Peter, Paul, and Me

 

How many times have you known what you should do, but you ignore it or you do the exact opposite? Then you sit around feeling horrible for the thing you just did or because you did nothing when you knew you should’ve done something? If you are human (and honest), your answer was probably something like “All the time!” and with good reason. You are human. It’s an issue Paul struggled with often. In Romans 7:21, he says, “when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.” He goes on to describe himself as miserable, stating that “there’s another power within me that is at war with my mind.” Sound familiar? Anyone else find themselves feeling like a miserable person? It’s good to know we are not alone. 

Reality #1: Humans are sinful creatures. We have a sinful nature. Period. Paul said, “I am all too human, a slave to sin.” And how crazy is it that when boundaries are drawn (like the law), it’s our own sinful hearts that desire to cross them! Our rebelliousness kicks in and we become weak to its power. It’s scary to me that our sinful nature “is always hostile to God,” which means it is always fighting against God. Romans 8:8 adds that “those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.” Paul’s words. Not mine. Never please God? That’s a huge statement.  One that causes me to look for answers...a way out.  

Reality #2: The answer is in Jesus. Romans 8:2 says, “because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” The law couldn’t give us salvation or freedom from ourselves. So God did what the law could not. He sent Jesus. We are no longer captive to the power of sin. Through Jesus, the power of sin is broken and we are alive to God! Sin is no longer our master. 

Reality #3: There is a constant battle inside of us. Sin will always want to be the master, the controlling force in our lives. It will falsely promise satisfaction. My pastor explains it like this: “The devil can’t create anything, so he takes the old you and tries to make it appealing.” Sin deceives, and when given the opportunity, it will destroy you. The battle inside of us is a battle for our identity. Pastor D challenges us to “declare war on the version of yourself that you don’t want to be.” How do I do that?!?

Reality #4: The answer is in Jesus. Before Jesus, we had no choice but to sin. It’s inevitable. It’s who we were. When we accepted Jesus and His victory over sin in us, we were free. We belong to Him, and we are a new creature. We now have the ability to choose who we will obey.  Romans 6:12 says, “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.” We now have a way to avoid giving sin the opportunity to rule over our lives! Sin no longer has to be your master. We are free!! Free to live holy before God. 

Reality #5: The choice to become a slave to righteous living is not always easy. Remember, there’s a constant battle inside of us. Think of any battle in history. You know battles are hard. The two conflicting sides will go to any extreme necessary to get the victory. In our lives, it’s no different.  The battle for control is hard. Remember Paul? He said, “In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature, I am a slave to sin.” It will always be a battle. One that we won’t win on our own. We can’t. But we CAN choose WHO wins in our lives. Now, how do I do that?!?! How do I make the choice to not follow my sinful nature, but instead be led by the Spirit? 

Reality #6: The answer is in Jesus. Let’s travel back in time to just before the death of Jesus. Peter, who loved Jesus and was one of His followers, was predicted to deny his Lord. Not just once, but three times. You know the story. After Jesus was arrested, Peter joined the guards in the courtyard. Sitting by the fire, he denied knowing Jesus three times. The prediction came true.  Realizing what had happened, Peter runs away in tears. Luke 22:54 says that after Jesus was arrested, “Peter followed at a distance.” He was concerned, but he didn’t have the courage to be clearly associated with Jesus. What if that distance made it easier for him to deny Jesus?  How often are we trying to do the right thing, but we find it easier to follow our sinful nature? Maybe it’s because we are trying to follow Jesus at a distance. We want to follow Jesus, but we try to hold on to things in our lives that hinder us from being who God truly intends for us to be. James 4:8 in the Passion Translation says to “move your heart closer and closer to God, and He will come even closer to you.” It’s time to stop following Jesus at a distance. If we are continually positioning ourselves as close as possible to Jesus, it will be harder to deny Him. 

In this battle for control, we must ask ourselves this question: Where is my mind set? Are we dominated by our sinful nature or are we controlled by the Holy Spirit? If we truly belong to Jesus, we have the victory over sin. We win. Not because of us, but because of who we are in Jesus. Distancing ourselves from Him gives sin the opportunity to deceive us into believing a lie about our identity. It’s time to draw close. Make the choice to live as a beloved child of God...one who is moved by the impulses of the Holy Spirit. 

Life Lessons from Coach

Physical therapy was hard today. The therapist added new exercises that pushed Alex to her limits. Necessary for proper healing, but difficult to endure. Emotions were all over the place, tears were shed, and giving up certainly felt like a better option at times. But she survived. And will be stronger because of it.

Now, let me give you the story.  This is what I learned from a therapist…

 

We’ll call him Coach. He’s been Alex’s therapist on and off for over seven months. Time together has built a certain degree of trust, also necessary for proper healing. 

 

Today, started like most days start: “The Chair,” also known as a CPM, or continuous passive motion machine. It’s a device used to flex and extend the knee to combat joint stiffness or immobility. It’s also one of Alex’s least favorite parts, hence the nickname (in my most evil, disgusted voice) “The Chair.” There were other regular exercises after that, and then there was what Coach called “The Reebok.”

 

“The Reebok” is a simple step to most. To Alex, it was a source of fear and anxiety. The goal was to step up – first with the braced leg followed by the other, then back down again with no crutch or bar to hold onto. One step. For most people, a single step would seem like nothing. But, when you’ve been through a recent, traumatic injury, it becomes a challenge. Which is why…

 

We should never let our own experiences become the basis on how we judge other people’s situations or how they handle life.

 

Just walking to the Reebok caused fear. What if it hurts? What if I can’t do it? What if I fall?

Coach strapped a band around Alex’s waist and stood behind her.  For a second, nobody moved. Alex seemed to be considering her next step. Finally, she said, “How do I start?” Coach was there with a plan… “Just take a step up,” and he talked her through which leg to start with.

 

When we get to a place where we don’t know what to do, ask.

 

I watched for what seemed like minutes as Alex contemplated his words. “Just step up.” Easier said than done. But, Coach knows that…

 

Sometimes you have to do things you’re afraid of – the hard things – to get where you need to be.

 

Sensing her fear and doubt, Coach stepped closer to her. As he tightened his grip on her waistband, he offered words of encouragement – gentle reminders that he has her back. “I’ve got you.” “I will not let you fall.” My heart quickly realized that that’s how Jesus is with me. He has my back. He will not let me fall.

Hearing his words, Alex took a step. Slow and full of fear. But, she made it! Then back down. Over and over, she began to take the steps. There were times that she would struggle and say, “I can’t.” Coach would reply, “Yes, you can. Go.” He knew that giving up was not an option. He knew…

 

You will never get where you need to be if you give up when it gets too hard.

 

Other times during the exercise, she would stumble or her muscles would shake, and every single time, Coach would hold her up himself. Pulling on her waistband, he never let go and he held her until she was ready to try again. 

 

In life, there will be struggles and Jesus will allow it for our own growth and strength, but when we stumble or are at our weakest, He will hold us up until we are ready to go again.

 

Coach never let her stop, nor did he pull her from the exercise because it was pushing her too hard. He simply held her and encouraged her. He understands the process to proper healing.

Still other times, I heard the frustration in Alex’s voice. Not just frustration because it was hard, but she was also frustrated with Coach. Why wouldn’t he just let her stop? It was like she was telling him enough was enough. Even to the point of being stubborn and just putting her feet on the floor and quitting. Every time, Coach would physically pull her up with the band and say, “No, keep going.” And, she did. She understood that he was actually in control of the situation. Her reaction would not have been the same with me or anyone else, but she has developed a certain level of trust in him over the course of time she’s worked with him. She has spent enough time with him that she knows he has her back, he knows what he’s doing, and he has a plan for her that she couldn’t come up with on her own. 

 

Spend enough time with Jesus to develop a level of trust that allows you to always remember he is actually in control and that he knows what he’s doing in your life.

 

As Coach held her up during her moments of frustration – even frustration with him – he never changed. He never loosened his grip. He never told her to stop crying. He was never offended by her frustration at him. But, he never caved to her emotions. He allowed her to feel those emotions, but would not allow them to influence her progress. 

 

We’re allowed to feel emotion. We’re allowed to be frustrated. But, our emotions should not influence our progress. 

 

As I watched in silence, the exercise continued. She completed the entire set! She was never completely on her own, but she’ll get there. Because she has someone in her corner, coaching her and holding her until he knows she’s ready to try it herself. 

 

Jesus is in our corner, holding us until He knows we’re ready to try it ourselves. Then, He will let go and walk beside us, never fully leaving us.

 

Finally, with shaky legs and tired muscles, Alex turned to walk to the next exercise. (Keep in mind that Coach had previously taken away her only crutch and made her walk without it.) She looked at where she was and then where she needed to go. She felt the fatigue of the last exercise, and dread crept in. At that moment, without saying a word, Coach reached out his hand. She looked at him, and he smiled and said, “I got you.” She put her hand in his and together, they walked.

 

When we look at where we are and then where we need to go, we may find ourselves feeling anxious or full of dread. But, we need to remember that Jesus is with us, holding out His hand, saying, “I got you.”

 

Therapy is an ongoing process. It’s a necessary step toward proper healing. Is it hard? Very. Is it exhausting? Extremely. Frustrating? Absolutely. But, the outcome far outweighs the challenges. In the end, Alex will be stronger because of her therapy struggles.

 

Life’s challenges can be overwhelming, exhausting, and frustrating. But, when you allow Jesus to be in control – knowing that no matter what happens – He has your back and He has a plan for your life, you will survive. Not only survive, but you will be stronger than you were before. Trust Him. He’s got you.