You’ve met them before. There are people whose walk with God is always "Wonderful!" I remember a guy who used to always tell everyone that he was doing "Super!." I know another guy, quite a bit older than him, who always said that he was doing "Marvelous." One woman used to always reply to the "How’s your day going?" question by saying "Fantastic!"
OK…I don’t want to knock those replies. After all, those are often very fitting answers to the question, "How are you doing?" They may very well fit the day. But ALL the time? I don’t think so. At least that is not my experience in walking with Jesus. Some days are wonderful. Others maybe painful, hard, and difficult.
I have some days when I seem to say all the wrong things to the people I love most.
I have some days when my thoughts seem silly, trivial, or just downright sinful.
I have some days when most, if not all, of my attempts seem to result in dead ends. At the end of the day, it all feels futile.
I have some days when I feel defeated.
So–I am so thankful for the Psalms. In David’s life, everyday was not a wonderful, super, fantastic day. In fact, David also had some very rough days:
To you I call, O Lord my Rock;
do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent,
I will be like those who have gone down into the pit.
Hear my cry for mercy
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place…
(Ps. 28:1-2)
I come away from such a Psalm remembering that my walk with Jesus does not mean that I now only experience positive, joyful emotions. There are also the tough emotions that I will experience at times. So I want to pray with David in Ps. 17:8:
Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings…
How freeing it would be if we could all admit to each other that everything was not always perfect in our lives. It’s just too bad that so many people feel that they have to “put their church face on”. Thanks for another great post.
Found a phrase long ago that borders as close to truth as I can get and it always seems to stop people in their tracks considering it. When asked how it is going or some other such usually insincere statement in passing, I enthusiastically return with “I love it!”…..and, at my age, I do. A lot of other people didn’t get this far…….
Thanks Jim. So true.
I do think a “game face” is appropriate at times, of course. I’ve seen Christians who mark down authenticity in a way that means if they don’t feel like doing something, they sure as heck don’t do it (which means never saying “hi” or acknowledging some people’s presence).
But it certainly wears thin when we can’t really be who we are, especially in getting to know others. It’s unreal, either on their part or our own.
i think so many times Christians think they are glorifying God by presenting their lives as “perfect!” But isn’t it so much more honoring – and honest – to be transparent enough so that others can SEE how God can take a situation that is less than perfect and work mightily?
It’s a pet peeve of mine as well, can you tell?!
Thanks for this post. Pretending gets us nowhere.
Mary, You are so right. This would be a lot more freeing and authentic. I suspect it would also be more freeing to peope who must wonder if anyone else feels as they do.-
Ted,
I like the way you express how it “wears thin” when you can’t be authentic. In fact, it can be exhausting and lonely.
Holy Mama, I think about those people who feel very alone in churches because of the impression they have that the majority are near perfect. As you suggest, to try to leave such an impression may in fact short change the testimony we could be giving to a God who works in our imperfect lives.
–
Thanks Julie, So true….
Such blessed reassurance to know God will listen at our lowest when we need Him the most. Thanks for the reminder. Great post!