I’ve noticed recently just how many times people talk of their desire for guidance with whatever trials they are facing. It’s like, no matter how old we get or how many responsibilities we carry, we all just yearn for help and wisdom because we know that we’re mostly just muddling through doing the best that we can, without ever really knowing whether we’re doing this adulthood thing well or not. (And who amongst us can judge?)
As I reflected upon this, I decided that irrespective of age or gender, I believe there is a universal longing deep within us all for input from a wise, guiding presence that can assist us in navigating our way through all the tough realities and ensuing decisions that we each must face. Someone who has walked the path themselves, who knows some of the pitfalls and who is able to share some of their own hard won insights. A parent perhaps. But what if we don’t have that person for whatever reason or they simply live miles away?
Sometimes I think that the realisation that we are not in control of a lot of this thing called life, can feel positively or should that read negatively, overwhelming. When we realise that we’re all just fumbling around trying to work out what to do for the best or which way to go next in life, we can at times feel paralysed by the enormity of the responsibility.
Life isn’t always easy for any of us irrespective of any privileges or restrictions we were born in to, or whatever life has subsequently thrown at us. And yet, despite these realities, we all have equal access to the only perfect parent in existence; God Himself.
We are all invited to come to the Father who is able and willing to parent, help and guide us all. The pathway to Him is not blocked by lack of social standing, overdrawn bank accounts or any kind of dodgy past activity. The elite, whoever they might be, do not have the monopoly here for the pathway to God has been cleared by Jesus Christ for each and every one of us; privileged and marginalised alike, plus all in between.
Which is one of the many, many things that I love about this God. We can’t earn/impress or buy our way in to His presence, love or help, for He simply offers it willingly and generously to all who will ask. Yes, even those of us with decidedly murky pasts. Those of us who are all too aware that we could never get connected to this God or His help by our own merit.
For the truth about this God is that He isn’t impressed by designer clothes or big houses. There is nothing wrong with those things but God isn’t fixated on external results/performance, for He is way more interested in what’s going on within us. Which means that we are all on a level playing field; both those used to being elevated to positions of superiority whether through birth or graft and those used to being trampled underfoot, often by the former.
We all have equal access to this God who is able and willing to help us not only to navigate what life throws at us but to overcome it that we may continue to discover and release our true potential, irrespective of whatever attempts to knock us off track. If only we will stop trying to do it all alone, acknowledge His presence and seek His help, for He really is the ultimate, ever present source of help.
As a God who came down here and lived amongst us within the body of Jesus Christ, He knows a thing or two about suffering (what with the Cross and all) so He has heaps of compassion for us and all that we struggle with. (He certainly didn’t suffer from stiff upper lip syndrome – he was man enough to weep in the face of others pain, so the bible tells us). And, being the creator of the entire universe, they don’t come much wiser!
As someone who didn’t enter in to a relationship with God myself until the age of thirty, one of my first thoughts upon doing so, was, why on earth didn’t someone tell me about this God sooner? Which of course they did, but I wasn’t listening!
Life looks very different for me in these post encountering Jesus days. I no longer attempt to deal with my own pain, mess or responsibilities alone because I’ve discovered and keep discovering that I don’t need to. I keep realising that God is right here, right now, watching and waiting for me to acknowledge His presence and request His help. And now that I know that He does help whether with a practical need, with guidance as to which way to go in life, wisdom for the hard decisions, courage for the scary ones, comfort for the losses, encouragement from friends or whatever it may be, I’m not willing to attempt any of it without Him. Why would I struggle in that way when I don’t need to? Been there, done that. It was messy.
He has shown me again and again that He is the only parent who is available 24/7, is totally equipped to help me with whatever I’m struggling with and who always knows how to reach me even when I’m hurting. Which doesn’t mean He gives me everything I want or ask for, but He always responds when I ask for His help, whether with the small, huge or medium sized stuff. He meets me in the midst of it all. Wowsers.
In our decidedly results driven culture, with its obsession for the external, from physical appearance to position and status, I find it wonderfully liberating and totally heart warming that God Himself is willing to reach down to each and every one of us to help us to become all that we are able to be and in doing so, to release us from the prisons of perfectionism and materialism so entrenched within our culture.
What a gift – we don’t deserve Him and we can’t buy Him yet still he offers us the ultimate invitation. In to an adventure where He provides all that we need to become all that we are capable of becoming, irrespective of all the responsibilities, trials and bills that we face. He offers to help us to find our most authentic selves and in doing so to discover our unique gift set along with a way in which to use them within this world.
So, whilst the hysteria of materialism that accompanies Christmas starts to take hold of you this season, and difficult family situations begin to arise, just remember that the God whose birthday this is all about, is just waiting for you to stop and ask for His help with whatever you are facing.
The ultimate gift awaits us all, not just for this season but for all that follow.
Go ahead, try Him, He might not do what you want, when or how you want, but He will move, often in surprising ways, if only you’ll ask.
