Calloused

Recently I picked up my guitar, after about 6 years of barely picking it up. I guess you could say I've been inspired to play it once again. One thing I noticed is that after 6 years, I had nearly forgotten every chord that I had worked so hard to memorize.

Not only had I forgotten the chords, but playing the guitar was painful....literally. My fingers were tender after playing for only 5 minutes! My callouses were gone. Only 6 years earlier I still had them. That was that which protected me from the pain of playing. I had practiced so much that I no longer would get pain when practicing for long periods of time. My fingers were tougher, stronger and less susceptible to the pain from the work of practice.

This reminded me of faith. In our faith, there are often times painful things that we have to go through. We may have to get rid of something, break off an unhealthy relationship, give up an addiction or ask for forgiveness from someone who didn't even know you had wronged them in the first place. Becoming strong in the Lord usually takes a painful growth period....developing our callouses so we are stronger. At some point, the painful moments are fewer and farther between as we learn to keep our faith and hope in God and what He would ask us to do.

But what happens when we fall away from Him? When we come back to Him are we automatically back to where we were before, callouses and all? That is RARELY the case. No, instead we often times have to go through the painful process of growth yet again. Learning the chords and developing the callouses to make our fingers stronger for the job at hand. Sometimes those pains are from consequences from sin. Other times they are from tests of our faith to make us stronger.

God never intended for us to go on the roller-coaster faith ride. He desires to see us endure the pain, persevere, grow and become stronger. The callouses are a sign of practice and a good reminder of what endurance can do.

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Love

Have you ever noticed how the people who you love and who love you disappoint you? They hurt you, sometimes intentionally. They don't show it to you. They may show that love to another while neglecting the love that they have for you. They sometimes love and then leave as if never having loved before. When this happens, how does it make you feel? Does it leave you feeling unloved? How about unwhole? Or worthless?

I have yet to find another human that has PERFECT love. So when I come to rely on the love I find from other people, especially what the world tells me the definition of love is, I find myself feeling incomplete. I do this to myself over and over again. And yet, somehow, I am always surprised when someone's love doesn't complete me or doesn't live up to my expectations.

As a Christian, I have come to realize (with constant reminders) that ONLY God is true love. That ONLY through Him will I find the love that encompasses EVERYTHING that I desire. Without Him, I am truly incomplete. With Him, I am made whole. And with that love, I can really begin to love others the way God would intend for me to love. So why do I rely on the love the world has to give to fill me to the brim? I love this Sidewalk Prophets song. Listen to the words closely....especially the chorus.


Psalm 36:7
How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

"Forgetting what the world has told me. Father of Love, You can have me!"