I hope you had a great day yesterday.
Odds are, some of you did. You enjoyed a super-sparkly day overflowing with awesomeness!
Others of you had the kind of Monday that grinds your bones, shreds your nerves, mixes your mind and shatters your soul.
And that’s before you even finish your first cup of coffee!
For those of you who trudge your way through and drag your carcass to the other side, guess what has been set aside just for you to enjoy as your special reward?
Tuesday.
Or as I like to call it, “Samestuffdifferent-day”.
One of the things our family likes doing together is watching fail videos.
You know the ones. Where people believe things like, “You GOT this!” and “Gravity doesn’t apply!” The kinds of videos where people use construction adhesives as beauty products, and reproductive glands for shock absorbers.
Good stuff!
And we will cringe, and laugh, and mock people we don’t even know by yelling at the television, “You’re doing it wrong!”
And generally enjoy both their pains and in their painful-to-see moments.
We also enjoy those Like A Boss videos where people show off crazy-amazing skills WITHOUT failing.
Have you ever been so overwhelmed you tried turning to the Bible for help?
Have you ever turned to the Bible for help because you’ve been told it’s FULL of encouraging, hopeful, and reassuring Bible verses for people who are overwhelmed, and more?
Have you ever walked away from a moment like that feeling disappointed and let down?
We all have. It’s pretty typical.
But the REASON we walk away still defeated is simple: We’re doing it wrong.
Turning to the Bible when things go sideways isn’t some magical Sunday School ANSWER to life’s messy, difficult, and overwhelming problems.
It’s more than that. It’s the REMEDY.
In fact, the second definition of remedy is “something that corrects or removes an evil of any kind”.
Which suggests scripture is useful for far more than merely dealing with overwhelm.
When we treat scripture like an Epipen—use only when necessary in an emergency—should we be surprised when it isn’t effective?
A remedy that “corrects or removes an evil” isn’t a quick-fix. By definition it indicates a process that needs to take place.
A process that looks more like preparation and training, and less like, “Hold my beer”.
When the Apostle Paul talks about the Bible, he refers to it as “The Word of God”:
Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
Ephesians 6:13-18, MSG
As the scripture says, you are up against FAR MORE than you can handle on your own.
And “Be Prepared” is far more than merely the Boy Scout motto.
That is one of the reasons we’re digging into a bit of scripture every day. And spending a few moments in worship every day. It helps us become prepared.
Life doesn’t have to be a fail video. We can learn to do it RIGHT.
Today, read the passage above again. Out loud. Then thank God for giving us the weapons we need to stand and face the attacks of our spiritual enemies Like A Boss.
That’s worship.
–Steve.