Psalm 94:18-19, "When I said, 'My foot
is slipping,' your unfailing love, Lord, supported
me. When anxiety
was great within me, your consolation brought me
joy" (NIV).
Hold that
thought for just a minute...
In John chapter
3, It's interesting that John describes his joy as complete when his friends come
to him, concerned that Jesus might be taking too much of the spotlight. This was never a problem for John. Preparing the way was what John was created
to do. I think we sometimes
misunderstand the concept of consolation.
This is probably because we have used the term to define things like the
prize you get when you didn't win.
Consolation has been twisted to mean a pat on the back, that moment in
which you take second place, the participation trophy. But John didn't see it that way. For John, it was likely a relief. He responds to his friends saying, "He must become greater; I must become
less" (John 3:30, NIV).
If I'm honest, most
of the time I don't really want to
become less...
And then...
sometimes... it's the best feeling in the world to know that someone else is
stepping in to support my slipping feet and anxious heart. There is no comfort for me in knowing that
there are things I cannot control, but there is comfort in knowing that God is present and holds me together
(sometimes quite literally) in the midst of such things.
I wish I could
go as far as to say this brings me joy, today.
The truth is, I'm walking through one of those incredibly anxious, good grief
I feel like I'm going to throw up every time I roll out of bed, times of
life. I expect that will pass and I'll
be alright... soon... just not quite yet...
Joy is a little
elusive at the moment, but perhaps I can begin with survival. I think the consolation of the Lord, the part
where he becomes greater and I become less and somehow that keeps me from
falling apart, will do for today.
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