24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. – Romans 7:24-25
Recently I have felt more melancholy than normal. It has felt like sadness has clung to my spirit tighter than my ability to escape it. And though it is my natural inclination to see the world through foggy pessimism, this was different. So I did what seems counter intuitive in that moment; I went to Chick Fil-A. Why not go somewhere that is paid to treat you kindly? To me, this is a most peculiar business model. Yet, I have always appreciated them, not for their faith, but by their care of people and the strange dynamic of the customers. In this sadness, I needed to see families and common people with uncommon chicken nugget fueled hope. Even though the unending news cycle of hurt was present in that near immaculate dining room, there was a sliver of hope – a shade of something “other”.
Sadness is a necessity for mature faith. Sadness shows us that things are not how they should be. Every corner I gaze into is tainted with sin. This world is fractured, screaming for more. Even the kindness of this world is one moment away from a selfish parlay of sorrow. There is an all too present body of death that clings to the best of us, yet this is what should point us to what is both outside and within. The Spirit of God has come to slowly mend our wounds and re-create our souls, not without the pain but despite the pain. We serve a God who is intimate with worldly sorrow, yet He was not a slave to it, but its master.
It is in our pain, questioning, and doubt, that this Spirit resides. As the world afflicts, it heals.
Come Spirit. Come heal the afflicted with the conquering wave of your grace.
Matt simon blog 