Learning Well – Tanya Dennis Books

A Prayer for those Treading Water

Do you have a regular prayer that you repeat over and over?

M argaret Feinberg shared in her book Wonderstruck about a time she become so weary in spirit that all she could pray was:

God is good.
God is on the throne.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.

These were the words she whispered while making snow angels in the crumbs on her kitchen floor. It’s such a vivid picture of crying out to God.

Sometimes we get to seasons that just sap us. The weight of our burdens is too heavy. It’s not that we forget how to pray. We just don’t know what to pray anymore. Words elude us. Eloquent speech isn’t possible.

A simple stanza can help, not just to recalibrate our faith and focus, but also to force us to be still and know that He is still God.

As my kids get older, as I get older, my most common breath prayer comes from Psalm 90.

The short version: “Teach me to number my days that I may gain a heart of wisdom.”

The longer version:

Lord, become my dwelling place.
You are everlasting to everlasting.
Teach me to number my days.
Grant me a heart of wisdom.
May your favor rest on us.
Establish the work of our hands.

The writers of Scripture have given us so many beautiful affirmations of God’s character! We don’t need to be original. We don’t need to know what to ask for or how it all should end. We can borrow these ancient phrases, breathe them in and out, letting the truth sink into our being. Trusting our great and faithful Father to hear; trusting Jesus the Son to intercede on our behalf; trusting the Holy Spirit to translate the indecipherable mutterings of our hearts into the precise petitions that match our needs.
Are you free? Are you living like it?

My life has a recurring appointment at 2am. It doesn’t take place every night. Some nights offer surprising and continuous, blessed sleep. Those are beautiful times. But most nights — I’d say three out of five for the past ten years or so — find me awake for this appointment, battling my past, my present, and all sorts of insecurities and accusations. Voices tell me I’m not enough; I’ll never be enough. They offer evidence of my failures and comparisons to others’ effortless success. They condemn without mercy, a repetitive loop of ceaseless striving and bondage.

The Apostle Paul never explicitly defined the “thorn in [his] side.” We only know it was a painful, persistent affliction he couldn’t shake. I wonder if it was like this.

On the morning after another sleepless night wrestling lies, I woke exhausted. Again. I confessed my struggle and the thoughts in my head to my ever-loving husband, tears silently leaking onto my pillow. Sometimes speaking it out loud helps. He prayed for me, over me. And then we got up to tackle another day.

Sometimes God speaks.

Shannon over at Sweet Blessings offers a really simple and impactful approach to the discipline of daily Bible time. Rather than giving a strict, multi-step regimen, she encourages Scripture writing. She publishes plans that give you just a few verses to copy from your Bible each day. That’s it. No questions; no forced pre-written prayers or contemporary devotional readings. Just writing. It’s simple, but the act of handwriting holy words breeds stillness. Contemplative moments.

This month I’m going through her ‘Birth of Christ’ plan. I have a blank journal. On one page I write the day’s Scripture. On the next page I write my observations about the passage or a prayer. Often both.

On that particular morning the writing was Isaiah 40:1–5. These verses come in the middle of a prophecy spoken by Isaiah to King Hezekiah. The verses, while directly spoken to the nation of Judah in their time, were echoed in prophetic fulfillment by John the Baptist as “a voice of one crying out” in the wilderness.

It is vital that, when studying to understand Scripture (or any literature, really), we consider first and foremost the context. That includes the original writers, the original audience, the original purpose and intent, and the culture and languages in which it was penned. But God also speaks directly to us in our day through these sacred texts. Sometimes it’s a lesson learned through their stories; sometimes it’s insight about our own. The past and the present work in holy concert to exalt Truth.

That morning as I read God’s promises to ancient Israel, the words sank deep into my weary heart.

“Comfort, comfort My people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and announce to her that her time of servitude is over, her iniquity has been pardoned…”
Isaiah 10:1–2 (HCSB)

Has my iniquity been pardoned? If I believe God’s words, YES. Christ made it so.

Consider Paul’s writings to the Romans:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free…

Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you. So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh…

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”
Romans 8:1-2, 10–12, 15

Does any of this make any sense to you?

Small Steps Toward Realized Freedom

In that moment of reading Isaiah, my heart heard the Holy Spirit affirming Christ’s work in my life, that he saved me for something far greater than slavery to negative thoughts and burdens long forgiven. He showed me that my time of servitude ended long ago — the moment I put my trust in Him.

Have I recognized my pardon? Or am I, like a stubborn dandelion seed, still clinging to the dead and familiar rather than flying free to produce life anew?

What is the purpose of my penance? Why persist in listening to lies that oppress and keep me captive?

This sounds like a simple switch of the brain. If I just change my mind, then I won’t struggle. I wish it were that simple.

Transformation is a complicated journey, but maybe the first steps are simple. Not easy, but simple. Maybe tiny victories can be found in remembering truth and fortifying my faith with those truths.

Maybe changing my mind in the daytime can create new habits for those 2am meetings.

And maybe one day those middle-of-the-night appointments will no longer be kept.

YOUR TURN:
What lies might you believe that keep you captive?
What steps can you take today to realize the freedom Christ came to give?
Elusive Jewels

If you subscribe to my newsletter, you already have this info in your inbox. If not… well, it’s time to subscribe! 🙂 I don’t want to be redundant, but I want to be sure you have not missed this announcement.

NEW BOOK RELEASE: Elusive Jewels by Odelaisy Senior

One of the great delights of my life is helping people tell their stories. I do this through writing and editing, but also just listening. Earlier this year someone I hadn’t seen in years contacted me. She had written a book and she wanted my help getting it ready for publication. Um…YES! Absolutely!

We may think our stories boring, simple, or provincial, but gems hide below the surface. My job as an editor is to help people find those gems and polish them.

Together she and I spent a number of months this summer (and into the fall) doing just that and —- I am very excited to announce her new book: ELUSIVE JEWELS.

Odelaisy Senior grew up in communist Cuba. These are her stories. With wonder and honesty, she shares the realities of a childhood framed by poverty, oppression, and relentless hope.

The book OFFICIALLY released on October 30th. You can order it online HERE.

The book is also available IN SPANISH! You can purchase Joyas Elusivas HERE.

I am SO PROUD of her!! This book was a lot of work, but it was so much fun to put together. And I know it was a cathartic, exciting experience for her.

Perhaps you have a book in you, too. It’s sitting there just waiting to be written.

If so, I hope you’ll reach out to me. I would love to help you tell your stories. You can learn more about what I offer on the Services page.
Encouragement or warning? Only context will tell.

“For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all your paths.”
– Proverbs 5:21

This was the verse of the day set in bold block letters against a striking image of highways and train tracks. It offered encouragement to all those sparrows who long to have the Lord’s eyes upon them, to be watched and cared for. A reassurance that not a single path escapes his sovereign attention. Safety. Security. Peace.

These were my initial thoughts upon seeing the verse broadcast at the top of the website. I took comfort in the words and connotations I had assigned to them.

Ah, and there is the rub. Connotations I had assigned to them.

Devotional websites always pick uplifting verses to feature. I get it. They want to offer a quick shot of fuel to our faith. Sometimes a blast of (seemingly) sound doctrine or an energetic burst of praise. Their job is to provide something bite-sized. That’s exactly what they do with catchy graphics you can quickly share on social media. They feature popular teachers and simple reading plans that require only a few verses a day. Snack-size spirituality.

If people really wanted a meaty meal of Scripture, they would read a book, listen to a sermon, or dive into a full Bible study, not grab a formulated devotional that can be read in less time than it takes to make coffee. Right?

We’ve tried to make faith convenient, but shortcuts can be misleading.

We’ve tried to make convenient.

That’s a loaded statement, to be sure, and I could probably take it a dozen different directions. We could talk about assimilation to comfort and culture or entertainment churches. We could criticize “fire insurance” evangelists selling “cheap grace” or celebrity Christians and modern worship. We could point toward the publishing industry, politics, culture… a thousand labels, each one presenting their own field of explosive mines.

Right now, though, I just want to talk about Scripture and our approach to it. Let’s get back to that verse about our paths.

“For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all your paths.”
– Proverbs 5:21

As I have gotten in the habit of doing, I clicked on the tiny link below the featured verse to read “In Context.” What I found startled me.

This verse isn’t an encouragement. It’s a warning.

Proverbs 5 is all about faithfulness in marriage. It gives twenty-three verses about avoiding seduction and enjoying your wife. This particular verse – verse 21 – reminds us that God sees even what we think we do in secret. Within this context, the verse should fill us with reverent fear rather than cozy confidence.

I wonder how many people visited that site and applied the same positive connotations I did. How many people read it and felt bolstered rather than admonished? Encouraged rather than cautioned?

Let’s strive for more than simple faith and popular takes.

We live in a tweetable, social-media obsessed culture. We have very short attention spans and we breed false ideals of popularity, somehow equating broad appeal with “good” or “right.”

Seth Godin wrote:

“Popular isn’t the same as important. Popular isn’t the same as profound. Popular isn’t even the same as useful.

“To make something popular, the creator leaves out the hard parts and amps up the crowd-pleasing riffs. To make something popular, the creator knows that she’s dumbing things down in exchange for attention.“

How often are we leaving out the hard parts?

Please understand I am not at all disparaging Bible apps or devotionals. I do challenge them to be careful with their presentations, but mostly my admonition here is for you and me.

Are we considering the context of Scripture or just looking for a self-help shot of faith each day?

Are we handling God’s Word with the reverence and care it deserves?

I am not saying we need to spend five hours in study and prayer. You don’t have to learn Hebrew and Greek. You can! But my point is simply to be present and aware when we approach Scripture.

Read it. Read it to understand. Think about it. Consider what it means. Pray and ask for insight. And do all that before you slap it on an image and share it with all your friends.

In our heads — I hope! — we know what Godin says is true. But in our actions, in our hearts, in our attitudes and choices, we’re still counting the “likes” and smiles we get. We still think, at times subconsciously, that voiced approval by others affirms value or goodness. Even correctness. We think that if it makes us feel good, it must be right.

We’re not just taking Scripture out of context.
We’re taking ourselves out of context, too.
If you have to learn the hard way, start asking these four questions.
Scripture is a funny thing. A group of people can read a passage together, and each member of that group could extract different layers. The Holy Spirit speaks to us through God’s Word, both corporately and individually. And the more you read it, the more you see. Sometimes what we see first, what rings most familiar and comfortable, may not be the point at all.

He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then He gave you manna to eat, which you and your fathers had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
Deuteronomy 8:3

When you read this verse, what do you see? What sticks out to you most?

This is a familiar passage, in part. Jesus quoted the bit about man not living on bread alone when refuting the temptations of Satan prior to beginning His public ministry (Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4). So we probably recognize that, but have we looked at the rest of the verse? The context of Deuteronomy may be less familiar to us. Who said this? To whom? And what is he talking about? Let’s take a look.

What’s the deal with Deuteronomy?

Deuteronomy means “second law.” It’s the fifth book of the Bible, and its name is quite appropriate since this is the second time the Israelites were given the Law.

The first time was when Moses received the tablets on the top of Mount Sinai. This story most remember. Moses came down the mountain to find the people worshipping a golden calf they had created from the jewelry they were given while leaving Egypt. Not a great moment.

But think about it: These people had been living in a pagan nation for over 400 years. They had been oppressed and enslaved and didn’t really understand what God expected of them. That’s why they needed the Law to show them how God’s Chosen People were to live differently.

Fast forward a bit: God led them right to the Promised Land, but fear ruled the majority of the spies. They told everyone what they saw, and the people refused to enter. Because they refused to trust Him, God sent them on a little hike and gave them a little time to think.

Deuteronomy comes after forty years of wandering, right before the Israelites made their second attempt to enter the Promised Land. With very few exceptions, the generation that walked through the Red Sea and heard the Law from Moses died in the desert. Their children were now leading the tribes. It was their turn to hear the Law for themselves. Thus — Deuteronomy. Second Law.

Deuteronomy gives this new generation of Israelites a fresh start. It’s a combination of history — Hey, this is what went down. These are the promises God made to your ancestors, and this is how they responded. — and instruction — Remember those promises. Remember the lessons and the consequences. You now get to choose a better way.

Context is vital.

Let’s look at that verse again.

He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then He gave you manna to eat, which you and your fathers had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
Deuteronomy 8:3

Some will look at this and skip right to the familiar bits at the end. See! — we need to study our Scriptures! Physical hunger is less important than our spiritual needs.

Some will look at the beginning and see judgment and cruelty. See! — God let them go hungry! He’s sadistic. When He does feed them, it’s some weird food they’ve never seen before.

We can see the beginning of the verse or we can emphasize the end, but if we skip the middle, we’ve missed the whole point. The middle is our context. It’s our WHY.

…so that you might learn…

God is a good Father. He didn’t lead the Israelites into the desert to kill them. He didn’t send them out there to die and be punished. He sent them out there to wander and learn of His goodness and faithfulness to them. He wanted them to learn to trust Him.

Why didn’t they go into the Promised Land when He led them right to it? Because they were afraid. They were trusting in themselves instead of trusting in Him. They needed to see that they could not provide for themselves — not food or water or protection. They needed to learn that God is their Provider and Protector. He is the One who will fight their battles for them.

Learning the Hard Way

Have you ever had to learn the hard way? Or known someone who insists on the rougher route?

Just like the Israelites, we can lean on our own understanding.
Just like the Israelites, we can forget God and all that He’s done for us.
Just like the Israelites, we sometimes get sent on a little hike.

Maybe the job opportunity didn’t come through as we’d hoped.
Maybe healing didn’t come as fast or in the way we expected.
Maybe a global pandemic sent all our plans flying out the window.

We all want to be in control and when we realize we’re not, our equilibrium can go wonky. We may question things we know to be true (like God’s character or sovereignty) and we may temporarily lose our way. We often feel very, very alone.

Sometimes what looks like abandonment is actually opportunity.

You know, when the Israelites were in the desert, God provided for them, but not bread they recognized. He gave them a miraculous new food, one they couldn’t possibly credit to their own efforts or merit. It was a gift.

Ask questions.

When things don’t go the way we want, let’s ask questions.
- How can we better TRUST God through this?
- What can we LEARN from this?
- What NEW THING might come from this?
- What GIFTS is God giving us right now?
The starting point matters.

You can’t win a 5K if you run in the wrong town.

You won’t get where you want to go if your map is for the wrong state.

And, no matter what Joey Tribbiani says, trifles do not taste good if the ingredients you use aren’t right.

The starting point matters.

We may all agree with that, but often our actions and thoughts tell a different story. We might lean into the belief that “it’s the thought that counts” or “the ends justify the means.” We often insist that EFFORT or PASSION are what matter most. How hard are you working? Have you earned your success? It’s all part of our American values.

It’s not about us as much as we think (or want).

In Matthew 7 Jesus tells the story of two builders. I’m sure you’ve heard it. One builds his house on the sand, while the other builds his on the rock. When the storms come, the house on the sand — as the Sunday School song says — “GOES SPLAT!!”

Kids laugh at that. It’s funny. And children’s books often ham it up even more.

Authors and illustrators depict the man who built his house on the sand as lazy, carefree, and in a hurry. He slaps together his house with crooked corners and worn boards, then sits sunning in a beach chair with an umbrella in his drink.

The second man — the man who built his house on the rock — is strong, calculated, and hard-working. His house comes together over an extended period of time. It sports brick walls, neat windows, and solid construction, sometimes looking like a mansion compared to his neighbor’s shack.

And just like that — we’ve conflated God’s Word with our own cultural virtues. The one who is smart, diligent, and passionate always gets ahead, right?

Here’s the problem: Jesus doesn’t suggest any of this. He doesn’t diminish the work, skill, or commitment of the builders. He doesn’t say one house stood inferior to the other. He simply highlights the different foundations.

You could argue that a “smart” builder would know better than to build on sand, but the builder is not the point. And Jesus isn’t arguing that.

He directs our focus to the starting point.

What are our starting points?

When we talk about loving our neighbors, what is our starting point?

Do we, like the lawyer in Luke 10, seek first to define who qualifies? Are they close enough, trying hard enough, needy enough, righteous enough? Do they look like me? Can I trust them? Are they trying to take anything that’s rightfully mine? We often want to assess if they’re worthy and really our responsibility.

When we talk about politics, what is our starting point?

A lot of us start with our rights. We protect those first. We may listen to arguments and choose a side, then hit up the Bible for Scriptural supports. Is that how we want to do this?

How often do we start with what’s best for the community? Or what might rescue the oppressed? Can we seek to know the heart of God FIRST, then see how we can apply that to how we live and vote? Do we look at all of God’s instructions or just the ones that fit our agendas? And those supports should be evaluated in context, not just squeezed into a catchy meme or shareable graphic.

When we study the Bible, what is our starting point?

Maybe we start with a problem we have or a source of pain. We want relief, so we go to God’s Word. Is there a book or study that will directly address that issue and tell us how God can fix our problems?

Or maybe we approach the Bible to confirm what we already believe. Do we pull out our concordances and search by keywords to affirm choices we want to make? (Or have already made.)

Now, there’s nothing wrong with seeking wisdom from the Bible. It’s good! And we absolutely should seek wisdom from God, but should we be starting with US? If we only and always approach Scripture with the question — What can God do for me? — we have the wrong starting point.

We can view the Bible as a manual, but … Do you have a personal relationship with your washing machine? That came with a manual, too. This self-help approach makes our faith less about a relationship and more about a transaction.

Seek FIRST His Kingdom.

What if the builder who started on the sand didn’t know it was sand? It could have looked solid to him. He may have known more about construction and materials. He may have saved longer and been more respected in the community and in his trade. What if he worked crazy-hard and just built in the wrong spot?

That’s not funny at all.
It’s tragic.

And I fear we can make that same mistake far too easily.

We can spend our lives working for something, building a kingdom of our own design, and realize only too late that we’ve started in the wrong spot.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…
Matthew 6:33

Dallas Willard defines the kingdom of God as “where what God wants done is done.”

Jesus isn’t instructing us to seek eternal life in some future heaven. Yes, the faithful will receive that, but we should seek FIRST to do the will of God.

It’s not the quality of work or even the builder’s supreme passion that makes his house stand. It’s the proper foundation. That foundation isn’t politics or logic. It’s not works or skill or popularity. It’s living like Jesus Christ. It’s seeking, above all else, to do the will of God.
Advent Tools (for those who already feel behind)

This week marks the beginning of Advent.

While I want to be the type of person who always thinks ahead and has detailed plans in place before they’re needed, I’m just not.

I used to be cool like that. When my kids were little, I had spreadsheets and lesson plans prepped for entire seasons. I knew where we were going and what we were doing every day of the week, sometimes the entire month. Of course, back then our whole world seemed under my control.

Now with two teenagers quickly growing toward autonomy, life looks different. I’m pulled in so many different directions, even big things like anniversaries and birthdays seem to sneak up on me. Part of me kinda hates it.

Anyone with me? Maybe your kids aren’t teens gently pulling away from your dictatorship. Maybe little ones under foot have zapped every ounce of mental energy you have. Maybe you’re just busy. Maybe life is really, really hard right now. Maybe 2020. It’s okay.

If you feel behind in this season, you’re not alone.

The bulk of my Christmas decor is still in my garage, and guess who remembered just last night that we threw away our Advent Candelabra during one of my purges of quarantine. (It was broken, and I intended to replace it, but … Well … Were you, too, among the hordes of people cleaning out their basements this summer?) So there I stood on Sunday night with two (not four) mismatched candles, scrounging for something to read, while one teen FaceTimed a friend about video games and the other ran off to play music in her room.

I reminisce fondly of those preschool days filled with themed art projects, field trips, and simple Bible lessons; meals and snacks coordinated to reinforce the season and the truths of life and God and wonder.

That was a great season! This season can be great, too.

It’s tempting to lament the loss of those uber-organized days, but the detailed plans were never the goal. The goal was to connect with my kids and lead our family in knowledge and growth. That goal hasn’t changed. The pursuit of that goal, however, may look a little different. It may be a bit less formal or controlled.

If you’re with me, here are a few tools that might help you toward that goal without requiring color-coded spreadsheets or too much advanced prep time.

Ready, set, tools!

Unwrapping the Names of Jesus

by Asheritah Ciuciu
Available in print, digital, or audio.
Find it here.

First, this book has a great deal of helps. You’ll find resources for why and how to celebrate Advent, lists of activities ready to roll, and some great material about names of Jesus. All good stuff.

Second, the book includes 28 daily readings and reflections, but it also has 5 easy-to-use scripts for once-weekly Advent celebrations. In other words, it tells you what Scripture to read, what questions to ask, and how to lead your family through the weeks of Advent. Voila! No prep. 🙂

Now, you could get this and read through it each day together as a family. You could just do the once-a-week devotion. You could encourage every family member (including teens/pre-teens) to read through it independently, then discuss it together as a group once or twice a week when you’re able.

The point: this tool gives you loads of flexibility! You can do as much or as little as you want, each bit helping you with that ultimate goal.

Touching Wonder

by John Blase
Available in print or digital.
Find it here.

This little book has almost become an annual read for me. It’s short — only twelve readings — and surprisingly powerful.

The author begins with Scripture: Luke 1–2, The Message. He then puts himself in the shoes of the characters, imagining what they might have felt or experienced. Then he adds a personal note of prayer and reflection.

This isn’t a theology book. It’s not an exegetical study. It’s an attempt to put flesh on a story that sometimes feels overplayed and too familiar. The purpose (as the subtitle says) is to recapture “the Awe of Christmas.”

I recommend this for personal use, reading with your spouse or good friends, or even with your teens. It’s going to go over the heads of little ones.

Before and After Christmas

by Debbie Trafton O’Neal
Available in print and digital.
Find it here.

I’ve given you one book that suits all ages, one for families with older kids (or no kids at all), and now this one. This is for families with littles.

Designed with full readings and activities to fill the days from Advent through Epiphany, this book offers more than 40 different ready-made opportunities to connect with your kids and with the season. Some are more involved than others; some are as simple as singing a song. Activities range from crafts to service opportunities. The format makes it easy to pick and choose which ones you want to do with your munchkins.

The point is: it’s ready to go! You don’t have to think about it, research it, or put it together. You grab the book, make sure you have supplies, and there you go.

Just so you know, most of the “supplies” you’ll need are probably already in your house: construction paper, tape, yarn or string, sticks from the backyard…stuff like that.

The Nativity Story

Available on DVD, digital purchase or rent.
Find it here.

Give purpose to your family movie night! Bible time doesn’t have to be a book or traditional worship time. It could be a film. This one is really well-done.

This dramatic re-telling of the Jesus’ birth may be a bit rough for younger kids, but it’s a beautiful, realistic portrait that could inspire some wonderful questions and conversations within your home.

If you have any Star Wars fans in your midst, you can always entice them with this trivia: Oscar Isaac plays Joseph. He’s the same actor who played Poe Dameron in The Force Awakens, and frankly, I think he does a tremendous job here.

Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

by C. S. Lewis

This isn’t explicitly Christmas or Advent, but it does touch on the subjects, and it is a beautiful way to engage your family in the wonder of the Gospel and the anticipation of His coming. This story speaks to the longing we have for salvation, the struggle we have in accepting and giving grace, and the lengths to which God will go to rescue us. I love this story so much!

The book is available in print, digital, and audio formats (find it here). You could read it together chapter by chapter or even listen to it while decorating the tree or baking cookies!

It’s also available for family movie night. If you have Disney+, you’ll find it included there. If you don’t, you can rent or purchase it online as a DVD or digital download (find it here).

BONUS: You could even snag a cookbook to make some Turkish Delight or other Narnian treat to enjoy while you watch. 🙂 The cookbook I have appears to be out of print, but I did find this other one that might prove worthwhile.

Remember why you’re doing this.

Whether you employ one of these tools or another of the many amazing resources available, remember your WHY.

It’s not about the schedule or even the tool. It’s not about the appearance or level of social media appeal. It’s about the connection and the focus.

Choose to celebrate the coming of Christ without stressing over what specifically is or isn’t done. He meets us where we are. He greets us with joy and hope and wonder. Let that be enough.
Is God REALLY on our side?
Romans 8 may be my very favorite chapter of the Bible. Okay, in truth, I have several favorite chapters, but this short segment of a letter to the Roman believers cut straight to my heart as a teenager. It brought me to a saving knowledge of my separation from God and my need for grace through Christ. It continues to cut straight to my heart today, twenty-five years later. I could go on and on about the beautiful truths laid bare in these verses, but – well, that’s not the point of this post. Let’s just look at verse 31.

“If God is for us, who can be against us?”

This verse rests within the very specific context of salvation. The whole chapter goes to great lengths to assure believers that once God has chosen to save us, we cannot be snatched from His all-powerful, gracious, and loving hands. How gorgeous is that truth?

The American church loves this verse as a rally cry. It’s a strong comfort, a brazen proclamation. And it’s a handy little finger-in-the-eye justification for just about anything we want to do that might offend our neighbors. You don’t like it? Well, God is for us, so who are you to stand against us?

Adding convenience to power, anybody can use it. And we all do.

Politically, I’m independent. I don’t fully align with any of the major parties, which means all of them have a problem with me. My liberal friends think I’m too conservative (because I’m pro-life, pro-marriage and traditional values, and crave small government and fiscal responsibility). My conservative friends think I’m too liberal (because I believe being pro-life should extend to all of life, not just the unborn; and because I support racial equality and justice, immigration, and gun control).

Please don’t get trapped by the issues or confessions I’ve just shared. None of that is my point. Stay with me.

I have friends on both sides of the spectrum spewing hatred and arrogance, all bolstered in religious fortification and argument. I humbly confess: I’ve taken my turns doing the same. It’s not pretty. For any of us. Least of all the Body of Christ.

This christening of ideas and motivations can go well beyond politics.
- If God is for me, I cannot fail at anything.
- If God is for me, I don’t need to defend myself or my ideas … ever.
- If God is for me, then anyone who claims Christ should agree with me.
- If God is for me and my boss is against me, defiance becomes righteous duty.
- If God is for me and my spouse is against me, then divorce is justified.
- If God is for me, He wants me to be happy and will bless any path that leads to that end.
I fear we too often forget the gravity of that very first word: IF.

We must ask ourselves: Is God for us?

Who’s side is God on? Who’s side are we on?

Two passages of Scripture stand juxtaposed. They possess almost identical wording, yet not. For some reason that verse in Romans gets a lot more publicity than this next one. Perhaps because it’s in the New Testament and this one is in the Old Testament. Or maybe it’s because the Romans passage feels empowering and brazen and this one … well, this one requires humility.

Joshua 5:13—14 reads:

“When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua approached Him and asked, ‘Are you for us or for our enemies?’

‘Neither,’ He replied. ‘I have now come as a commander of the LORD’s army.’

Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground in worship and asked Him, ‘What does my Lord want to say to His servant?’”

This one doesn’t quite roll off the tongue as quickly nor as easily as that verse in Romans. It doesn’t fit on a bumper sticker either. But it is so important. It gives us some practical advice for walking with the Lord.

Joshua knew this warrior was great, and he didn’t dare assume He was with him. He asked. He inquired. And guess what? The warrior wasn’t on either side. Not on Joshua’s side. Not on Joshua’s enemies’ side. The warrior wasn’t taking sides with humans. Rather, he wanted to know who was on the LORD’s side.

What happened next? Joshua humbled himself, face to the ground, and sought direction. He didn’t take another step until he heard from God. Rather than ask God to bless his human plans, Joshua inquired about God’s plans for him. Then he obeyed.

We often want God to bless us. We want Him to condone and support our plans. What would happen if, instead of asking God to join OUR side, we truly sought to join HIS side?

What would happen if, instead of asking God to join our side, we truly sought to join His side?

What if God isn’t on our side? What if – even more terrifying – we stand against Him?

It is natural to defend our positions passionately. We want to win the battle, to argue toward a won debate. May we, as humble servants of God, pause. Take a breath. And truly seek God.

It’s great if He’s on our side. It’s even better if we’re on His side.

I’ve committed the great taboo of raising politics in a post about spiritual intimacy. As such, many will want to argue points and positions based on those issues. Please don’t. This isn’t a platform for political debate or grandstanding, and any such comments will be deleted. Refuse to chase the red herring.

This post isn’t about politics. It’s about humility. Supplication. Introspection. For myself most of all.

If you have comments and insights about Scripture or about seeking God in the dailies of your life, please post them! I’d love to know your thoughts on that.
Ways to Get Out of the Pit
If you read my last post, you know I have good days and bad days and I’m learning to be okay with not being okay. I don’t want to just leave it there, so even though I am no expert on escaping dark moods, I want to share a few things that help me. Maybe they’ll help you too.

Limit negative exposures.

What is it that’s getting you down? What feeds into your dark emotions and invites you further into the pit? Identify those triggers, then see how you can limit or avoid them.

For me, it’s the news. Not just the news, but conversations about the news and politics, the incessant social media drone of debate and toxic discourse. I don’t even want to call it “discourse” since so much of it involves mocking, ridicule, and attack rather than sound exchanges of ideas and opinions. THAT I could handle. But that’s not often what I find, so I need to limit my exposure.

Read intentionally.

Find something that will challenge you, encourage you, or help you escape. Hmm…maybe that should be Elevate, Encourage, Escape. That sounds very organized and inspired, right? Sure. My point is that you need to get out of your own head. Or rather, let someone else into your head to shift your thinking.

I never read just one book at a time. Right now I’m reading Identity Theft (a nonfiction book about rooting your personal identity in Christ and what God says of you), Get Out of Your Head (a nonfiction book about spiritual warfare and the power to take every thought captive), and From Sky to Sky (a speculative fiction work about immortals among us). Each of these is helping me get out of my pit.
- <a href="https://amzn.to/3aAcoPw"
Identity Theft is reminding of Scriptural truths about who I am and what I am called to be. Get Out of Your Head is helping me combat some long-seated lies I’ve held about myself and my position in community. From Sky to Sky is offering me escape. It’s letting me rest my thoughts on things completely different from my everyday life and current situation.

Complete a project. Any project.

Sometimes the pit stems from a lack of purpose or control. Finding a project and completing it feels good. It offers a temporary, but solid, measurable sense of control and purpose. It doesn’t matter what the project is. It could be something creative or practical or even both. Maybe painting a table. Organizing your pantry. Cleaning out your closet. Making a menu for the week. Trying a new recipe. Any of this will do!

The form of the project doesn’t matter.
What matters is that you finish it.

Starting a project doesn’t have the same impact. In fact, it may cause a reverse effect. It’s fun and a little exciting, but rather than giving you a sense of accomplishment, it could add to your stress by putting one more thing on your list of “things you have to do.” We want to experience success, not further burden. So find a project you know you can finish and get it done.

Connect with others.

I feel a little hypocritical saying this, but … we need community. I tend to isolate, especially when I’m in a dark place. I don’t want to burden others; I want to encourage them! So when I get in a pit, I tend to stay there by myself until I can dig my way out. On my own. But I have learned — I am learning that I can get out of that pit a lot faster when I invite others into it with me. Not that I want them in the pit, but they don’t want me there either. They can help me get out. They can often see things I can’t. They can show me that the pit isn’t as deep and dark as I imagine. Together we can overcome it.

How can we connect with others? Reach out. It’s as simple as a text or phone call. A coffee date or an invitation to … anything (once everything opens up again). It doesn’t have to be complicated.

One little thing though … You need to be brave. Connection doesn’t come simply reaching out. You need to open up, too. I’m not suggesting you lay bare all your secrets, but choose to share. Be honest with your feelings. Pray together. You can live in parallel or you can live in community. Community is a riskier, but it beats being alone.

Laugh.

I’m not kidding. Find something that makes you laugh. A ridiculous movie. A game with your kids. A lip sync battle with old friends via Zoom. Find something that makes you laugh. Not a polite little giggle, but a toes-deep, soul-cleansing, make-you-cry laugh.

Admit fear, but refuse to submit to it.

“For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7 (NET)

Timothy, the original recipient of this letter from Paul, faced persecution and great difficulties. Paul even urges him to “by God’s power accept your share of suffering for the gospel.”

I don’t want to start a “biggest loser” game in which we compare who has it worse: you or me, us or the early church leaders. It doesn’t matter. The point is that God has not changed. If He has the power to get Timothy through those days, He has the power to get us through these. If we have accepted Christ as Savior, then we have the same Spirit Paul speaks of here, and it is not a spirit that surrenders to fear. Fear is real, but it does not own us. We have been granted freedom and can thereby lay hold of the power, love, and self-control the Spirit who lives in us possesses.

Acknowledge fear, but refuse to live there.

How? Spend time with God. Pray. Read your Bible. Listen to worship music, not just in the background, but meditate on the words. Focus on the attributes of God and the truths of His Word.

“You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace,
for it is trusting in You.”
— Isaiah 26:3 (HCSB)

YOUR TURN: Tell me what you do to get out of the pits. What helps you shed the funk?