Here Are My Thoughts

Recently, I’ve been listening to this song called “Hope Is The Anthem” by the band Switchfoot. The opening words of the song go like this:

“Sometimes what you need is what you fight
Like a wounded man out on the run
Like shadows hiding from the light
But your love is what I was running from”

It’s been a while since I’ve heard something that so poignantly describes humanity like these lyrics do. I mean, this is so us, right? This is what we do, repeatedly! It’s one of the most frustrating things about us-often, we fight what we need most. Remember that time you had that awful pain in your back, and wouldn’t go see a doctor? Or when you were little, and SO tired, but refused to go to sleep? Personally, I can think back on many times in college when the thing I needed to do most was study for a looming exam…and couldn’t help but procrastinate on Facebook and Twitter. It’s just how we are. We’re frequently predisposed to resist what we know we need. 

And honestly, when we see those examples, it doesn’t seem like a huge deal. It can even be funny-until this pattern starts playing out in the big moments of our lives. Until the decision to fight what we need becomes destructive. Like when we refuse to seek help in processing unexpected pain. Or when we choose not to reach out to reconcile a broken relationship. When we isolate from accountability and encouragement. When we keep a secret sin, secret.

See, I’m convinced that our decision to resist or embrace what we know we need dramatically impacts the quality and direction of our lives. When we choose to fight against what would ultimately benefit us, we stunt our growth, and rob ourselves of the rescue, healing, community, and wisdom that are necessary for us to thrive. But on the other, more hopeful hand, when we give ourselves over to what is right and good for us, whatever it may be, we find the freedom, hope, and full lives that we’ve always wanted.

So..how do we do this?

I’m by no means an expert, but here are 4 steps I think are worth taking in choosing to embrace, rather than resist, what we need:

1. Take time to reflect on what’s missing. 

This one is so difficult for me, because I’m terrible at reflecting. But it’s so important. If we don’t know where the holes are in our lives, we won’t know what to run after. So be honest: are you missing community? What about accountability? Is your personal devotional time lacking? Do you have a relationship that needs to be mended? What things do you need or want to add to your life that just aren’t there?

2. Identify the need(s). 

This may seem redundant, but it’s actually more focused than step 1. Because here’s the truth-you can’t add everything you want to your life all at once. If you’re at all like me, you’ll come out of that reflection time with a lonnnnnggggggg list of ways you need to improve. But you’ll never be effective in really changing if you’re focusing on a million things at once. So pick 1-3 specific things that you feel are true needs. What must change in your life? What has to get better?

3. Consult wise counsel and formulate a plan. 

If we’re not intentional, we can easily skip this step. In our excitement to see growth, we tend to rush into action without any real idea about how to make it happen. This is where step 3 comes in. Seeking out wise counsel allows us to learn from their experiences, especially if they’ve already gone through what we’re about to try to do. With their help, we can then map out how we’re going to take on our challenges. Having a  gameplan builds confidence and gives us clear direction forward. Even if the thing you need to do is a conversation, it’s so helpful to seek help and think through what you want to say. But here’s a perfect example of this step in action: Say you want to start working out. How effective and lasting would it be if you just signed up for the gym and went and tried out the different machines with no prior knowledge? Instead, wouldn’t it be better to reach out to those who work out regularly, asking them what they do, and having them help you create a workout plan? That’s step 3.

4. Go get it! 

Here’s where it all comes together. We’ve laid the ground work-reflecting, identifying needs, and seeking direction-now we just have to do it. This is the hardest part for me, because having a plan and executing it are two very different things. Following through on steps 1-3 doesn’t guarantee that we’ll actually embrace what we need. It all comes down to the choice. Will we live in the endless cycle of realizing and resisting what would better us? Or will we break through, and take hold of the full lives that come from giving ourselves over to what we need? Remember, the quality and direction of our lives depend on our ability to embrace, rather than resist.

“Sometimes what you need is what you fight, like a wounded man out on the run…”

God will reveal to you the things that must be added to your life in order to maximize it. It’s why Jesus came to earth, so that you may have life, and have it abundantly. And when he said that, yes, he was talking about eternity. But he wasn’t just talking about eternity-he was talking about right here, right now. So stop fighting. Stop running. Realize what you need, and don’t resist. Embrace.

-Brett

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”-John 10:10