This statement could go a plethora of different ways, which is ironic because of how I would finish it…
“If missions teaches you one thing it’s…FLEXIBILITY.”
I would be curious to know if many of you reading this would have answered the same. Although, flexibility can often be an attribute or value that can sneak up on us until the moment of stress arrives. Something was forgotten, weather wasn’t properly prepared for, too many or too little people showed up, the list could go on and on and on!
All things the devil can use to exploit our minimal flexibility or lack thereof! When the devil is busiest we must have Scripture that comes to mind to verbally combat the confusion and worry that creeps in the cracks of these moments. Lucky for all of us, the verse I would point you to in a situation requiring flexibility (one the devil can so easily turn sour) is one of the most popular verses of all time:
Philippians 4:13!
Here’s the thing though, in order to understand how this verse applies to a moment like this, we have to know its true meaning (not what the world has shoehorned it into meaning). Unfortunately this is not some trigger phrase for a superhuman sleeper cell within each of us like so many believe it to be. Although, it is a verse of courage, endurance, and faithfulness. All components of being truly flexible, receptive to the movement of the Spirit.
Let’s take a quick look at verse 13 and its preceding verse:
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Through each of these situations, Paul has learned to be content (we might even say happily flexible). What that has required of him is proper reflection upon past events that went poorly and how he responded. What would the Lord have him do differently? How could he be more like Jesus in his response? These questions and more come together to inform his interaction with the next point of flexibility that life throws his way. As we can see, according to verse 13, he is ready to face it head on because of the strength that God so generously gives him.
So in a way, maybe we should consider it a trigger phrase for a superhuman version of ourselves to spring forth. Flexibility is learned through reflecting on past experience and intentionally preparing mentally and physically for what may go wrong (while having confidence that it will all really go right).
What’s so cool about cultivating a spirit of flexibility is that it reveals that even in moments that things do indeed fall apart, really it’s God taking the pieces of it from our hands and rearranging them as they should be.
Are we going to trust him and be aware of his divine hand at work, joining him in the fun?
Or are we going to remain rigid and worry about how much worse it can get according the plan that our finite mind originally hatched?
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Make sure to stay up to date with our blog, but also don’t miss out on hearing stories on our podcast, “The Ripple!”
Be in prayer for our Union team that will be heading back out to the Navajo nation this coming May as we prepare them to lead and share the love of Christ with the amazing people out there.
See y’all back here soon!