The paradox.
Mirriam-Webster defines a paradox as
1. a :a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps trueb :a self-contradictory statement that at first seems truec :an argument that apparently derives self-contradictory conclusions by valid deduction from acceptable premises
2. one (such as a person, situation, or action) having seemingly contradictory qualities or phases
2 Corinthians 6:10 Living Bible (TLB)
Our hearts ache, but at the same time we have the joy of the Lord. We are poor, but we give rich spiritual gifts to others. We own nothing, and yet we enjoy everything.
Just as scientist have studied cause and effect but can’t predict with perfect accuracy weather patterns, we are a masterpiece created by God (truth) with an unknown future. We are secure in His promises (the known) to walk through the unknown.
Your prescription for joy, which can co-exist with sorrow, is to be in God’s Word, to take Him at His Word, and to take action on that belief.
A royal official, took Jesus at His word (John 4:50). After a day of travel, he found Jesus. On rumors and stories about His power and love, this man desperately begged Jesus to come with him back to His house to heal his son. Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man first, “took Him at His word”, then left believing that he would find his son healed. Not only was his son healed, but his entire house believed in the name of Jesus.
Imagine your life as a perfect vase placed on a shelf–polished, protected, and pristine. An earthquake (life) knocks the vase from the shelf. Imagine the process of God and you writing your story with the shattered pieces.
I was inspired to write this post after a beautiful retreat weekend, readings, messages, and research. I also was inspired, because I can’t find a single soul on this planet who is not living in the paradox. Sit long enough over coffee with a friend or loved one, and you will discover their own personal chaos. So, if chaos is inevitable, how do we live? I think this young lady found out very quickly in life how to embrace chaos, or this messy life.
“So much beauty can come from chaos,” says Anna Kauffman in this story of personal suffering and overcoming. Her story shows how we can create new perspectives and ideas from our personal chaos.”
Remember, we have a personal God that writes a story from our personal chaos.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
ARRESTED BY GRACE 