Archives For Spiritual formation

Humble Gentle Patience

March 4, 2012 — Leave a comment

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.    Ephesians 4.2

Sometimes people come into our lives, testing the limits of our patience. Sometimes it may be the answer to a prayer for patience. Other times it may be for us to learn patience in the most loving way. No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, patience with others (and yourself) is needed.

We are all at different stages in our journey following Christ. Some of us may be farther along than others. By ‘farther along’ I mean older due to more life experience and hopefully wisdom. Those who are younger in faith and in life may make up for a lack of wisdom by having tremendous zeal. I know when I was in my 20′s, I had that zeal. My beliefs, attitudes and actions at that point in my life I regret at times. I look back and realize the lack of humility and gentleness. I was not patient and my love was not very deep.

Spiritual growth and maturity does not occur overnight. It takes time, painful lessons and a loss of childish thinking. Some of us may have a greater wisdom granted us by the grace of God. Others may not have it yet because of youth, both physical and spiritual. Patience is needed on both sides. The mature need patience with those who are zealous to do great works for God. The young zealous ones need patience with the mature who seem to not have the same enthusiasm they do. Both have much to learn from the other but patience will be needed or frustration will set in. Lack of patience will frustrate the young ones and all they will see is a lack of zeal and joy in the Lord that does not see the newness of the Lord’s work. In the mature, lack of patience will lead to a frustration that only sees hot-headed and emotional youth that always goes and goes and goes without rest that will eventually burn out.

Whether you are young or you are mature in faith, patience will benefit your spiritual growth. Whether receiving wisdom and guidance or encouragement and passion, the Lord Jesus Christ loves both the same. The love of God is unchanging, eternal and most of all, patient…

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Doubts

April 6, 2011 — 2 Comments

When I was 22 and recently married, I faced a time of extreme doubt. I was fresh out of college with a BA in philosophy and ready to take on grad school at SWBTS. Yet in the midst of preparing for the academic journey, God seemed silent and distant and missing. This went on for months (in hindsight, roughly 9 months) with no relief, just a leaden sky. One way of describing this experience is that in a similar way it was like Descartes’ use of doubt to find that place of certainty, but not voluntarily so.One day this spiritual drought ended and the one place that I found as unshakeable was the cross of Christ.  The historical reality and spiritual significance of that event gave me courage to move on with my spiritual journey.  That defining moment in my life, that moment of great clarity I may never forget, especially since I remember standing in the  kitchen of my  apartment, shaken to my core.

I doubted but began to believe again. If I could not doubt the cross, I could not doubt the resurrection. If I could not doubt the resurrection, I could not doubt his ascension. If I could not doubt his ascension, I could not doubt the giving of the Spirit on Pentecost. The narrative of the church from before creation to now, was the story I was involved in now.  That moment of being shaken was the beginning of a work that, however haltingly it proceeds, is necessary for Christ to be formed in me.

Yet, this spiritual formation of Christ in my life is not for me alone but for his bride, the church. It is Christ in the community that is paramount. The work of the cross in my life has been limited by my despising the body that Christ seeks to bring life. I nursed some deep anger, bitterness and disappointment because of the expectations of some brothers. I was stubborn for far too long. I was still doubting but in a different way. I doubted that the Spirit of God could work in others like She was in me. I had expectations that were shattered and this threw me off balance. I doubted the freedom God has to work through whom and in whom He desired. I am slowly beginning to see the body of Christ with new eyes. For that I am grateful to God.

I still doubt but I still have faith. The doubt is my own, the faith is from God. I am beginning to trust in God in ways I never imagined. I believe in the cross of Christ and His resurrection from the dead. I believe in His church that is called to be His bride, body and temple. Though I doubt, I will trust the One who died and reconciled the world to God. Though I doubt, I will trust God’s grace even in the midst of my unbelief. The love of God is greater than any doubt. One day doubt will fade away. But in the meantime, doubt can purify and temper our faith. In some instances, it may be doubt that drives us to total abandonment to God.

Grace and peace,

JWR

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