Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

So often, I get fixated on how I think God should save me from my woes. I forget, that in the midst of my troubles, God has already saved me through Christ, and that he continues to rescue me. I just can't see it because I already have a such a defined idea of what relief will look like. In fact, I forget that my suffering might be the very path to relief. We all share in the cross of Christ - that is the only way to redemption. So this morning, I remember that no matter how dismal things may seem, God will provide. It may look different than I expected, but it will far surpass the breadth of my imagination.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:4-8

The first time I heard this song, I was driving to work. I was running late, and in general pretty grumpy. I'm not a morning person to begin with, and as of late haven't been sleeping much or well. As I started really focusing in on the lyrics and car-dancing along to the beat, I realized just how easily the temptor gets in our heads to make us lose focus on all God has done in our lives and who he has made us to be - his beloved children. I pray that I might remember that the 'stuff' is what God can use to draw us more deeply into himself, and it can never outweigh the blessings of God in my life.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:14-17

Part of my Lenten fasting this year does not involve food (which is what we often think of when we hear "fast"). It involves stripping myself of the negative lens that colors my vision - my vision of the world, of others and most importantly, of myself. It's no secret that it is easier to hear and believe the bad, to hear the garbage that is whispered insidiously and repetitively by the master of lies through different voices in our lives. What captured my imagination for Lent this year, was this question: what would the world look like if each Christian disciple truly believed they were sacred and belonged to Christ? If we, like Christ, were able to take the lies of the evil one and counter it with our intimate knowledge of the voice of God, how different would the face of the earth be?

This brings us sometimes face to face with our own sinfulness and things that need work. However, if we passionately lived the truth that we are sacred and belong to God, that we are co-heirs to the heavenly Kingdom with Christ, then it is not those deficiencies that define us. We are not created to be garbage, regardless of all the voices telling us how much improvement we need. We are made for more than this. We are created beautiful, stains and all, in the image and likeness of our God. The deficiencies simply become part of the human condition of suffering that Christ helps us overcome through the Cross.