Catalyst Track: Daring to Hope // Day Three

This week’s 3-day track comes from the book, Daring to Hope: Finding God’s Goodness in the Broken and the Beautiful, written by Katie Davis Majors.

Sometimes we feel that we’re carrying the knife, climbing that mountain with our faces set against the wind and wondering all along the way why God would call us to this, how He could ask this of us. But years later, I know this to be undeniably true: God, who did not spare His own Son, will provide what we need, when we need it, even when we do not know what we need or that we need it.

In this 3-day track, Katie challenges us to share life with others. She reminds us that God constantly invites us to know Him more so that we may share Him more.

Whether it be sharing the pain of suffering or the joys of life, remember that you are in it together with Christ. Take the next few days to recognize ways in which you can share life with others and offer a helping hand.

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Day 3: Sharing Life

 

It is a bit of a mess, this business of love. As more and more people enter our lives, we are left with no choice but to enter theirs as well. Even more so, over time their pains become our pain and their joys become our joy and this sharing of the Gospel becomes a sharing of life. This, at first glance, seems so burdensome, so overwhelming, but somehow I have found it not to be any longer. Something about shouldering the burdens of another brings a lightness to our own affliction. We are in it together, and Christ is in it with us. The world would like to tell us otherwise; the world would teach us that pain is what ruins us. We are trained and conditioned to run from pain at all costs. Some would even argue that doing so is primal instinct. Only the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit can override this fear of pain with a love that is greater.

The world would teach us that once we are broken, we cannot be used, we cannot be strong, we cannot be happy. But this is not true. In the very greatest miracle of all time, our Father God resurrects His Son Jesus out of the dark tomb and conquers death. After the brutal beating and scourging and mocking that is a direct result of the ugliness of my sin, Jesus whispers, “Father, forgive them.” And He does. Out of the black of the tomb, new Life emerges and new Light shines forth. The Lamb, the Lamb. God uses all things, even pain, for His glory.

This is what I saw Him doing in our home, even before I could express my great desire for it. This is what I long for Him to continue in our home today. As He does, He teaches me to view pain as a holy invitation to know Him more so that I can share Him more. Again and again, Jesus renews in me a desire to live this way, a desire to minister this way, a desire to mother this way.

CHALLENGE:

Find an opportunity this week to share life with others who may not only need your help, but the Lord’s as well.