The Value of Effort

I’ve been realizing how much I take for granted. Not the usual items like water, my mom, or my functioning legs. More like taking for granted the work that goes into a final product, more specifically, people. Mind you, people are never finished products, but rather beautiful creations that are consistently evolving and growing into better (maybe sometimes worse) versions of themselves. But we’ve all accomplished things that have required work.

I look at things like my parents’ marriage and see how after 28 years, they love each other madly, have built a beautiful family that they take great care of, have never fought in front of their kids, and have never left each other. It’s common for me to look at that and go, “Oh it’s so great, my parents love each other and always will. They’ve just figured it out and made it easy.” It’s simple to look at a long lasting marriage full of love and think things like, “They must have very few differences or problems with each other.” “That couple must just love each other more than other couples do.” “Nothing fazes them, so they’re really content.” Some of those statements may be true, but they are never at the core of what creates a successful marriage. I didn’t understand or recognize any of this until I became married myself.

The bottom line is that happy marriages require EFFORT and lots of it. This is in no way a slam to marriages that didn’t last forever, but a tribute to the ones that do. Couples who stay together until they die have laid an incredible foundation, and worked very hard to have what they have. It’s a concept we all have a head knowledge of, but experiencing and truly realizing that is something else.

I am, however, definitely talking about a lot more than just marriage in this context. This blog is dedicated to living a radical life pursuing God, and let me tell you, there is nothing but effort put into that. Yes, you know there are easier times when God blesses us and lets us rest in His goodness, but the behind the scenes, it can be a battlefield. Pursuing God in our lives requires our efforts when no one notices. It’s time alone with Him, in the secret place. Devotions, worship, communication, Scripture. Not just in the half hour of set aside time, but regularly, daily. Being in constant communication and adoration of our Jesus.

Remembering to thank Him for things. Remembering to worship Him, even when we feel dry and drained. Remembering to listen for His voice either for our own personal benefit, or to communicate it to someone around us. Remembering to be obedient when we do hear Him. Sounds like a lot of remembering. This is where the Holy Spirit comes in, who in John 14:26 is sent to “remind you of everything I [Jesus] told you.” Remembering is a powerful tool that is often more important than learning something new. What I am remembering is that radically living and carrying the Presence of God with me is something that requires my effort, and I can never devalue that.

Sometimes people tell me that they see an incredible amount of joy in my life, which happens to be my favourite fruit of the Spirit and my middle name. People have also assumed that this comes from a life without struggles and a natural happiness. While I have a God-given gift of optimism, the JOY I experience is something I have worked very hard for through God’s grace. The same can be said for when I see a person with incredible patience (which I have about zero amounts of). I can assume that they are naturally patient and perhaps a slower paced person, which may have some truth. But often times, it’s the persistence of growing in that gift and using God’s strength to develop that trait in themselves. I think specifically of moms with small kids. :)

To sum it all up, godly traits and character require effort that we should never take for granted in ourselves or the people around us. If you see someone with traits you desire, remember that it probably took them a while to get there, and a lot of personal work on their own flesh. I look at pastors who are doing radical things for God and ask myself why I’m not there yet. Other than maybe time spent in ministry, the basic answer is that I haven’t put the time and effort pursing God’s kingdom in the way they have. And instead of being discouraged by the workload, I choose to immerse myself in His Presence, and sacrifice things to put Him first and see the fruits of my labour. I challenge you to do the same.

Uncomfortable

I learned something new about being radical. Well, more of a realization of how they fit together. First off, this is not always glamorous. Making a true difference and choosing to live a life of significance does not consistently come with recognition, approval, or even happiness. Joy, maybe, not happiness.

The first thing that comes to mind in this scenario are those saints that work in missions overseas in terrible conditions and often dangerous environments. They are literally sacrificing their lives to improve the state of the world and live radically for Him. But we may not all get to that point.

For those of us who live in a first world country, maybe sponsor a child across the globe, volunteer in our local church, and bring baked goods to our neighbors, the reality of packing up and living in Zimbabwe for ten years may not exist. We have all been called to different places, and for some people, it's right where they are now. So how do we still sacrifice and make change in our comfortable and familiar spaces?

What I have been figuring out, is that sometimes all it is, is a conversation.

Have you ever been around someone who was socially awkward? Yes, yes you have. Someone who you would not choose to be BFFs with or invite to a party. Not necessarily someone that everyone makes fun of, but someone who is just on the outskirts of a social circle. I bet you could name at least three of those kinds of people who you have an acquaintance with. I will be the first to admit, that this is not one of my strong points. One of my giftings is to love very deeply and form intimate relationships with people. But those are usually people I get along with in the first place. Reaching out and including new people who the old people may not love, is not something I'm very talented at.

My friend, Helen Taylor, is probably the most beautiful examples of someone who lives this out every day of her life. She can spot a new person in a crowd like spotlight on center stage. Her heart is full of love for people that others may glance over and she forms actual friendships with them. It astounds me, and I am always striving to be more like her in this way. One huge benefit of this gift in her, is that she is able to lead so many more people to Christ while doing everyday things. By the time her hair cut is finished, she'll have the hairdresser pouring her heart out and they'll pray together. Just beautiful.

But it starts somewhere. For me, it was a conversation with someone who is not one of my 20 best friends, or even my 200. But we made a connection, we shared some stories, and they felt welcome and appreciated. It was not glamorous, there was no one who noticed, and it didn't even make me very happy, or at least not comfortable. But it brought the One who created this person joy, which therefore led me to a great deal of joy. Knowing I stepped out and did something radical for my little world, and made a difference.

Habitually

Is anyone else tired of hearing about our sin?

Too bold?

I’m talking about constant reminders of how sinful we are and all the things we need to work on in our lives. The pressing message that we are sinners saved by grace and have an incredible amount to change in our lives on a regular basis. I won’t dispute that this is true. Romans 12:2 tells us to constantly renew our minds, which I believe whole-heartedly. Scripture is chalked full of instruction for how to live in obedience, things to stay away from, and sin we need to repent from.

But it is ALSO full of ways to walk closely with God and live a significant life of love, holiness, and right standing with Him. I think Jesus was a pretty positive guy while still being very real, upfront, and to the point. Though He did preach on what not to do, he also gave a lot of examples of the right way to do things and talked about the goodness of our Father.

I personally learn a lot better from uplifting and empowering messages, and I feel that some of you are with me on that. I’ve spent far too much of my life trying to balance and manage all of the wrong in my life, and spent far too little of my life focusing on the good. I remember having this huge epiphany in high school about this: The more I focus on God, the less I desire to do wrong. Holy smokes. Revelations galore.

Since then, I have really embraced this and have seen it work wonders. I used to struggle with habitual sin for quite a long time. So much energy and thought was put into getting rid of it and replacing habits. I listed to message after message about how to break sin and why what I was doing was wrong. I worked so hard and really wanted to be obedient to what I knew God wanted for me. But what truly broke those things was putting my passion and energy into Him. Just Him. As I filled myself up with God’s Presence and His goodness, those things just melted away. I lost desire for things that were impossible to shake just by being filled with the Spirit instead.

My favourite verse that exemplifies this is Galations 5:16, “But I say, walk and live habitually in the Holy Spirit (responsive and guided by the Spirit); then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh.” There it is. Plain and simple. Live HABITUALLY in the Holy Spirit, and you’ll lose your desire to sin. My 16 year old self was bang on.  

Being an optimistic person, I love this method of being obedient to God and His Word. If spending time with Him and being filled with His words, His way of life, and His life is how to get rid of the garbage and baggage I have, then sign me up! Not to say that this is the easy way out, but gosh is it ever better than the alternative. I would far rather be overflowing with who He is in order to push out the bad, as opposed to constantly fixing those things to be close to Him. It works in reverse. This is a beautiful picture of grace where we know we don’t have to be perfect to enter His Presence. Doing that in itself brings us closer to who we want to be in Christ. I think this is partially why I love worship music so much. It's an incredible way to get into God's Presence and get rid of the things I've been holding onto and need to give up to Him.

I will never ever ignore the commands set for us or take sin and disobedience lightly. But I will grow closer to the One who I obey in order to live a life of significance.