Conformed or Transformed?

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable, and perfect.
Romans 12:2

When you go through times of disappointment or heartache or stress, it's tempting to doubt God. To wonder why He didn't "fix this" like you asked or to wish He would step in and use His power to "set things right" or to whine that He would let "whatever" happen.

This verse has some help for that.

And it has some help for parent-pain, which, if you haven't experienced it, let me assure you that you have missed the deepest, most grievous anguish that can ever be felt. The agony of not only watching your child hurt but especially the helplessness of not being able to remedy it is gut-wrenching.

It happens from the time they are preschoolers all the way through adulthood. And my own Mom tells me it is exponentially so when it's your grands. Oh my. I cannot bear the thought.

Maybe Jonathan and Mary Alice and Lucy and Max should wear warning labels that announce to teachers and friends that they have these women in their family....
I digress...
Back to the verse.
Back to the help of being victorious in the midst of pain...


Starting with the last part and working our way backwards -

This verse tells us that God's will is good and acceptable and perfect. I looked up those words that we translate from the original Greek:

Good - benevolent, profitable, useful
Acceptable - pleasing, agreeable
Perfect -complete, meeting the need

From this passage, we might be tempted to swallow hard and say, oh, ok, so whatever happens I should just suck it up because "it's God's will" so I have to say that all is well. No matter what it feels like.

No. That's not it.

Some things that happen are NOT OK. We hurt. Suffer loss. Injustices. From the wrong motives and actions of others. Sometimes from our own sinful selves. But some things are NOT OK.

So what does this verse tell us?

The key is in learning what "God's Will" means.

It's a Greek word,"thelema", that is translated as "will of God". Since Scripture also makes it very plain that God is absolutely sovereign and that nothing thwarts His purpose (Job 42:2 and Isaiah 14:27), we might conclude that we just have to toughen up and get with the program. Even when hard things happen.

But "thelema" means "inclination of pleasure towards that which is liked, that which pleases and creates joy." In this verse, the meaning signifies His gracious disposition towards His people.

Which means that, when hard things happen, we have two choices:

To see them through a lens that has been conformed to the way the world sees things

or

To see them through a lens that has been transformed supernaturally by thinking the way Christ thinks

One view is distorted and near-sighted. It brings confusion and anger and distrust. Because life never turns out exactly like we would orchestrate it if we were in charge. And that stings.

The other view is different. This view accepts that "in this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33) but it also embraces that our Sovereign God is accomplishing His great purpose with it. His glory....and our good.

He IS indeed all powerful.
And NOTHING can prevent His plan from unfolding.

And His purpose towards His people is blessing.

Even in the face of pain or disappointment or injustice.

He promises.

But in order to believe that, we have to be transformed.

And that requires having our minds renewed.

Which means changing how we think.

About everything that happens to us.

Friend, I don't know what you're facing right now. I don't know if all is peachy keen in your life or if you're in the midst of a fiery trial. Maybe someone you love is hurting and no solution is in sight. Maybe you or one of yours is staring down an intense disappointment or loss.

If you're in one of those tough spots, I'll wager that you've been tempted to feel sorry for yourself or to be angry at God or at least to wonder what went wrong to land you in this place.
I'm asking you to renew your mind with truth.
To think about things the way God instructs us to.
To look at things through His transforming lens.

His will towards us is blessing.
His purpose towards us is grace. And life. And joy.

Don't let the world tell you anything different.

Remember

Probably everyone who reads this remembers where they were and what they were doing on September 11, 2001. I was pregnant with my youngest. At home doing school with my older 3. My hubby was in Atlanta.

My Mom called me about 9:15 that morning. She saw it on the news. Events were still unfolding. We had no idea that subsequent attacks were pending. I was torn between wanting to get the information and wanting to protect my children. But I wasn't torn about wanting everyone home. Glad my babies were right under my wings but I wanted our protector home. Atlanta was a lifetime away.

We all recall the horror. The disbelief. The aftershocks of grief and fear and anger.

But I also remember the spirit of unity among our people and the realization of our need for God. This was bigger than American pride. We had been brought to our knees all right, but not in desperate humiliation...rather we responded to the crisis with confident reliance on our God.

On this anniversary of the greatest tragedy our generation has ever seen, may we remain in just that same place. Just where God wants us. On our knees. Needing Him. Trusting Him. Seeking Him. Finding Him.

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. Luke 18:1

Follow the Leader

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ

1 Corinthians 11:1




A few years ago, a sweet and generous friend invited my kids and me to spend a few days with her and hers at her beach house. Being at the beach is my happy place so, of course, I leapt at the chance.
Because of an earlier commitment, I couldn't leave at the same time as my friend. In spite of my notoriety as being directionally challenged and having to depart waaaaay later than wise for the 6 hour drive, I was determined to join her. So I said yes yes yes and figured it would all work out.


Being the wise and compassionate friend that she is, she was not content to leave me to my senses. She took her husband's mobile GPS system, made sure it was programmed for their favorite route, and insisted I use it to get there.


She's a gem. For sure.


I packed up my two youngest as well as a buddy for my very youngest and set out long after dark. I don't like to drive unfamiliar routes in the dark. And especially not in the pouring rain. But I plugged that system in and focused only on its instructions. Turns out, there are several ways to reach this place. And a few tricky, unclear turns to make. But with this handy-dandy device, I was able to follow the tried and true route without mishap. I felt more confident and a lot less worried than if I had had to navigate the journey with just my instincts.


Not once did I consider it arrogant or presumptuous of my generous friend to suggest I use her pre-programmed GPS. Not once did I think of declining her offer and just winging it. Not once did I presume to be better off on my own.


Instead, I was immensely grateful and fastidious to follow it precisely.


I knew she'd been there a hundred times before and she knew the best way. Even if it wasn't easy in the dark with rain pouring and three other lives depending on my ability to stay out of the ditch, I knew I could make it if I just followed the instructions. Since I couldn't follow her car directly, I could instead follow the path she laid out for me.


She showed tremendous compassion and concern to see to it I had a path to follow.


Why, then, are we so reluctant to do the same in life? Instead of telling someone a season or so behind us "just follow me, I can help you get there", we get down in the ditch with them and agree that it's a hard place to be. In an effort to maintain humility, we parade all our failures, whine about our woes, and insist everything is just impossible. I remember as a young follower of Christ, I wanted a role model with skin on. I wanted someone that I could watch and trust enough to emulate. I didn't expect (or even want) perfection - just someone that would say - "you can imitate me because I am imitating Christ". Someone willing to be scrutinized...because they weren't afraid of what would be found. Someone willing to be examined because their reputation was of no concern - only Christ's. Someone willing to be followed because they were willing to follow The One.


I found some "someone's" like that. They didn't see themselves as worthy of emulation but they were "programmed" to reach their destination just like that GPS. And I listened to their instructions, I watched the screens of their lives, and I imitated what was there.


I am forever grateful for those people.


Granted, it's hard to be a "human GPS". We're liable to make a wrong turn or project an ETA incorrectly. And that might cause some angst to whomever is watching our screen. But just as Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel Mary Anne, in that classic children's favorite, worked harder and faster because people came to watch, maybe the same will be true of us. Maybe just knowing that someone else is imitating us, we'll be more careful to imitate Christ...instead of expecting to be excused for laziness or error or stumbles.


I still need those people in my life.


And I need to be one of those people so that someone else can follow me.


And then someone else can imitate them.


And then someone else...and then someone else...


And when we look up ahead, instead of "someone", we will see The One.


And He'll get us across that finish line.


Will you say with me,

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ

??