It's Okay Not to Be Okay by Sheila Walsh

Author:Sheila Walsh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian Living/Women;Christian women—Religious life;Regret—Religious aspects—Christianity;Change (Psychology)—Religious aspects—Christianity;REL012130;REL012120;REL012070
ISBN: 9781493415359
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2018-07-05T16:00:00+00:00

A Culture of Perception

Our problem is that we view our lives through the window of our culture rather than the rock-solid promises of God’s Word. We live in a culture of perception. We perceive certain people to be winners or losers depending on how the circumstances of their lives fall into place.

I got the job and you didn’t; I win. I’m in control

He chose me, not you; I win. I’m in control.

He got the promotion and I didn’t; I lose. I have no control.

His son made the football team and mine didn’t; I lose. I have no control.

When we view our faith through that window, we’ve corrupted it. We’ve either reduced God to a vacillating rich uncle who gives one day and takes away the next or someone who doesn’t care about us, who allows our lives to be blown around with no plan in place. The truth is that whether we win or lose, we’re not in control. We never have been. God is in control and He is for us. When we believe that, only then can we let go of what we don’t understand and trust God.

Let’s go back to Joseph’s story. There’s a lot we could unpack, but I want us to focus on what we read at what appears to be the worst moments in his life. Remember when he was sold to a caravan of traveling salesmen on camels? From our point of view, by that time he’s been the subject of two experiences that appear to be out of his control: first he’s thrown into a well by his brothers, and then he’s sold as a slave. But then we read this:

When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.

The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. (Gen. 39:1–2)

The Lord was with Joseph. We need to stop right there. That is a profound, eye-washing truth. It’s tempting to think, If the Lord was with Joseph, why did he end up bruised and battered in a foreign country? Why didn’t God protect him? When we look at our own lives we think, Surely if God is with me terrible things won’t happen.

Can you identify moments like that? When things went wrong, what went through your mind? Did it feel as if God was in control or that He’d taken His eyes off you for a moment and when He looked back was surprised at the chaos? Until we embrace the understanding that God, and no one else, is in control, our faith remains shaky. When we begin, by faith, to grasp hold of this truth as deep as the marrow in our bones, it changes us. We don’t have to be afraid anymore. Hymn writer Edward Mote said it so well:

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

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