Life, Love, and Loss

I tend to romanticize life; seeing it played out like a movie, complete with soundtrack. It's part of my personality I think. It helps me process and reflect; to know myself better and know God deeper.

The past few months have been a lot of this - reflecting and trying to understand. For a long time my thoughts would only go back to the hard things and all the emotions would come flooding back, sometimes stronger than before. 

This week I sat and talked with a dear friend, both of us trying to make sense of  the love and loss we've experienced. Will it ever make sense? We so often look at the pain in life and wonder what God is doing. But we live in this fallen, broken world, what else do we expect? We should look at the joys in life and rejoice in the glimpse of heaven that God has graced us with. 

This past Easter I was reading the account of the women visiting the tomb in John 20. Mary Magdalene is crying when she realizes Jesus' body is gone. He comes to her and asks why she is crying, but she is so blinded by her grief she doesn't recognize Him through her tears. She thinks He is the gardener and frantically tries to get answers and make sense of the confusion. Then Jesus says her name, "Mary." In a word, all of her pain melts away and joy, relief and comfort wash over her as she recognizes her teacher, her Savior. It doesn't need to make sense, all that matters is that He is here!

I'm coming to realize that joy and pain often come together. Life is a series of all sorts of experiences of love and loss, each of them with their own lesson. And God's glory is revealed through both. My body reminds me of this reality daily with residual pain of muscles, ligaments and nerves that will never be the same after two surgeries. But God is in the business of redeeming the brokenness, if we will let Him. 

I don't want to hide my pain and brokenness. But I hope that when people look at my life and hear my story they will walk away encouraged. I want them to be able to see God redeeming the broken parts and see His glory shining like the dawn. 

Looking Back, Moving Forward

As I look back on 2015 I'm amazed at how much happened, and even more amazed at how hard the year was. I think what made it so hard was that it was full of so many wonderful memories that have been tainted with pain of some kind. I cannot remember the good things without also remembering the hard things.

The year started off with so much hope as I followed the Lord on a path of learning to love. However, as the months went on I was finding myself full of anxiety and fear. I again needed to surrender my expectations for the outcome and trust that where God was leading is good. In turn, I experienced an immense amount of pain and heartache overshadowing many of the joys happening around me. Chicago had forever imprinted itself in my heart with both beautiful and hard memories. But I resolved to move home in hopes of finding something new, and the year ended looking up as I tried to sort through the journey I had just been on. All of my experiences have taught me something as I constantly found myself being carried in the grace of God. I am incredibly grateful for each of these memories, the good and the hard because they have been the pruning in my life and have produced more Christ-like fruit in me. 

As I begin 2016, John 15:11 is on my heart as my hope for what this year will be characterized by: "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." I want to experience the fullness of joy as I abide in Christ's love this year. I look forward with expectancy for what He has for me. 

Love Not Wasted

"It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Cor 13:7

I often forget this verse nestled in the middle of the chapter on love. It directly follows the unforgettable verses 4-6: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth."

Love is not a feeling we have no control over, rather, it is an active choice to obey and model Christ in relationship. Christ didn't change his mind when those he loved the most betrayed him. Love requires that I always protect, trust, hope, and persevere, regardless of the outcome.

The love of Christ is never wasted.

In the Waiting

There are times in life when God lets you wait. When circumstances are unclear and it seems like your future hangs in the balance. I'm in just such a time right now. Waiting is hard, it requires a lot of trust; it's unnerving. Everything would be easier if clarity came now, but as I look to Scripture for comfort I'm reminded of a few things. Here are just a few:

- My God is always with me and guides me with His counsel (Psalm 73:23-24)

- He is the strength of my heart and portion forever (Psalm 73: 26)

- He satisfies my desires with good things (Psalm 103:3)

- He is perfectly faithful, I have no reason to doubt (Isaiah 25:1)

- He will keep me in perfect peace if my mind is steadfast in trusting Him (Isaiah 26:3)

- His timing is intended to reveal His glory (John 11)

- If I believe, I will see the glory of the Lord (John 11:40)

Can A Dead Man Live Again?

Sometimes scriptures become nothing more than Bible stories that we've heard our whole lives, and sometimes they change our lives. Last week I had an encounter in which the Holy Spirit illuminated scripture in a way that changed my life. I was participating in a Lectio Divina reading of John 11:38-44, the last half of the story of Lazarus. As I was looking to see myself as a character in the story, this is what unfolded:

I found myself first as Martha, Lazarus’ sister. Standing outside the tomb as Jesus asked for the stone to be rolled away I advise Him that it is not a good idea. There is no use to rolling it away, four days is long enough to accept that death is reality and what you will find inside the tomb is not pretty. There are feelings of indignation towards Jesus, my Lord who could have prevented this scenario. “Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’” He gently reminds me of his promise as He confronts my unbelief.

The feelings of indignation are multiplied as the scene changes and I see myself huddled in a corner of the dark tomb. I’m aware that Jesus is standing just outside and my heart is flooded with emotion. “I asked you to come earlier, you had plenty of time to show up. I trusted you, I believed you were going to come, even up to the last moment. Now it’s too late, I’m dead.” Then I hear something, it’s Jesus, he’s calling to me, “Krystle, come out!” My heart jumps, there is hope. Jesus wants to give me new life!

This seemingly simple truth has struck me so profoundly. I’m realizing the parts of myself that have died and the blame that I have placed on Jesus as a result. As Martha did with the death of her brother, I’m able to grieve those things and acknowledge the internal death as a cruel reality. As Jesus challenges my unbelief I’m given a choice to let go of those indignant feelings. I can choose to accept a new reality that comes with new life. Jesus CHOSE to arrive at the moment for God’s greatest glory. He did not come too late.

I’m now faced with the question of how a dead man lives again. How can years of wallowing in death be transformed to new life? I cannot pick up life where it left off, I’ve experienced death and that changes things. The expectations of what my life should or will look like must change. The old life and the experience of death are still part of me, but this is a new season of life.

I cannot help but think of many of my friends and family who have also experienced death of some kind. Haven’t we all lost hopes & dreams, friendships & loved ones, health & possessions? We have let that death become our identity and are hiding in the grave, our souls rotting. Jesus, we want to see the glory of God, help our unbelief!

Loving Life

I had forgotten how wonderful life is. This week has been filled with pure, absolute joy and everyday I'm caught off guard by it. The past 10 years have been marked by ups and downs with a slight emphasis on the downs. Each season has had its good, but always in the midst of hard lessons to learn. There seems to be no logical reason for this sudden overwhelming joy apart from the Grace of God. I am taking more credits than ever before, working more hours at a more physically demanding job, and have very little free time in my schedule. And yet, each day when I get a moment to stop and think, I'm flooded by renewing joy. I feel more alive than I have in a very long time. I'm overwhelmed by the blessing this is in my life because I had forgotten how good God is. For whatever reason, he has decided to remind me in the midst of busy and demanding schedule. His goodness is not determined by circumstances and I will only find satisfaction in him, not my ability.

Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 106:1

And He said, "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion."  Exodus 33:19

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.   Psalm 27:13

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

Relationships and Resolutions

The beginning of a new year. As I stop and reflect on the past year and the past 27 years, what I remember is relationships. It always comes back to people. Who have I met, loved, or lost over the years? Who have I forgotten? 

There seems to be an innate sense in humans to want to move on and forget the hard things in life, including relationships. A falling out with a friend, a broken heart, a death. We may grieve for an "appropriate" amount of time but we "must" move on. Why is that? Why must we "get over" the painful events or relationships that have made us who we are? Because those wounds and scars reveal our humanity and our weakness. But Paul boasted in his weaknesses; he declared over and over in his epistles that he was the chief of sinners. Why do we try to hide the pain that reveals God's glory in our lives? This year I want to love and not forget. Love the people in my life and love the journey God has me on. I want to remember the joys and the tears because it's all for God's glory.