A Stand of Trees

I've been thinking tonight about some of the things that have posed problems to me over the course of my lifetime. I've found that my perception of them was often completely incongruent with their actual stature. Here's what I mean. Invariably, when dealing with any problem, I have under-appreciated the actual nature of the problem. I have often thought of myself as one stumbling through the deep forests of the human condition, struggling to keep my head above water during "the storms of life". I don't know if that's a real saying, but I figured I would put it into quotes just in case. College made me paranoid of plagiarism. In reflecting on some of these situations, however, I've discovered that I was walking in circles in a stand of trees. I have wrestled with some real problems. I've also created real problems out of almost nothing. I, at moments, was increasing both the scope and the depth of my various turmoils in a way not unlike Jesus when he fed the five thousand. I think the temptation in the face of hardship is to narrow the filter through which we see reality. This is a slow process. It begins by denying certain things as blessings, by becoming more enamored with the darker things around us, and refusing to look for perspective. It ends with us being nearly unable to recognize a blessing or some facet of joy that has been preserved in our lives. My friends and I have spent many late nights discussing the intricacies of our existential despair, and there have been times that this has been helpful. On occasion, as I wrote before, I have been in some dark places and I needed some very legitimate help, as have my friends. I can't help but shake the impression, however, that for the most part I have fanned the flames of some more marginal issues by willfully ignoring the vast amount of blessings that the Lord has placed around me. Despair can be comfortable. Confusion can feel safe. The question I ask you, reader, as well as myself is this "Is the struggle that you find yourself in right now rooted in real sorrow, real struggle, or a real quest for understanding?" You need to be honest here. I didn't ask whether it seems that you are in the midst of one of those things, I asked if you were. I think that if you are willing to pause and reflect on some of the things afflicting you right now, you'll find that there is a simple, clear root of truth that Christ is waiting to give to you that will resolve the issue. Here's an example. Did that relationship that you were in fail to work out in the way that you had hoped it would? That's sad, legitimately. I'm not marginalizing that pain, I've been there once or twice and my experience of it makes me think that that's a real struggle. However, isn't it true that Christ has promised to work all things for your good? Hasn't He promised to guide your steps? Isn't it possible that it really is a good thing for both people involved that that situation didn't work out, regardless of your perception of the situation right now? I could list more examples that don't relate to relationships, but I want to move on with my point. There are deep waters that most of us have to pass through on numerous occasions during our lives. Given that that's true, why spend more time there than you need to? God has called us to drink certain cups during our lives. He has also called us to find rest and peace in Him and His provision. It is just as ungodly to retreat into sorrow and grief and darkness for comfort as it is to avoid those things. As Ecclesiastes said, there is a time for everything. Struggle, but do so constructively. You don't have to hold on to despair to feel deeply. Just the opposite, in fact. By doing that, you are refusing to feel the joy deeply that God has ordained for you and are excluding an entire section of reality that also confronts you every time you awaken. This isn't an encouragement for a certain set of behaviors or vocabulary. It's just this: wherever you are, there you are. That's a title of a book my dad bought. I haven't read it. Grieve when that is the season you are in. Struggle when that is the season you are in. Open your eyes to the peace and rest that God has provided for you in the midst of those seasons. Rejoice when that is the season God has you in. I'm not advocating the dismissal of real sorrow or pain. I'm advocating the dismissal of fake sorrow and pain. If you are a Christian, joy is just as real as sorrow, if not more so.  Be real with Jesus, no matter what season He has you in at the moment. Wrestle with the angel. Walk through the dark forests of doubt and pain and grief. Fight for joy. Stop walking in circles in a grove trees.