BLOG POST 1:
Martyn has eczema. So naturally, I turned to mama facebook groups to ask how do I fix it? The answers I received were overwhelming. Cut dairy and/or gluten and/or eggs and/or peanuts. Change his bath temperature, bath wash, organic cotton clothes, laundry detergent. Grapeseed oil, aquaphor, steroid creams, antibiotics. Perhaps describing my reaction as "naturally," really is the best way to describe my initial delusions. My fleshly nature, considering myself to be God, desired to take hold of the situation and assert my sovereignty over it. I would calculate the factors, do the research, and heal my baby! But very quickly, the seemingly endless number of potential solutions dissolved me into an indecisive puddle. Is aquaphor helping or hurting his condition? Should I bathe him more often, or less often? Am I a bad mom if I eat this chocolate cake? All to say, the Lord was gracious to stop me in my anxious meandering and bring me to meditate on Philippians 3 and 4.
Philippians 3:18-20 tells us that those who are the enemies of the cross of Christ have their minds set on earthly things. We are called then, not to set our minds on earthly things, but consider our citizenship in heaven, and instead await our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. But Paul is not telling us to remove all thought of matters of the present world. He tells us instead, not to be anxious about anything "but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (4:6). So by all means, pray wholeheartedly for your baby's skin, or the many greater and lesser issues that concern our human conditions. If we do so while putting off the anxious heart, we are promised in exchange "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding" and it will "guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus" (4:7). God knows we are attacked and afflicted by anxiety, and our wonderful defense against it is Christ Jesus.
Moreover, we are to set our minds on that which is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. As we do this and continue to practice what we have seen and received and heard in the Word of God, the God of peace will be with us (4:8-9). For our God is a God who supplies our every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Sparknotes to remind myself next time Martyn's bandaid falls off and he starts rubbing at his open eczema sore with his fists:
- Do not set my mind on earthly things
- Consider my citizenship in heaven
- Await my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ
- Pray with thanksgiving to the God of peace
- Make my requests known to God in supplication
- Remember that my heart and mind is guarded by Christ Jesus
- Set my mind on what is really good
- Practice what I have seen and received and heard in the Word of God
- Remember that God supplies my every need in the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus
BLOGPOST 2:
I don't like that I just wrote a blog post about how God helps my anxiety. God is so much bigger than my feelings, and has done so much more than cure this earthly predicament.
From early on, I've had an aversion to women's ministry content. It often felt like it was addressing me as if my biggest issues were body image, discontent with singleness, and feeling "broken". Not only were these all things that I didn't actually struggle with, I felt like they were sorely missing the mark because my greatest problem is this: I am a sinner before a holy God.
But then I became a mom, and all of a sudden the mom blogs were singing my tune. I do need gospel hope in breastfeeding, in sleeplessness, in doing chores joyfully, in trying to have patience and grace and gentleness. The reality is, the person and work of Jesus Christ does indeed have beautiful implications for all our earthly issues.
BUT, it cannot end there. What a pity it is if I clasp my hands joyfully around the little momentary peace I've received, and I fail to look up into the glorious face of the Prince of Peace who has bought my eternal reconciliation.
In Hebrews 3:1-6 we see a description of the glory of Moses, only to show how "Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses - as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself". The writer of Hebrews employs a tactic of acknowledging the goodness of the lesser in order to further highlight the greatness of the greater.
I reference this because I believe we need to stop settling for the lesser of earthly grace, and let its glory show the greater eternal truth as ever more glorious. Yes, God takes away the hurt of feeling unloved, but marvel even more at the love which condescended from heavenly glory to the cross. God's sovereignty does free us from frustration with singleness, but consider more the eternal hand that predestined you unto salvation through His Son. For these and all other earthly joys granted to us from our gracious God, may we focus our minds on the only One who is worthy of our eternal praise. Enjoy the sunset, and fear the Almighty Creator. Relish in the comfort of your bed, and adore the Good Shepherd who gives rest to your soul. Delight in your little ones, and remember Abba Father who has loved you into adoption through the sacrifice of his own begotten.
Prince of Peace, control my will,
Bid this struggling heart be still;
Bid my fears and doubtings cease,
Hush my spirit into peace.
Thou hast bought me with thy blood,
Open'd wide the gate to God;
Peace, I ask, but peace must be,
Lord, in being one with thee.
("Prince of Peace, Control My Will" - Mary Dana Shindler)
