Choosing to Flourish...

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11, an often used Scriptural encouragement, is only relevant and meaningful if you read and grapple with the context of this promise. This encouraging promise was written for a people struggling within a season of suffering...hardship...a time of displacement and uncertainty. God's people were living in captivity; a place difficult to call "home". 

God told the children of Israel that it would be 70 years...yes seventy years, before He would, in essence, rescue them out of captivity and bring them back to their true place of residence. Ugh…what a long season. Yet in the midst of their captivity, God invited them to flourish. He instructed them to eat from their gardens, marry, build homes, have children and grandchildren, and to pray for their community. During their season of waiting...during this time of sitting within hardship...He invited them to keep living...to participate in things that are life giving. He knew that this was only possible if they prepared their hearts to settle in...to stay. 

We often miss the wonder of today's pain because our focus is on anticipated future release. While we long for dancing...we forget that the sweet and jubilant steps of dancing are birthed after a season of mourning. Yet in His faithfulness, God reminds us of what it is to thrive through each moment. 

There is a significant difference between "making the best of it" and "flourishing". Making the best of it tends to have negative connotations; as if one must endure almost needlessly. Flourishing infuses purpose within waiting and difficulty. It breaths life over difficulty as it invites us to bloom where we are planted and become beautiful amidst the trials we face.

While we sit in these hard places, we can choose to hold our hands open wide in sweet release and focus our thoughts on the God who understands our pain…the One who is acquainted with suffering…the One who Himself wished for things to be different. As we listen to His words, as recorded in Mark 14:36, may we find strength in similar verbiage. “Abba, Father,” He cried out, “everything is possible for You. Please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.” 

Beautiful Masterpieces…Choose life. Bloom where you’re planted. It’s not just about surviving…it’s about thriving! It’s about fiercely flourishing!! And we can choose it!

The Jesus Room...

When you follow Jesus...really follow Him, you realize that your life is not truly your own. You can't possibly read verses like "If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it" (Mark 8:35), or "Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23) and think that being a genuine lover of Jesus means living a comfortable or easy life. Following Jesus is a radical decision that provides life altering outcomes.

I don't remember how I met her. I just know that God brings people into my life when they need Him. She was young, well dressed, and smelled of sweet perfume. According to the world's standards she was beautiful. Yet as she talked, so much more of the depth of her began to emerge. I could see it in her eyes; the hollow look of an empty soul longing for someone...something to fill it.

Her story was like many others I'd heard. She was married, had a child, and was desperately unhappy. Her husband had an anger problem...and his hands on her body would often become the means to which he released the destructive fire that raged in his soul. She lived fearful...and wounded...scarred by the emotional verbiage that accompanied the physical blows. The only questions for which she desperately needed answers involved where she would go and what would she do next?

It would have been easy to listen sympathetically, tell her how much God loved her, cared about her struggle, and would provide for her; because all of those things are very true. It would have made perfect sense to pray for her, hug her, and let her know that I'd continue trusting in our great God to "work all things together for the good in her life" (Romans 8:28). And it would have been easy and made complete sense to give her the number for the local shelter. After all, there is normally at least one shelter in any given town.

But... I can't embrace that way of living. It seems too easy. It feels like a life meticulously  crafted...crafted to keep me insulated from uncomfortably engaging the pain and hardship of others. It seems so contrary to Mark 8:35 and Luke 9:23. And it really seems to fly in the face of 1 Thessalonians 2:8, "We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too." Share my life...what does that mean?

For our family, it means that we have The Jesus Room in our house. We've had this room for 18 years now (and we often have 2 now). But when this young woman walked into our life, we were in the first few years of providing this sacred space of refuge. The room was freshly painted with a soft blue sky that gently cascaded over a chair rail border of white lounge chairs. Below the chairs a beige color circled about creating a landscape of inviting sand. The scene, chosen intentionally, beckoned sojourners to walk restfully beside the Savior and release their heavy cares and burdens. It was into this room that we invited people to find rest, healing, hope, restoration, and redemption. And it was in this room that the embrace of Jesus found its way around this woman's heart as she gained her footing and figured out her next step.

Our Jesus Room does not provide an abundance of expressed gratitude. Oftentimes we've known the dishonesty of guests. We've understood the meaning of ingratitude from those still incapable of seeing, let alone reaching, beyond themselves. It's cost us money we did not have to give. It's cost us time we could have spent on ourselves....on our comfort...our leisure.

But when I think of my Savior, with nowhere to lay His head (see Matt 8:20), or Who when seeking  rest would see the needs of others and be so moved with compassion that He'd engage their deepest heart cries once again (see Mark 6:30-34), I find it difficult to focus so much energy on living a life that costs me so little....or almost nothing.

When that young woman left our home, her life was still very messy and she was still not as teachable as we would have hoped. During her time with us we'd struggled to figure out how to embody lavish love, heartfelt forgiveness, and wisdom, while inviting genuine ownership for decisions made. It was a delicate dance on an oftentimes crumbling dance floor. But...we did it...not perfectly...but we did it.

This blog post comes now, 10 or more years after our lives intersected, because this young woman recently wrote me a note. To say I was shocked is an understatement. The letter came just days after we'd moved a Chinese Mom and her daughter out of one of our Jesus Rooms. I was at a place of reflection and God used this note to inspire me and remind me that the life He has called me to live...our family to live...is not an extraordinary life. It is the Christian life...it is simply a continuation of His life...

And so I invite you to reflect...How are you continuing His life? I truly hope that the life that you are living is costing you something wondrous...and that you realize that a life lived for Him is not extraordinary...it is the beautiful ordinary...the beautiful ordinary of the Christ follower.

Extra Note: I've put her letter below in case knowing what she said would provide encouragement to anyone needing to be reminded of the beauty behind..."So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith" (Galatians 6:9-10).

Evie- 

I'm not sure you remember me, but my daughter and I stayed with you for a little while. I was sorta a mess then and I'm not sure I ever said thank you. I'm also not sure words can express how grateful I am for the influence you had in my life. Because of your influence, I have an amazing husband who loves The Lord above all, I have a career, I am a 6th grade youth leader and sit on a board of directors that helps young pregnant girls with no where to go. I learned from you a passion for God and a love for people. I have found a joy for serving others. I'm so sorry it took this long to express my gratitude, but if you wonder if you ever make a difference, you do! I'm proof. 

Ever so grateful,