Happy Friday, friends! Hope you’ve had a great week. I’m so glad you’re here for week two’s questions on “Everyday Faithfulness.” Honestly, chapter 3 totally described me. I have been guilty of putting off spiritual disciplines until I’m less busy. With two kiddos, a husband, a job, teaching Sunday School, and having other family obligations I felt left with no margin for Bible reading. I tend to start and stop and promise myself I’ll start again. This chapter definitely convicted and encouraged me to start again!
Alright, let’s get to the questions!
Chapter 3: Faithful When Your Hands are Full
*Are you currently in a busy season of life that makes you feel like you are in “survival mode”? Why is it important not to push spiritual perseverance to a later date during this time?
*How does the rest Jesus speaks of differ from physical rest? We do need physical rest but how can we lean into the spiritual rest that Jesus speaks of?
*Faithfulness to Christ will take sacrifice on our parts, but we know the benefits will far outweigh the sacrifice. What are some changes you can make to your day to day life in order to pursue spiritual disciplines such as Bible reading, prayer, and church involvement?
Chapter 4: Faithful When You’re Waiting
*How does the example of Sarah and Abraham show us what not to do when we are waiting on the Lord? Have you gone through a time of waiting on the Lord? How did you handle the wait? Did you find spiritual growth during this waiting season?
*Many times our desires are for good things and yet they can become idols in our lives. Why is it dangerous to have a mentality of “God plus what I’m waiting for”?
*Is there something you are currently waiting for? How can we grieve hope deferred and the possibility of never receiving what we’re waiting for while still seeing God as trustworthy, good, and sovereign?
Chapter 5: Faithful When You Doubt
*What three things did God do to give you assurance of your salvation? See pages 85-86.
*Why is it important to have a proper understanding of our role in salvation?
*How does everyday repentance and God’s pruning help us to grow in godliness?
Scripture of the Week
James 1:2-4
Matthew 11:28-30
Romans 8:30
Prayer of the Week
Father God, In all seasons of life we desire to grow closer to You and love You more. Would You help us to not push aside perseverance until we are less busy or more hopeful? Please meet us here where we are and help us to draw closer to You. Thank You for salvation and for loving us so much. Thank You for the rest and assurance that You provide. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
For Next Week
*Read Chapters 6-7
When I told a friend I was excited because I had the night to myself (my husband was on a business trip and only one of the boys was home but would be hanging out with his friends), she said something along the lines of: “I wouldn’t know what to do!?” We laughed and said how rare it is we get “me” time, and agreed that’s just where we’re at right now – life is busy; family makes it busier.
My default mode has been “busy” most of my life. I’ve always loved having something to do, going somewhere, and being around people. But honestly, it seemed more fun when I was younger. This is probably due to the fact that back then I 1) only had to worry about myself, not taking into account other’s schedules; and 2) needed less sleep. (Just keeping it real!? 🙃) It’s not that the idea to do something or go somewhere now doesn’t cross my mind or even sound appealing, it’s simply that much of the time something else needs to take precedence and it really feels like work to add one more thing to the already long “to-do” list.
For most of us, being “busy” is outwardly praised and admired, but really there’s the underlying assumption that it’s equated with “survival mode.” And while we might say we don’t like being as busy as we are, the truth is, we wouldn’t know what to do if it weren’t that way, as my friend pointed out.
I’d go even further and say we wouldn’t be – aren’t – comfortable just “being.” That’s because when we rest, we are in a position to think. And when we think, we realize how much we’re just trying to survive and make it to the end of the day. . .all just to repeat the same chaos the next!
For me, the last few years have had their fair share of “survival mode,” which included a steady dose of auto-pilot living and coffee. I get it: Adulting is hard. Parenting is harder. (I realize I’m biased. 🤪) But during this time, there was a gross sense of feeling that I didn’t want to be bothered by, well, really anything that required me to exert effort. I had “hit a wall” and preferred to just sit (or lay) next to that wall. . .for as long as I wanted.
Doing nothing often seems so much better than doing something, especially if there’s no guarantee good will result. Doing nothing often seems safe and convenient and justified. After all, when you’re discouraged from not seeing results you want, annoyed at your efforts being seemingly in vain, and tired of being tired of waiting for change, focusing on nothing sounds amazing! Less effort and more peace, right? 😉
I let a lot of things go during that season – and not in a good way – and this included staying connected to God. I told myself I just needed a break from everything, even myself haha, and took the “less is more” mindset way too far. I didn’t talk to God much of that time. I figured He knew what was going on and since things were staying the same, there wasn’t really much to discuss.
I love that the author points out in Chapter 4 that if “your contentment is attached to the thing you’re waiting for, then a changed circumstance is the hero of your story, not the God in whom your soul should find its deepest delight.” (Page 73) I wasn’t finding my contentment in Christ. And even though I believe what I wanted was good, I couldn’t guarantee it would last even if it did happen. And that’s something I can’t control. So the choice becomes either striving to find contentment within one’s circumstances or being content in Christ during any circumstance. Easier said than done, of course, but the latter is the only way we’re going to receive true peace. “We won’t find rest for our souls in loosening that tether from Christ.” (Page 54)
We’re uncomfortable not handling things on our own and don’t like to be seen as weak or incapable or not “put together.” We’d rather “just keep swimming” like Dory says from Finding Nemo than take a break and ask for help. We treat “survival mode” like a badge of honor, but know we’re not going to get any special treatment for it. The definition for “survival” is: “the state or fact of continuing to live or exist.” So, the question then isn’t: “How long do I have to survive?” but asking: “What’s the best way to survive?”
The best way to survive is to be in Christ. I believe the author reiterates this answer by saying, “Christ is our survival mode.” (Page 55) To put it another way, relating it to the dictionary definition of “survival”: In our state of living, Christ needs to be our default mode.
So I think we need to embrace “survival mode” rather than run from it. We need to embrace the struggles and challenges and seasons of waiting. Most importantly, we need to embrace Christ and believe He is enough through it all, whether He answers our prayers how we want or not.
Coming out of the “season of nothingness” hasn’t been easy. In a lot of ways, I still feel I’m learning how to turn around once I hit a wall and keep walking. God’s been helping me grow and teaching me how to lean into Him more easily. “…[W]hen God reveals the parts of your life that need to be removed for growth, see it as the outworking of His promise to sanctify you…” (Page 89)
Life is busy. Life is messy. We can act like it’s not, but we’re only fooling ourselves. But when we focus our eyes on Christ and draw into Him (our true “survival mode”), He can show us blessings in the busy and masterpieces in the messy. I don’t know about you, but I am definitely up for that!