Swallowed up by Life

Being swallowed up by something has a negative connotation for me.  Being overwhelmed or devoured so that you lose control or are at the mercy of something else: think Jonah and the whale.  The busy-ness of back to school or a particularly busy time at work can certainly swallow us up.  We can be swallowed up by a storm, media-induced or meteorological. We can be swallowed up by grief.  For this stay-at-home, home-educating, mom of an exceptional needs son, my quotidian mind-numbing cares sometimes swallow me whole. 

my peaceful place this summer

But I have been reading 2nd Corinthians and Paul's use of the phrase, "swallowed up by life" intrigues me. The context is that though we don't want to be rid of this earthly body, we desire to be further clothed in the righteousness of Christ so that what is "mortal may be swallowed up by life" (5:4b).  That sounds a little scary to me.  However, Paul goes on to say that the one who prepared us for this very thing is God himself, giving us his Spirit as our guarantee--His Spirit who is our comforter and seal of God's presence and power is the promise that it will be accomplished.  And for Paul, this promise of swallowing up by life gives courage.    He follows with these words:  "So we are always of good courage" (vs. 6). Strong's Greek says that "to be of good courage" (tharreō ) means to be bold.  It is closely related to tharséō which is

literally, to radiate warm confidence. . .because warm-hearted . . . [Therefore] God bolstering the believer, empowering them with a bold inner-attitude . . .  Showing this unflinching, bold courage means living out the inner confidence (inner bolstering)that is Spirit-produced.

It is interesting that Paul says he is ALWAYS of good courage. Excelling in standardized testing, I had learned to mistrust statements with always and never on the true/false tests of my younger years. However, here Paul says always.  Knowing that one day we will be swallowed up by life, his Spirit gives us boldness by God's design and we can always be of good courage.  That doesn't mean I never fear--fears like walking alone at night after a local couple was murdered in their car or that my differently-abled son may be overwhelmed at a new school with 1,500 students or that I may lose a parent/friend to illness--but I don't have to live in that fear.  I don't let those thoughts take precedence or linger.

Our hymn of the month is In Christ Alone and yesterday the lyrics: "What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease.  My Comforter, my All in All, Here in the love of Christ I stand"  stood out especially.  I think because for much of the summer when I have been at home, I have been striving.

the boys were great pickers all summer

our flourishing garden

I was out of commission for a few weeks with cellulitis in my right knee and other than when I had no choice but to sit--and shell peas or butter-beans--I have been striving.

  And my plans have seemed to have been thwarted at each turn, and I've not had true peace.

"Cease striving and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10

That has been my problem.  I thought it was busyness or the boys not being busy enough so that their fighting seemed constant, but no, it was my striving.  In Hebrew, "cease striving" means literally to let your hands drop.  Surrender.

Sunday, my husband was preaching on 1 Corinthians 15, talking about the resurrection.  A powerful passage, a powerful doctrine, a powerful promise.  When Stan quoted Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away," D began clapping. Yes.  D celebrates song lyrics by raising his hands, which is a bit unusual in our Presbyterian church, but for him, it's saying yes, a reaching up to God, a form of surrender, a sign of happiness. And when I, too, praise God, I cease striving.  When I rest in Him, my fears are quieted; I bask in His love. I am secure.

So as we begin a new school year tomorrow, I pray that I will be of good courage, an emboldening provided by the indwelling of God's spirit and his gift of faith.  My belief that God who loves me plans to swallow me up by life gives me a courage that enables me to face the storm, face the grief, face the fears and say, "God be praised!"