Life seems to be filled with it—with circumstances and situations that stretch us and our understanding of who God is—and often, as we approach the end of the year and head into the holiday season, these tensions can overwhelm us. We are not alone in this struggle, and even those who played pivotal parts in the Christmas story lived with tension—people like Zechariah and Elizabeth, who though they remained faithful to God, must have wrestled with His apparent silence as their prayers for a child went unanswered not just for days, but decades.
I've recently been reading and re-reading the book of Habakkuk. It's a book filled with angst and questions. Questions like, how does a holy, just God whose eyes are too pure to look on evil, who cannot tolerate wrong, require His people to look at injustice? Why does He allow destruction and violence? Why does He make us wait?
In spite of all these big questions and tensions the writer has to sit with, the book ends with a declaration of hope, and Habakkuk deciding that "yet will he rejoice in the Lord and be joyful in God his Saviour" (3:18). This conclusion to the dialogue between God and Habakkuk recorded for us in this little book, has had me thinking about how we too can learn to sit with tensions—with circumstances that seem to contradict or even violate what we believe to be true about God—and not be undone by them.
The answer, I believe is understanding and accepting the holiness of God. Holiness is the absolute perfection of God. It is the attribute that defines every other aspect of His nature. His love is holy love; His justice is holy justice; His discipline is holy discipline—even His anger is a holy anger. To believe God is holy is to agree that He can do no wrong; that all He is and all He does is perfect.
Habakkuk called God "My God, my Holy One" (1:12). Notions of God's holiness are not intended to be abstract or theoretical, but deeply personal. Worshipping God as holy, leads us deeper into His presence and opens our eyes to see His activity in even the darkest of places and times. As Habakkuk lent on this foundational truth of God's perfection and therefore trustworthiness, God allowed him to see that He was not inactive—He had a plan and was working through the destruction to bring deliverance.
When Zechariah and Elizabeth held John in their arms, they had this same understanding. Whatever tensions you are holding as the year comes to a close, may I encourage you with this truth: God has not forgotten you. He is not inactive. He is present with you and working behind the scenes to bring deliverance and redemption—not only for you, but for all His people. So though the vision seems to tarry, don't be discouraged. His plans will be fulfilled at just the proper time—the time made holy in His wisdom.
May you know Him sitting with you in the tensions that you are presently wrestling with and may His presence bring you hope this Christmas.
With love,
Aimée
XOXO
P.S. I still have a small quantity of the Advent study, 'Capturing the Wonder' available. Purchase your copy here.
Sacred Chaos: Spiritual Disciplines for the Life You Have, by Tricia McCary Rhodes has been one of the most-reached-for books on my shelf this year. In a relatable style, Tricia helps us to recognise the sacred moments present in our everyday doings, offering up ideas for spiritual practices and disciplines that can be woven into the daily fabric of our lives to help us connect more deeply with God. Each chapter closes with a practical 'make the chaos sacred' challenge and I've used the book as part of my quiet time, slowly reading and implementing a chapter at a time.
I am currently loving the Journeywomen podcast. Each week, Hunter Beless chats with different mentors about gracefully navigating the seasons and challenges we face on our journeys to glorify God. I appreciate the depth of the topics they tackle and always walk away encouraged and inspired to keep learning and growing. At the moment, they're looking at the fruit of the Spirit and this episode with Joni Eareckson Tada about the goodness of God is well worth listening to!
Set yourself up for success—be realistic about when is best for you to be in the Word and make it easier for yourself to do so by being prepared in advance. Now this might seem like a somewhat basic tip to offer up, but learning to do this has been key to the effectiveness of my own time in the Word.
Start by assessing your current season and when is the optimum time for you to be in the Word each day—is it first thing in the morning? While the kids are napping in the afternoon? During your lunch break? Or is it at the close of the day before your head hits the pillow? Just because a particular time has worked for you in the past doesn't mean it is working now. Give yourself permission to experiment!
Once you have determined your ‘when,’ you may want to think about ‘where’ you will spend your time in the Word and what you need to have ready to help maximize this time. I keep a quiet time basket. In it I keep my Bible, an assortment of notebooks and journals and any other resources I am currently using, as well as pens and colouring pencils—because honestly, if I have to go on a hunt for a pen, I will end up distracted by any number of things! The beauty of having this basket is that I can take it anywhere in the house and know that I have what I need to not only keep focused but also to enjoy my time with God. Keeping a range of resources on hand gives me flexibility and allows me to weave Spirit-led spontaneity into my rhythms and routines in the Word.
Breath Prayer is the practice of taking a short phrase, typically only 6-12 syllables long and repeating it throughout the day as you inhale and exhale. I've found this practice particularly fruitful to use during busy seasons and times of overwhelm—its simplicity enables me to connect with the heart of God and refocuses my ears on His voice. Whether you verbalise it or say it aloud, the idea is to refocus your heart and mind on God and invite His presence into your day.
One of the earliest known breath prayers widely used in the Church is the 'Jesus Prayer', “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” It was used like this: Breathe in "Jesus Christ, Son of God..." Breathe out "Have mercy on me a sinner." Craft your own breath prayer by choosing a short Scripture or a line from a beloved hymn or worship song—during Advent you may like to adopt a simple phrase like 'O come let us adore Him'—and then allow the steady rhythm of your breathing to invite His peace into your day as you make these words your prayer.
13th-26th January | Joyful Life Community Bible Study | The Good Shepherd | Order your Study Guide here. If you have ordered a Study Guide with your retreat package and would like it earlier to participate in the Community Study, email me to arrange shipping.
Saturday 25th April | Day Retreat | The Table is Prepared | Register here. This will likely be the last retreat I host myself as I am looking to do more collaborative events moving forward, so don't miss out! I am also available to run my retreats for Churches and Women's groups, contact me for more details.
