What Do You Have to Show Me?

You show me peace amidst the still moment and the quiet breeze...

When you have finally made a decision, when everything makes sense.

And I ask you what peace looks like in the middle of the storm.

When you are still wrestling with the questions and don’t know how to find answers.

You show me your courage when you have nothing to fear, to risk, to lose...

When you are close to home and that which you know...

And I ask you what courage looks like when you are facing giants bigger than you have ever known. When your comfort zone is nowhere to be found and you are hanging on for dear life.

You show me how to love when it makes sense, when it is pretty and perfect, and makes you feel good. When you feel like you are in control and have the upper hand.

And I ask you what love looks like when it is confusing, difficult, and challenges everything you ever believed about yourself. When you find yourself being asked to love again when you have barely put the pieces of your heart back together from the last time it was broken, and you feel like you just don’t have anything left to give.

You show me your hope when you are basking in the warmth and light of the sun.

When things go your way and you feel like you are making a difference in the world.

And I ask you to show me hope in the middle of the tunnel, while feeling your way through the dark. When you are uncertain if you can take another step, or if it even matters if you get out of bed. 

You show me faith with an arrogant certainty, appeased by solid tradition, status quo and clean cut answers. You show me a faith that has too much to do with creeds and too little to do with transformation.

And I ask you to have a faith that is big enough to allow for questions, doubts and uncertainties. I ask you to show me a faith that speaks louder than words and follows Jesus to the margins of society.

You show me a grace that is not really needed because you (think you) already have it all together. You show me a grace that costs you nothing except your own effort to prove yourself worthy.

And I ask you what grace looks like when you stand naked and vulnerable in front of the world and ask them to accept you and love you for who you are. When your masks are removed and your mistakes and failures are all that you can see. Can you trust that grace is sufficient?

For my prayer for you is 

that you would know peace amidst the chaos- to know that God is still creating.

that you would be courageous- and not let fear have the last word.

that you would hope against hope, even when it doesn’t make sense.

that you would love until it hurts- and not let it stop you from loving again.

that you would let yourself wrestle ruthlessly with your doubts, so that whether you come out stronger or limping, at least you know you encountered God.

that you would know the grace that wrote you into the story without you asking and has opened up the pages to abundant life...