This is the first of two articles on an enhanced ‘faith’ mindset for life. This first foray is set on a mindset that serves us as individuals in a life that can be hard, even excruciating. The second foray will be on a mindset that serves us as members in the communities we belong to—a mindset that builds on the blocks of unity rather than a mindset that is sows into the lies of already fractured divisions.
First, I want to frame this in a certain way. There are difficulties intrinsic to this life. Jesus put it like this in John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
“YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE...”
“BUT...”
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First, a little departure in what we should be about—the life, rather than splitting hairs.
While some argue the toss incessantly about points of irrelevant theology and harm-producing ethics, losing the battle for the minds and hearts in an otherwise compelling argument that “faith is an overwhelmingly better way to live,” others have decided to just live it and let their lives speak of that way. That way is kindness, gentleness, and strength in authenticity and vulnerability.
There is little point convincing those who do not live by faith that their way is wrong when doing so only garners further division and mistrust of Christians. It’s better to herald the obvious advantages of living by faith, by behaviour and by words of light and encouragement.
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This is the irrefutable truth: there’s only one way to live this inherently tough life—by a faith that crushes despair through a humble acceptance. This faith is also the way that the effects of trauma are adapted to and eventually absorbed and overcome.
People might think that this is a big call. Trauma, for instance, is a massive thing to overcome. But the key tenet of faith is living an upside-down reality—the spirituality that gives up what cannot be kept to gain what cannot truly be lost. Trauma may therefore be seen as an asset of weakness that opposes the otherwise proud, self-sufficient life.
Inevitably, this is an exercise of letting go. Paradoxically, it’s experiences of loss that teach us best how to let go of the things we inevitably can’t keep anyway.
What loss teaches us best is that we can’t
keep those things that we cannot bear to lose.
And whilst loss is brutal it’s also instructional. It takes us into the bitter blast of winter and sends shockwaves into our reality—but these are what we’re invited to adapt to. If loss cannot crush our hope, literally nothing can.
THIS is the abundant life that Jesus promised.
I’m convinced that it’s a travesty for ANY person NOT to discover this, this side of the death divide. Yet, many Christians never experience this abundant life, let alone those who have resolved NOT to live by faith.
How could I put it that might convince you that what I say is true?
There is a place of being in this life where we
can feel genuinely impenetrable yet grounded.
This is about the knowledge that whether life’s just normal OR whether life’s in crisis, the abundant life is about anticipating crisis, not anxiously but preparedly. It’s an approach to life that’s constantly ready for whatever could or may come. And if loss does come, it’s about insisting within ourselves that, especially in loss, opportunities abound.
It’s about agreeing beforehand to resist the default doldrums.
I don’t want to make this longer than it needs to be.
You can screen this through this Bible passage from James 1:2-8 (NIV):
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”
Considering trails of many kinds as something of a joy is only possible if we believe it’s possible, and when we believe it’s possible, we hold out faith that God will show us in due course. If only we believe in the sanctity of perseverance, that it’s worth everything to mature. Even if we haven’t attained it, it’s a hope that draws us forward by faith. And if we keep moving forward, advancing even when it feels we’re no closer to the light at the end of the tunnel, that irrepressible hope makes it possible to keep moving forward.
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