for a families’ dinner table, or an elegant vase for displaying beautiful flower arrangements. Perhaps I would carve and mold the bust of someone famous, or a sculpture, a master piece of fine art. The possibilities were ... You got it, Endless. 

You are the potter I am the clay,

Isaiah 64:8

Yet you, Lord, are our Father.

We are the clay, you are the potter;

We are all the work of your hand.

I love how God used this analogy in the Bible. Could it be possible our Lord wanted us to understand our possibilities are endless in His hands? God is the most creative and skilled Master of Art that has ever existed. Just take a few moments and look at His creation. 

Take a walk through the woods, 

or stare at the intricacy in the designs of His flowers.

Admire His amazing paint that splashes across the skies in a beautiful sunset…

Or the mystery and wonder of His lovely underwater world. 

He is absolutely amazing in His variety and the hand crafted beauty of each of His precious creations. You see, the possibilities for a lump of clay in God’s hands are endless.

My friends the possibilities for us are endless as well. We too are created and designed for a purpose by His hands. No longer is the confidence of who I am or designed to be wrapped in my own success or failures. Now I see it resides in who I place my confidence in. 

You see this confidence is not about who I am…

It’s about who my God is. 

I know I am frail, and prone to selfishness.  At times, I long for the easy way out, and I sometimes suffer from the fear of making mistakes…

But when my eyes are on my God, then everything changes.

He is all powerful.  He is magnificent. All knowing, all loving, and in control. He is Truth, and trust worthy. He is faithful even when I am not. Anything is possible with Him. With this knowledge, no longer do my fears resonate in me, but instead the Holy Spirit proclaims God’s Truth and His power.

Today could you take a moment and silence the fears and doubts about yourself and what you are capable of? Instead, rest in who your God is. Go in His strength today. Let His peace and purpose for you guide your every step. In the big and in the small trust the Potter. We are safe, and cherished in His skilled and loving hands.