When you get two major rejections. Resources strained. Tired. Mad.

Feel Holy Spirit saying, “Sit still and chat for a bit”.

Finally sit still for a minute. Reminded of how the Israelites must have felt right before that Red Sea. Reminded to sing instead of sulking.

So I turn on some “white bread” Jesus music. One minute into the first song and my brother, completely unaware of anything, texts me a link for a new song that I’ve never heard before. By my favorite old school “secular” rapper, Z-Ro.

Song title: “You Ain’t Gotta Worry”. Lyrics exactly what I needed to hear. Exactly speaking to my moment.

Like Holy Spirit saying, “Not only do I gotcha, but I love ya.” With an amazing sense of humor.

Saved from what? Saved from God? Go back to The Garden. God approached Adam and Eve after they did what He told them not to do. God went looking for them. What if His wrath is His violently passionate love that refuses to give life to anything that will bring us death? Maybe we need saving from the knowledge of good and evil? From the hell we create for ourselves? In returning and rest will be our salvation. Rest. Rest from working? Working for what? To please God? To get to heaven? What if Jesus really did it all? What if it is really finished? Any and all laws. Including needing to have faith and believe. What if Jesus’ faith was enough? What if Jesus’ belief was enough? For all of us. Every single last one. Now that would be good news. “Glory to God in the highest. And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Saved from what? Saved from God?

Go back to The Garden. God approached Adam and Eve after they did what He told them not to do. God went looking for them.

What if His wrath is His violently passionate love that refuses to give life to anything that will bring us death?

Maybe we need saving from the knowledge of good and evil?

From the hell we create for ourselves?

In returning and rest will be our salvation. Rest. Rest from working? Working for what? To please God? To get to heaven?

What if Jesus really did it all? What if it is really finished? Any and all laws. Including needing to have faith and believe. What if Jesus’ faith was enough? What if Jesus’ belief was enough? For all of us. Every single last one.

Now that would be good news.

“Glory to God in the highest. And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Trying to define the wrath of God. A definition in progress: His violently passionate love that refuses to give life to anything that will bring death to us.

I’m so intrigued. If I have this correctly:

1. The beginning of our story involves Adam and Eve trying to cover themselves.

2. The Greek word apocalypse means ‘an uncovering’.

3. The Greek word for heaven comes from a root meaning ‘to cover’.

Does heaven have more to do with something related to Christ covering us? Versus pearly gates and mansions?

What does it all mean? What is the covering connection?

I’ve been in a funk for a long while. Trying to figure out why. Finally stopped numbing out for long enough today to look a little deeper and face some things. Realized my little “never give up” balloon was almost deflated.

Lots of deep disappointments this year. That’s the sanitized way to say it. Lots of questions. Lots of changes. Kinda knocked the wind out of my sails.

And yet the problem isn’t really the pains. I’m no stranger to heartache. The real issue is just like the verse says: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick…”

I was thinking of Joseph. Having this dream. So sure it was from God. So excited to share with those closest to him. Just to be sacked and rejected. Hated. Betrayed.

But my boy, Joseph. He didn’t give up. He worked hard. He gave all. Everything. He worked his way to the top. Tried to honor and respect everyone. And then some selfish woman took advantage of his kindness. With no mercy. And the people who should have known better turned their backs on him.

But my man, Joseph. He still doesn’t give up. He decides to make the best of it again. Works his way up through integrity and hard work. Caring for others. Again, his people leave him behind.

I wondered. How was Joseph feeling during those last days in prison? Did he question his sanity? Did he question God? Was he ready to throw in the towel on the dream he thought he was given? Was he trying to figure out what went wrong?

He was in prison. The farthest distance away from the promise he had been given. How many of us have been there? How crazy does it feel to hold onto a hope that looks ridiculously impossible?

But I just can’t give up on my God. The second half of that verse: “…but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” Joseph was promoted out of the pit to the palace in one day. He went from absolutely nothing to everything in one day.

Not all of us are going to be a Joseph. But maybe all of us will have Joseph-like dreams and Joseph-like experiences of our own.

I think of all the babies that I know that have been born to people who tried unsuccessfully for years to conceive. I think of the marriages that have been restored after appearing completely decimated. I think of all the beautiful, amazing, wonderful people God has let me cross paths with. I think of all the provision. All the blessings. All the protection. All the times when doors opened beyond my ability.

That doesn’t make the hurts any less painful. But it helps put another foot forward. And another. And another.

At the end of the day I find myself completely dependent on God. Finally giving up on my own strength. In fits and starts. More and more moments of resting in Him. When I stop numbing long enough to bring Him my anxieties.

He doesn’t ask me for anything. He just keeps reminding me of His goodness.

“Tripped on my stepping stone; got up and kept on going…”

Prayer: I want to be content, but I don’t want to stop and settle for camping just outside the Promised Land. Please help me go all the way in. Thank You for Your love!