The Gospel: Our Security Blanket?
security blanket n. 1. anything that an adult person uses to reduce their anxiety. 2. a blanket (or toy) that a child carries around in order to reduce anxiety. The term was originally coined by Peanuts comic strip creator, Charles Schulz, whose character, Linus van Pelt, was rarely seen without one.
Christian: Dear Lord ... I'm sorry I haven't been praying to you very much lately. I've just been feeling weighed down by all these worries. I'm worried about money and whether we have enough. I'm worried that so-and-so at work doesn't like me. I'm worried that the people at church are just pretending to like me so as to not hurt my feelings. I'm worried I'm not a good enough wife. I'm worried that my cooking tastes bad—well, I can only cook the same six meals over and over again and it does get pretty boring. I'm worried about that comment Auntie Mary made the other day (ÜYou've gained weight! You look good!Ý) I'm worried I'm not doing enough. Do you think I'm doing enough? I know your work is important, Lord, and that I'm supposed to make the most of every opportunity—am I pleasing you in the way I live my life? I'm always doing things at the last minute—I'm afraid I won't get things done on time. Like getting The Page out before Monday morning. Like writing articles that aren't boring. What if my work is so boring that no one wants to read beyond the second paragraph?
And what if my readers are only humouring me if they actually do get to the third paragraph? Does that make me a bad writer? Am I making the most of your gift of words or am I just spewing out superfluous babble? Just like the pagans. Maybe my writing is just a waste of Amazon rainforest and it would be better to take up the dictum of Proverbs 17:27: “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge.” [silence for about 30 seconds] Lord, why did you make me the way I am? I feel insecure about everything. Like Fear is my coach and Confidence has packed up and gone on holidays.
God: Will what is moulded say to its moulder, ÜWhy have you made me like this?Ý Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Who determined its measurements? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from me. The king's heart is a stream of water in my hand; I turn it wherever I will. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from me. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. For I am the Lord.
Dear child, I have blessed you in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. I chose you before the creation of the world, that you should be holy and blameless before me. In love, I predestined you for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of my will. In him, you have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of your trespasses—and all this according to the riches of my grace which I lavished upon you. I have made known to you the mystery of my will—my purpose which I set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time: to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him, you have obtained an inheritance. When you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, you believed in him and were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of your inheritance until you acquire possession of it.
Who shall bring any charge against you? It is I who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus, who died and was raised and who is at my right hand, is indeed interceding for you. Who shall separate you from my love? Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things you are more than conquerors. For neither death nor life, nor angels no rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate you from my love.
Karen Beilharz [karen@ecuwollongong.org]
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