They were new missionaries – still wrestling with language, culture, missing family and friends, struggling to develop new relationships in a vastly different setting. Their pastor arranged for a live skype chat with the congregation.
During the call the pastor cheerfully asked, “Are you thriving?”
The stumbling response went something like this, “Well, I’m not sure we’re thriving, but . . . er … um … uh . . . we’re doing fine.”
Hmmm. Must be something wrong. He’s not thriving. We know the Bible says:
“We were made for so much more than ordinary lives
… more than just survive, we were made to thrive.”
OK, maybe the Bible doesn’t say that but it’s true, right?
Frankly, I’m not so sure. In fact, I suspect it’s not true at all – for a couple of reasons.
1. When I look at the lives of heroes of the faith I see a lot of ordinary lives, a lot of striving and a lot of barely surviving but only short bursts of thriving. (Hebrews 11)
2. I’ve walked with the Lord over 45 years and I’ve seen Him do some amazing things – raise a child from the dead, deliver an obviously demon possessed man, spare my life on that occasion and several others. I could go on and on about the bursts of “thrive.”
But I’ve discovered that most of the Christian life – at least 98% – is just being faithful in the day-to-day of ordinary life. Get up, get dressed, go to work, pay your bills, love your family, be kind, patient, forgiving even when you don’t want to.
Peter walked on water! Once. Every other time he climbed into a boat and rowed. Pretty mundane but that’s the stuffing that fills life. And God is honored by our faithfulness in the ordinary. (1 Thessalonians 4:11)
If you’re in a burst of thriving, that’s fantastic. Enjoy it! Paul knew that season. He knew what it was to have plenty … but he also experienced and learned great lessons from lack – striving and surviving. (Philippians 4:12)
If you are in a season of just grasping for help and surviving, you are in good company. There are many going through that right now:
- The mom struggling with anxiety and feeling like a failure as a mother.
- The missionary facing spiritual darkness – much of which comes from within.
- The wife experiencing the agony of divorce.
- The husband fighting depression over losing his job.
- The woman battling cancer
- The man who fell into the same sin trap and is drowning in shame and guilt.
- The family that lost everything in the hurricane, flood or disaster.
- There are many who wish they could escape the pressure of surviving for just a few moments and step up to the monotony of an ordinary life.
If you’re visiting that place (or have moved in) don’t give up. Don’t give in. It’s just a season. Stay in the race. There is a cloud of witnesses– all of whom have experienced the same sort of struggles – and they are cheering you on. They know you can finish this race. They know God will never let go of you. They know there is a marvelous prize waiting for you at the finish line. Keep moving – even if it’s just at a crawl – and you will get there.
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Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.