Things I Wish I Knew on the Second Day (Caitlin)

Okay, so I’m blogging my way through this leadership training thing I’m doing at my church. I’m going with my mom. We were expecting there to be just a few other people, but there were over 100. It was pretty exciting. I was also worried that it might be a little dry and boring, but it was incredibly inspiring. I am so happy we’re going. It’s every Wed. night at Pathways church in Denver. I know how fruity this whole things sounds, but it is certainly a different experience being in the room, than it is to read a person’s notes. Bear with me, part of the reason I’m going to this thing is to learn how to effectively communicate my spiritual experiences and thoughts. Anyway, here goes. These are just my general notes from the night. They might seem incomplete and short, but I’ll try to fill in the blanks.

A disciple is:

1) An unrelenting follower
2) Selflessly obedient
3) A passionate learner
4) Missionally minded
5) Loves graciously
6) Radically abiding

The walk with God is painted oddly. There are many misconceptions about being a Christ follower. First off, it’s HARD. Here are some things I wish I knew on the second day of finding Jesus (the first day should be left to excitement and joy, but everyone needs to know what they’re in for).

Don’t forget about the Israelites. Everything that happened to them is an example for us. As they escaped Egypt and walked the deserts, we must navigate life’s desert experiences. This is the cycle – the experience of following Christ.

1) Abundance – God parts the red sea. Prayers are answered, you are giddy and amazed.
2) Expectation – You expect more abundance. “If God is doing this now, then surely he can only be more amazing.” You expect your life to become easier, and things to become lighter.
3) Disappointment – God parts the red sea, and then sends the Israelites into the desert without water. You begin to think, “My life without Jesus was better than with him…”
4) Complaint – You can’t contain yourself with how much it sucks. The Israelites finally came to the waters of Marah, but the water was bitter (my pastor called this the “WTF waterfall” stage in life. The people didn’t know what to do, saying “NOW what will we drink?!”
5) Grace – God always shows up with SOMETHING to give relief, usually when you’re at the end of your rope. God finally sent Moses a hunk of wood to throw into the water that made it good to drink. He will wait until you surrender. Stop fighting and accept that he will provide. And this links up to the abundance - this is the cycle.

WHY??

To prove your character, to make sure you’re truly following him, to give you humility, to make sure you trust him, to “grow” you. A person does not grow if everything is always great. It takes hard times to mature a person. God knows better than you. You’ve got to trust the process. If you don’t trust him, you might end up wondering, “Why is he doing this to me?” and being bitter and angry.

HOW to navigate the cycle:

1) Don’t romanticize the past – the Israelites began to complain, saying that Egypt was better than the desert. At least there was food and water there. But it wasn’t better, it was slave labor, a concentration camp. Do not look to past relationships and jobs and begin to glorify them. It will do you no good.
2) REALIZE it when you’re in the desert – be aware. Know that in the end, grace and abundance will come. Trust God. Hard times are easier to survive when you know that they are just a phase of the cycle.
3) Find God in it – the desert is hard, but God never leaves. Search for him.
4) Stay tender – the desert can harden the heart. Remember that God knows better than you do, and that he hasn’t forgotten you. Love the people around you, do not let hard times change you.
5) When in the desert, shift your appetite from earthly to heavenly things. When health and finances are deserting you, crave God and community. It is easier to go without things when your priorities do not rest in them.

That's all for now, I'll have a new one next week!

- Caitlin