When our son was in college, he came home for a Christmas break and we were watching a college bowl game together. Taylor loves football, and he has a great mind for the game.
One play in the game, a receiver caught the ball along the sideline. When the defender went to make the tackle, his helmet hit the receiver’s knee. He was down on the field for several minutes, and we watched numerous replays with commentary. Taylor was studying exercise science at school and he made an accurate diagnosis of the injury. The commentators began speculating on how long the player would be out and when could he possibly return to action.
Even at the collegiate level, athletes are incredibly well-conditioned and very strong. On top of that, they wear well designed gear to protect them from injury. Yet injuries are more common than us spectators realize.
In that moment, God taught me something about us men and women in the spiritual realm: We are incredibly resilient and at the same time desperately fragile.
When we are injured emotionally or spiritually, too often we will search for a quick remedy so we can get back in the game. We end up not experiencing full healing and restoration from the wound. Out of an instinct to survive and appear normal, we will compensate for the loss and end up walking through life with a spiritual limp.
I recognized in that moment I had been journeying through my life with a significant limp. We had been working with an international missions organization for nearly 20 years and I was striving to stay in the game. I began recognizing I had embraced a performance-based relationship with God. That is not His desire for me, or for any of us.
God, our Father, desires to heal and restore those whom He has redeemed. Our identity in Christ is as very loved (beloved) sons and daughters. Our Father longs to bring healing and restoration in the context of relationship. It’s not performance-based. He is patient and gracious and kind.
And my journey continues… Here are some questions I want to be faithful to continue asking myself. Do you find yourself in here somewhere?
Can I choose to trust my Father in this journey? Can I set aside my expectations of performance? Can I lean into His welcoming, loving arms and believe with my whole heart that there is nothing that can separate me from His love? Sometimes my diagnosis won’t be accurate. Can I embrace curiosity and kindness with myself and others as we pursue this adventure of Life together?
