“There are times in our lives – scary, unsettling times – when we know that we need help or answers but we’re not sure what kind, or even what the problem or question is. We look and look, tearing apart our lives like we’re searching for car keys in our couch, and we come up empty-handed.” – Anne Lamott
It is tempting to act like we have all the answers. With a relationship with Jesus, comes a continued element of “no it allness”. It is well meaning, but many times we figure that following Jesus comes with an essential life answer. Yet, when we get down to Christianity at its core, we see more questions arise, and the questions that do plague us become magnified. This is the condition of man. We have longings – deep soul groans – that surpass any articulation. When we are faced with these soul groans, we have two options. First, we can take the route of many and bury them as a dog would his favorite toy. It is no coincidence that TV sales are so high every year, nor is it mere happenstance that alcohol will always be a popular salve. Humans love to bury their feelings and unsolvable questions. We run to distraction and in various levels, to self-medication. Many in this category, myself included, feel they are isolated in their questioning. Any time isolation meets life frustration, living becomes difficult and weary.
The second way of dealing with these groanings are a more Jesus centered approach. “Taste and see . . . “. Jesus always calls us to a deeper connection with Himself and often the path to this intimacy is further struggle. As finite beings wrestling with the infinite, we are undoubtedly going to face frustrations. However, when we lean into these, regardless of resolution, we become united with the divine creator of this world and the next. In many ways, following God is a futile practice. As a “wholly other” being, God is out of our normal understanding by leaps and bounds. It is only through the Spirit that we are able to grasp God and His character. We bring nothing to the table.
So today, what questions do you have? What makes your soul groan? Imagine receiving breakthrough in this. Imagine a God that doesn’t react to questions in wrath but in love.
Matt simon blog 