I've been thinking a lot about my last post, Bittersweet Obedience. And although I've finally come to terms with the fact that we are indeed in the market to sell our house I've begun to wonder if all obedience is not bittersweet.
When Luke and I knew that God was clearly leading us to foster it was a great, big step of obedience and it was also bittersweet. Sweet because we knew that there were precious children that we were going to meet, love and (hopefully) adopt. Bitter because we knew that our birth children would get less of our one-on-one attention and that we were inviting chaos to move into our spare bedroom.
With obedience through adoption, as is the case with our friends Michael and Emily, it too is bittersweet. Sweet because they now know the love God has cultivated in their hearts for a daughter they've never met. Sweet because one day (hopefully very soon) they will hold, love, kiss and cuddle a daughter their whole family has prayed over from a land far away. Sweet because of God's goodness in adding to their family. Yet still, a little bitter with the waiting, the time, the money, the travel, and too, the uncertainty of what a new little person will bring into their already established home.
When Chris and Lindy chose to be obedient to God's call to Kenya the bitter and the sweet of it was very clear. Sweet because of the promise of blessings when you obey God's command. Sweet because of the way they see God working in the land of Kenya, in the people of Kenya and the souls they see being won for Christ. Bitter because of the sacrifice they had to make to move to another continent away from brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, moms and dads, friends and pets.
Now that Luke and I feel like stepping out in obedience and selling our house it is again bittersweet. But my question remains. Is obedience to God's calling always bittersweet? Can it ever be just sweet? Will it ever be just bitter?
As God continues to reveal to us His ways and show us the blessings of acting in obedience to His purposes, I see that the sweetness of a life lived for God's glory far outweighs any bitterness that may tag along.
I know that often the bitter is temporary but the sweetness of God's blessing leaves a lasting taste that keeps you craving it's richness.
What do you think?
Ya know, just watching Layla learn to be obedient to Neil and I shows me that obedience is almost always a little bitter at first--especially when you can't see or feel the end result.
ReplyDeleteI guess its our yucky human nature combined with our worldly foolishness that gives obedience such a bitter taste.
Thanks for the post...very interesting to think about!
I have had to chew on this for a couple of days and still am not sure if I am fully ready to answer your questions...
ReplyDeleteI think obedience usually calls for sacrifice. This sacrifice is most often the sacrifice of self (our will/desires) for God's will/desires. The sacrifice of self can be extremely hard or bitter.
Still, I think the more you learn to make this sacrifice and to follow in obedience, the less bitter it is because in the end we know that being in God's will by being obedient to Him is true sweetness.
Maybe the goal of our Christian walk is to reach a point where the bitterness is no more and the sweet taste of obedience to God's desires becomes our heart's truest desire.
I am not there yet, so the sacrifice of obedience remains bittersweet for me too...
Thanks for a thought provoking post!
I just found your blog (through a friend, no weird googles but that was a great post). I feel like what God is showing me personally is that Heaven will be the only time it is all sweet and no bitter! Anything on earth, even following God like crazy will be plagued with the curse! Still, like you said, following Him offers the best life here for sure! SO excited about your house decision and your radical obedience. I am praying for you to find an even "more perfect" home with a smaller price tag!
ReplyDeleteBecause of Him,
Kelly