Grace In Weakness
Social media often depicts a version of the Christian devotional life that is very comfortable. Some might think of cozying up on the couch with a coffee and a journal to spend peaceful time with God. While this kind of rest is totally fine, it isn’t the only way (or even the most important way) to grow in our faith.
The same can be said for recreational Christianity and the way churches can fall into the trap of catering to the masses and elevating the entertainment value of a service. There’s nothing wrong with production, fun, or excellence, but if it breeds a mindset of comfortable Christianity, we’ve missed the mark.
I know in different small groups or bible studies, the question comes up from time to time asking people how they best connect with God. Almost all of the answers are about comfort and preferences. Some like worship, others love a good sermon—some talk about feeling close to God in nature or the comfort of being in a community. All of these things are good and well, but what if I told you the way to be closest to God is to seek him in your weakness?
Comforts of the flesh can quickly put the brakes on spiritual development. If our entire faith journey is controlled by ease and restfulness, we aren’t living the life of surrender, sacrifice, and boldness that God calls us to. And when we aren’t living surrendered, we are missing out on the grace and power of God.
God uses surrender and humility to open the door for the flow of grace. It might seem like self-constructed peace and comfort are the ideal postures for faith, but that would mean that anyone less privileged than us would be getting less of God on account of their limited means.
I think it’s actually the opposite. James 2:5 ESV says, “Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?”
The invitation is not necessarily to become materially poor. God uses wealth to bring many blessings to families and the ministry of the kingdom. The call is to be humble in heart and not resist the grace of God that comes through weakness and trust.
I’ve never seen more acceleration in my spiritual journey than when God leads me through hardships. I’ve never experienced more fruit and growth in my faith than when God puts me in situations of vulnerability, and the pressure pushes me to trust him more than ever before.
I know that I still need times of rest and relaxation in the presence of God. I also know that to be on a mission to see God’s kingdom come requires me to obediently follow the path God sets before me, regardless of how comfortable it is.
Some preachers have promised that when you put your faith in God, you’ll receive blessings in the form of comfort and rest. God does bless us with peace, but it doesn’t always come in the way we expect. Remember that Psalm 23 says peace of fearlessness comes when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
The truth is that if you put your faith in God, you’ll be accelerated into a journey of transformational growth that will be challenging, uncomfortable, and costly. Still, there is no greater reward than the grace of God that fills us in our dependence on him.
Are you willing to surrender the comforts of the flesh for the life of the Spirit?
