Faith-in-Training

Recently, I was driving around town and found myself behind an extremely slow-moving minivan. Suddenly, it stopped at a green light in a right turn lane, then forgot to signal and advanced into the other lane, almost hitting the divider. My impatience got the best of me as I pulled up alongside the vehicle to catch a glimpse of the errant driver.

“Do I need to dial 911 and get some assistance on the road? This person is clueless, distracted and probably texting while driving”, I thought nervously while I passed judgment.

Finally, both of our cars pulled up to a red light and I casually craned my neck to investigate, my face set with a firm look of disapproval that was sure to set them straight! To my surprise, it was a sheepish and sweet-faced 15 ½ year old boy with his mother sitting next to him in the passenger seat. Her hand was gripping the handle above the passenger door, (You know that handle for those of you who have teenage drivers) while he looked every bit like a deer in the headlights.

My demeanor completely changed in an instant.

“Ohhhh, he’s a driver-in-training… That totally makes sense! I remember those days… Been there done that”, I murmured to myself.

It’s interesting how quickly my response towards the driver changed, once I understood the full picture and was able to see the road from his vantage point and not mine.

I thought about this experience and the people in our lives who drive us crazy with the way they navigate through life. We don’t agree with their decisions, or the way they’ve responded to whatever circumstances or challenges they’ve been facing. It’s easy to pull up from behind and tailgate them from a place of pride and self-righteousness, instead of grace and understanding.

Do you have people like this in your life? You see them making decisions that you don't agree with. Or you watch them respond to challenges they may be experiencing from a place of incessant worry, fear, deep insecurity and even anger. Maybe you don’t agree with or approve of where they are in their faith journey and think they should be "further along" or "more mature" in their faith. Do you find yourself impatient with their “faith-in-training” process?

Proverbs 14:29 reminds us:

“Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.”

When we come alongside people and see the road from their viewpoint, suddenly things make sense to us and it’s much easier to be gracious and patient with them. 

Things come into focus and we begin to understand the WHY behind what they’re doing, in a way that not only makes sense but helps us to grow in compassion towards them. I have learned that there is always a back story to what you might see on the front page of someone's life.

 

A few things to think about:

• Consider the many people where you or I have tested their patience, annoyed and driven them crazy with the way we navigate our challenges and decisions. The grace we extend always come back to us when we need it as well.
• Can you remember a time when you found yourself navigating obstacles in your life in a similar way? If so, take a minute to thank God for how far you have come along!
• Have you taken time to come alongside others in a way that gives you greater understanding and insight on how to love, pray and support them during their faith-in-training process?
• God uses challenging people for OUR faith-in-training process. Consider the unloving qualities that are revealed in us when we judge a person without first seeking Christ’s perspective: self-righteousness, impatience, anger and pride. God uses these relationships to train your faith to display qualities that reflect the heart of Christ.

Galatians 5:22-23 says:

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

Finally, on this side of eternity, we are ALL in training!

We will serve each other well if we remember to see things from God's vantage point. Thankfully, He’s given us the greatest Faith Training Manual – the Bible – to help us in our faith-in-training journey so we can help others as we grow!

“Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

”

— 2 Timothy 3:17 The Message

People Matter

A few years ago, I was driving through my town when I came upon a traffic jam at an intersection. The light was green, however, the cars were at a standstill. As I peered out my window, I saw a group of slow moving turkeys in the middle of the road. Now, when you see a turkey, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Stupid is what comes to my mind.

 As I craned my neck further out the window to see the commotion, I noticed five turkeys walking in a choreographed line. They were moving at a snail’s pace, inching their way across the intersection. But what captured my attention, was the reason for this dawdling caravan. One of the turkeys had a broken foot and was unable to hobble correctly. Instead, he had to hop one inch at a time to make his way through the intersection.

What really impressed me about this injured turkey and brought me to surprised emotion, was the fact that his buddies did not leave their crippled friend. They too, inched along at the pace of their friend. They were protective, worried, patient, and clearly putting their buddy’s interest above their own. In that moment, my understanding of turkeys changed.

Who they really are and what they are made of, came out in how they took care of their friend.

It was obvious that these four overprotective birds had their friend’s interest above their own.

Things sometimes are not as they seem. At first sight, I saw a group of turkeys, lowly and weak compared to other birds. But when I looked closely, I saw that they are much smarter and caring than you think. In that moment, my perception of turkeys forever changed. In fact, I might have to switch to chicken this Thanksgiving.

Imagine the opportunities we have as Christian women to change the perception the world has of what it looks like to be a Christ follower. The biggest way we can influence our world is the way we live our lives and faith out. Especially, when it comes to our relationships with other Christians. We demonstrate this by the ways we love and serve one another, treat and take care of one another, and build unity and peace in our relationships.

As you care for others and put your own interests aside, the world watches and their perception changes as you exhibit Christ’s qualities of unity, peace, love, compassion, forgiveness, and grace.

And yes, as Christians, the world sometimes looks and judges us as turkeys. But you have an opportunity to show the world the essence of your faith by the ways you care for others!

Do you have relationships in your life where God is calling you to put their interests above your own? Maybe it is taking the first step towards reconciliation, extending grace to someone who has let you down, serving someone when it is inconvenient, or be willing to lay aside your plans for the day to help someone in need?

Philippians 2:1-5 says, Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.