Real Life: Boy Do We Need Help!

I was watching a TV show the other day where a movie producer was being interviewed.  In the interview he described why his latest show depicted so much foul language and sex and problem relationships.  His response was something like this: "The kind of stuff I'm showing on screen are the experiences of everyone every day.  This is real life and I wanted to show something that was close to reality."

I may have his words a bit wrong, but the essence of what he said I've described pretty accurately.  What he wanted to show in his movie was what real life actually is.  What a mess!  Now, I have to say that there is some truth to what he is saying--there really is a lot of this stuff that happens regularly in our daily lives.  But the danger in this is that because it is so prevalent, we can begin to think this is normal.  It is certainly common but it is not normal because normal should be a reflection of what lines up with the way things are supposed to be.  What we see here is very abnormal.

We need help!  Do you ever struggle with living around dark things so much that it begins to affect how you think and live yourself?  It can sometimes seem as though there is little light shining.  But I'm here to remind you that the the light is shining!  It's shining brightly; paths are being illuminated; goodness abounds; right relationships are everywhere; it's just that good things are poor self-promoters--they kind of avoid putting their influence on billboards for everyone to see.  Which is very much unlike all the other stuff that is described by the movie producer mentioned above.

I love Paul's comment in 2 Thessalonians 3:5 where he says "May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance."

Wonderful!  Our hearts need to find their peace, life and meaning in the heart of God.  That is where we will learn what real real life is all about.  But Paul knew that it is hard to see through all the crap that seems so prevalent in our lives and so he also added that we need to be strengthened for the journey in the perseverance of Jesus.  Jesus lived out real values, real love, real life but he did so through pretty hard circumstances--and we need to do the same.

So remember that what you see in your day is not necessarily a reflection of what real life is.  Place your heart in God's hands and he will reveal the truth essence of life for you.  But he won't just leave you with a picture in mind and send you on your way.  He will also provide you with perseverance to live out this picture of goodness as well.

It's time to rest. . . .rest in Jesus.  I encourage you to stop today, and just take some time to rest in His hands and let him restore you.  It's so good there. . . . .

BT