312 – Will I Mess It Up?

#faithbites #faithjourney mess

We like to be comfortable. Having the what we know is calming to our souls. While change can be good, change can be terrifying. While there may be an outcome that we want, if we make a change it can change things we don’t want. Call it the butterfly effect or ripple effect, our fear of making a change can be paralyzing.

A couple of weeks ago I was talking to a friend about my life. I told her how many things I liked and some things that I didn’t. A third friend asked something along the lines of why don’t you make a change. Before I could answer, the friend said: “He doesn’t want to mess it up”. She may have used more colorful words than that, but I’ll keep it rated G 🙂

That moment has resonated with me. Sure, we can make a change, but what else will it mess up. At the same time, maybe making that change is the path we should go on.

To change or not to change, is not easy. Not changing leads to the status quo which can have consequences, just like changing can have undesired or unexpected consequences.

Scripture

• He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” – Mark 8:31 – 33
• Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to the flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. – Galatians 6:7-8

Reflection

When you read these verses, you may not see the relevance. What is interesting is that God doesn’t tell us to do this or not to do this. In fact, he clearly lays out what will happen. In Mark, he even calls Peter Satan, as his words are those words of the flesh, of someone not understanding the big picture. Peter is being the tempted to Jesus to not go to the Cross. Likewise in Galatians, God is saying you will reap what you sow. You want to reap earthly things, you will only get corruption. If you have faith and reap of the spirit, you will have everlasting life.

What does this all mean? Every action has a consequence. We often only see what happens in the short term rather than long-term effects. On a recent TED talk, they were talking about technology prediction and how if we only look at the short time, where there may be bad outcomes, the long-term could be good and we would miss out on it.

All in all, we need to make the choices that are within his word and help to lead us to righteousness. Sure, we may have short-term failures, but long-term rewards. I would love to jump at those things that can show a benefit, but at what cost? We need to look at and concentrate on what the Lord wants us to even if the short term is a mess.

Charge

We all live complicated lives with complex choices. Look at the choices you have before you. Some will maintain the status quo, some will not. If you chose to maintain the status quo what are you holding on to and what do you lose out on. When you make a change, what other unexpected ripples and loses may you have to get the gain?

Lord, help me to make the decisions that follow your word. Give me the strength to endure short-term loses for long-term gain. Provide us with the direction and support to see the consequences of our actions and the strength to live through them.