Early in my faith walk I thought the feelings of hopelessness that emasculated my identity in Christ were the result of me not being like the “good Christians” who never entertained a dark thought or made a mistake. I had it wrong. Here’s the story…
With that disconcerting backdrop of doubt and uncertainty, my only conclusion was that I had fallen short of becoming one of the so-called “good Christians” and would never be forgiven and expectant about what God could do in my life.
The scene was set for a bad ending to my faith journey and I was VULNERABLE to sin and falling short of God’s will for my life.
But the story took a glorious turn with God’s interruptive insight that my vulnerability–created by the lies and misconceptions dancing across the cinema of my restive mind—had nothing to do with the mythical illusion of being a good Christian.
The truth?
God taught me that these feelings of inadequacy and vulnerability surface when we allow a GAP to form between us and God. When we are not in his Word on a regular basis. When we don’t pray or fellowship with other believers.
Without this intimate connection and relationship with Christ, our vulnerability has turned into a barrier between us and discerning God’s direction for our faith walk and earthly destiny.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-18
We need to ask for God’s help in spotting the early signs that show a gap is forming between us and him. And then we need to seek the courage needed to confront our feelings of inadequacy with his truth about who we are in Christ.
