how low will YOU go? ...

since i last wrote, i’ve had all these little snippets of revelation that seem very simple separately but, at the risk of sounding cliche, have the distinct possibility of rocking my world if i take the time to put them together.

so i’m taking the time.

i recently talked about us being created in God’s image and how, by distorting our image of self, satan can distort our image of God. the following week, this concept was taken to the next level. our reading in ‘discipleship journey’ included this quote from c.s. lewis:

“to fully enjoy is to glorify. in commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him.”

i made the notation that ‘the best way to honor someone is to fully appreciate and enjoy every aspect of them.’ funny looking back now because the following sunday’s sermon was about honoring God and others. more on that later.

that night at discipleship class, everyone was sharing about what God had been doing and how He had been revealing Himself. a friend shared that she really related to God’s ability to go low.
this is something we had talked about before, but it hit me with new, and intense clarity. lately, i have really been struggling to not let my old companion depression get the best of me in terms of feeling like a crappy friend and human being ... but not doing a very good job of it. i won’t go into all those details yet.

what struck me that night was how if going low is part of God’s image, and appreciating - even enjoying - EVERY aspect of God brings Him glory and honor, then i need to be okay about going low with Him. not only does God meet us at our lowest points - our deepest, darkest hours of need. He takes us there. it is there that He can reveal and invite us to enjoy a part of His character that we would never get to know otherwise. not allowing yourself to experience your brokenness, disappointment, sadness, etc. is not allowing yourself to enjoy every aspect of God, and the fullness of His image in and through you. not doing so is not glorifying God, and that is disobedience. wow.

so with that reminder came the invitation to go low with God. i came face-to-face with my disappointment, and it broke me. good thing the passionate commitment of the Lord Almighty guarantees HOPE! (isaiah 9:7b). because of that i can trust Him not only to take me there, but also to take me through. the God who has literally been to hell and back will not let you get that far gone, and will certainly not leave you there.

the first step is letting yourself go low, and then being willing to stay there as long as necessary. there is beauty on the other side of brokenness, but the question is ...

how low will you go?