full disclosure…
God at work in your life does not always feel like the TV preachers want you to think it does. sometimes it hurts. sometimes it hurts really bad. cry-while-you-drive hurt. pull out your hair and rage against the machine hurt.
i don’t know why we keep this reality from people. i guess it wouldn’t sell as well, would it? “come to Jesus, and find the better part of your life turned topside down. control? no longer yours. plans for your life? scrap ‘em, he’s got something else in mind. all you thought you knew about yourself, your heart, and your hopes and dreams? bollox, the whole lot. but he loves you, and in the end, you’ll be right as rain.” that would be awesome. it’ll never happen, but it would be awesome. until then, i’m sure our favorite Jesus peddlers will continue to produce 3 - to 8- step plans for wealth, health, personal success, and wrinkle-free khakis.
God at work in our lives can be a painful and confusing thing. it makes sense, though, doesn’t it? to have your head and heart reordered can’t help but hurt a bit. it’s like good posture. it’s, well, good. but if you’re a sloucher - present - then standing up straight can really hurt. at least at first. once you get used to it, it’s money. or so i’ve heard. our souls are stooped a bit, and God wants to straighten out the bent places. there’s something better at the end of the pain.
or so i’ve heard.
