Seriously. Really.
Donna Zangara / Executive Director of Next Generation Ministries
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| Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash |
slang/slaNG/noun1. a type of language that consists of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal, are more common in speech than writing, and are typically restricted to a particular context or group of people.
We have these slang words in our culture. They started as regular old words. But somehow, they morphed into meaning something new. These words that started to creep into my language had a question mark after them. Slang words like: “seriously?”, “right?”, “really?”
I found I was saying these words a lot. “Seriously?” “Really?” “Right?” With an occasional, “You have got to be kidding me?” The last little while in my life has been a series of unexpected events that just seemed to keep coming one right after the other. Everything around me became uncertain. Everything I knew became unknown and I found I had a whole lot more question marks in my head and heart than answers. When I was quiet, I found myself begging God for answers. I even used some slang words as I called out to Him. “Seriously?” “Really?”
All my fears, frailties, fractures, faults, and failures started to become bigger than my faith. I needed Him to fix some things. And fast.
Well, the Lord has been answering and showing me some things. I realized maybe God’s plan was not to “fix” the things that were fracturing my faith but instead to show His power through them, making my faith stronger than ever.
Our preschoolers have been learning Ephesians 3:18. “How wide, how long, how high, how deep is the love of Christ.” As these little cherubs have been reciting this over these last weeks, I have been reminded through them that there is no limit to God’s love for us.
Romans 8:26-28 (MSG) says,
When I do not know, He does.
I found I was saying these words a lot. “Seriously?” “Really?” “Right?” With an occasional, “You have got to be kidding me?” The last little while in my life has been a series of unexpected events that just seemed to keep coming one right after the other. Everything around me became uncertain. Everything I knew became unknown and I found I had a whole lot more question marks in my head and heart than answers. When I was quiet, I found myself begging God for answers. I even used some slang words as I called out to Him. “Seriously?” “Really?”
All my fears, frailties, fractures, faults, and failures started to become bigger than my faith. I needed Him to fix some things. And fast.
Well, the Lord has been answering and showing me some things. I realized maybe God’s plan was not to “fix” the things that were fracturing my faith but instead to show His power through them, making my faith stronger than ever.
Our preschoolers have been learning Ephesians 3:18. “How wide, how long, how high, how deep is the love of Christ.” As these little cherubs have been reciting this over these last weeks, I have been reminded through them that there is no limit to God’s love for us.
Romans 8:26-28 (MSG) says,
“Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we do not know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.”
When I do not know, He does.
When I have questions, He is the answer.
I will always have failures and fractures. He is right beside me ready with His great power, ready to make my faith even bigger.
Really. Seriously.
I will always have failures and fractures. He is right beside me ready with His great power, ready to make my faith even bigger.
Really. Seriously.