[5 min read—client resource]
STOP!
Have you read Parts 1 and 2?
I know, I know…It’s tempting to skip ahead to the application portion. But meditating on who God is and who we are as human beings in relation to him is foundational; we must settle in our own hearts if we trust God and his design for us and believe that it is good. After all, if you don’t believe in the truth, rightness, and goodness of what you’re doing and why, it won’t stick.
What Now?
So, what do we do with all these musings about who God is and who we are in relation to him and the rest of his creation? Are there things we could put into practice to break free from the chains of anxiety, discontentedness, and unrealistic expectations? Are there ways we could embrace our humanity and taste the joy and thankfulness God intends for us (1 Thess. 5:16-18)?
The following is basically a summation of the final chapter of You’re Only Human, which offers profoundly practical application points (and for a more thorough description of each of these, I whole-heartedly commend Kapic’s book to you).
1. Embrace the rhythms and seasons of life:
We can’t have it all. We can’t have a lucrative career without sacrificing time with family. We can’t invest in all relationships fully and completely all at the same time. Sometimes household tasks have to fall by the wayside for the sake of a big deadline or a loved one in crisis or an unforeseen illness. Personally, I don’t have the same energy or capacity I had as a single person that I do now, in my third trimester of pregnancy with my third child—and trying to operate like I used to be able to would only run me ragged and make me miserable.
So, what are some ways in which you could more fully embrace the season you’re in? Not every season has to be your favorite. You will feel like you’re thriving more in some seasons and just surviving in others. Nature reminds us of these realities in the lush blooms and pleasant temperatures of spring contrasted with the dark, invitation-to-rest, snuggle-up chill of winter. Seasons are temporary.
Take some time meditating on the season of life you are in. What do you love? What isn’t your favorite? How can you, through Christ who strengthens you, learn to be content in THIS set of circumstances (Phil. 4:11-13)? What changes could you make (what do you need to either let go of or prioritize) in order to live more fully and realistically (and joyfully) in this season?
2. Recognize vulnerability:
The challenge here is to be honest (with ourselves and others) about our weaknesses, inadequacies, fears, and failures. It may be hard to feel like the one to make the first move on this—that everyone else seems to have it all together, based of course on their social media highlight reels and the veneer of smiles and laughter. But authenticity (usually) begets authenticity.
How might your relationships and community be deepened and more edified through a greater openness about your own struggles? How might we, in knowing each other better, be able to serve and encourage each other better? How can we live more fully into the exhortation in Hebrews 10:23-25 to “spur one other on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching”?
Take some time to take your insecurities and vulnerabilities first to the Lord. Prayer journal it out, if it’s helpful to process it that way and see it written down. Pray also about who you might be able to seek out to come alongside you in this struggle. Consider also who you perceive might be having a hard time right now and think of ways you could come alongside them as well.
3. Express lament, cultivate gratitude:
One of the wonderful things about Scripture is that it holds joy and sorrow together. The Bible doesn’t make us choose between lament and gratitude. We are encouraged to be honest in our lament, not glossing over the realities of this broken world. We are also exhorted to express gratitude to the Giver of good gifts (James 1:17). In fact, as Kapic asserts, “Lament and gratitude are mirror concepts that highlight the same fundamental truth: we are dependent on the God who rescues us” (Kapic 206).
Spend some time pouring out your laments to God (looking to the Psalms as models for this). Write out your own psalm of lament for what you are going through or grieving. Take some time, also, to write down things you’re thankful for. Keep a running list on a notepad or your phone when you think of things throughout the day. Use Kapic’s model of “Remember, Look, Identify” to consider all you have to be thankful for: Remember what God has done, look to the present to see how God is currently working, and identify aspects of his character that his works reveal (Kapic 211).
4. Rest: honor sleep and sabbath:
One of the most helpful things I heard while my family was overseas was “Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself, your family, and your ministry is to take a nap.” As a pregnant mom (with a toddler) focused on learning a new language and adjusting to a new culture, I definitely needed to hear that!
God set the example of rest for us in the creation narrative, when he rested from all his universe-sculpting work (Gen. 2:2). In 1 Kings 19, God gave Elijah a snack and a nap, because that is exactly what he needed at that moment. God doesn’t need sleep, but we as humans do. Jesus, when he took on flesh, gave us countless examples of how he humbly submitted to the limitations of his body and chose to rest.
Kapic says, “Sleep is a spiritual discipline that daily reminds us of our lack of control…Sleep reminds us daily that we…are never strong enough, we never know enough, we never can do enough to eliminate our vulnerability. And so sleep is an act of faith. It requires us to see our finitude as a good part of God’s design for us” (Kapic 217).
What improvements in sleep hygiene could you implement to be intentional about getting better rest? What ways are you incorporating the rhythm of rest into your days (naps or time alone?), weeks (weekly Sabbath?), months (a half day to completely unplug and get away with God?), and years (spiritual retreat weekend?)? What does Sabbath rest look like for you? How could you finish each day trusting God enough to drift off into peaceful sleep instead of mulling over all the things you could have done differently that day or still need to do tomorrow?
PHEW. I know that was a lot…thanks for hanging with me through this 3-part series!
So, do you believe these things to be true—about God and about you? Do you believe living like you truly believed them would make a difference in your life? Because, believe it or not, what you fully, functionally believe will deeply impact your life—both here and on into eternity.
References:
Kapic, Kelly. You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That’s Good News, 2022.