22 Sep 2010
United we stand
Its gonna hurt
As I was talking about yesterday, I have been reminded lately that we are in a battle.
I also know that one of the biggest battlegrounds is in my head.
There is part of me that wants to do whatever I can to feel good and run away from pain.
I know that one side of the battle is trying hard to get me thinking about myself, the other side is wanting to call me beyond myself.
I am learning that isolation is a symptom that the negative side of me is winning the battle.
I am challenged by Paul’s description of the battle in Philippians:
Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition.
Your courage and unity will show them what they’re up against: defeat for them, victory for you—and both because of God.
There’s far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There’s also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting.
(Phil 1:28-29)
Two things stand out to me:
Firstly that we are in this battle together, and it works best when I am shoulder to shoulder with others.
Secondly, suffering is a part of the battle. The world will tell me that if I am suffering there is something wrong. The bible seems to indicate that if it’s hurting then you are probably in the right place.
Philip Yancey says:
“For whatever reason, God has let this broken world endure in its fallen state for a very long time. For those of us who live in that broken world, God seems to value character more than our comfort, often using the very elements that cause us most discomfort as the tools in fashioning that character.”
Maybe that’s why we need each other!