“Never pray for an easier life— pray to be a stronger person! Never pray for tasks equal to your power— pray for power equal to your tasks. Then doing your work will be no miracle— you will be the miracle.”  – STREAMS IN THE DESERT

I recently joined a gym. As far as gyms go, it’s about as warm and welcoming as any could ever be. People high-5 each other. Everyone gets greeted warmly. New people (me) are enfolded quickly into the group. The coaches are patient and encouraging.

Nevertheless, it’s still intimidating. People who look like they ate the Incredible Hulk for breakfast bench press Volkswagens and bend rebar beams into neat little v’s. Me? I’m content to hang out by the water cooler and stretch… a lot. Hydration and flexibility —  that’s what I’m all about. But, that’s not really true. I just don’t want to be seen failing at lifting the things that are decidedly not-heavy for everyone else.

It’s in that space, somewhere between what I want to accomplish and what I can do at present where my own character gets revealed.

I want the end of the journey. I want to stand atop the mountain, plant a flag in the soil, and claim it as my own. You can keep the trial, the heartache, and the frustration that accompanies the rest of the journey.  I want an easier way. Then, usually in the seconds before I start my workout I discover there isn’t one. There’s only one way. The hard way.

Long ago, the tasks that those superhuman-Marvel-action-figures who belong to my gym can now do with relative ease were at one time impossible. The only way they got strong was by attempting things that were on the outer limits of their abilities. They pushed. They struggled. They felt insecure. They failed. Eventually, however, they triumphed. And… on the other side of every one of their triumphs lay another challenge, greater than its predecessor.

I know the workout/faith analogy has a few shortcomings. But, it’s not without merit. The August 3rd reading from STREAMS IN THE DESERT reads: “Never pray for an easier life— pray to be a stronger person! Never pray for tasks equal to your power— pray for power equal to your tasks…” No one ever really got stronger by praying that gym weights would weigh less than they do, thus requiring less effort (I know this from experience:  I’ve been fervent in this fruitless prayer every time I attempt a workout). The faithful pray for power to overcome. In overcoming new strength rises and a new person is formed.

The response from our current teaching series (OH! THE PLACES WE’LL GO) has been amazing. I’ve talked with a number of people who are facing big challenges. I chatted with others who are just coming through them. I received emails from people detailing their own story of being invited by someone to come to Mariners MV. Continue to be the great, warm welcoming inviters that you are. Let’s go on the courageous journey of faith together always looking to include those unconnected, weary and lonely, tackling the trials head-on, praying for strength, overcoming, and being transformed in triumph.

See you Sunday,

Jeff