"Uncertain that God will protect us, we proactively protect ourselves. To avoid further emotional and theological pain, we lower our expectations, edit our dreams, and shrink back from God through fear-driven planning, endless worry, hypervigilance, or the numbing of hope. With each choice to self-protect, another layer is added to insulate our hearts from attentiveness to God's presence."
~Dr. Alicia Britt Chole in her book, "40 Days of Decrease"
There's times when I read a book, and the words simply jump off the page. This is one of those books. It's set up like a devotional designed for the lenten season. Each day the reader is challenged to decrease in certain areas of our lives. Here are a few examples from the book: regrets, stinginess, rationalism, isolation, spectatorship. Honestly, I could use much less of each of these in my life.
As the chapters keep ticking away, my heart is reminded of the disciple John, when he said, "He must become greater; I must become less." (John 3:30) John is speaking of Jesus, and how Jesus should be number one in our lives. John understood the greatness of Jesus, and he's trying to communicate that truth to anyone who might listen. It's as though Jesus Himself is saying, "He who has ears, let him hear." (Matt. 11:15)
"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." (Hebrews 12:1-2) Let us throw off self-protection, and allow the God of the universe to handle our daily issues. Let Him bear our burdens of broken relationships, lost dreams, & lost children. He's plenty capable of managing all of our problems. In Swahili, one could say, "Mungu anaweza", He is able. Let's allow Him to show His power in our fragile lives. Hear the voice of the Lord when He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) The prophet Isaiah resounds with the same message this way, "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." (Isaiah 40:29)
So, what's keeping each of us back from allowing us to experience the reckless love of God? Let's strive to draw near to Jesus as we experience our daily stresses.