Authentic Christianity, in my world of faith and life, is more like: surviving a hurricane of emotions. Finding joy in the mundane – like having the squished cupcake that my son refused to eat cause ‘of the look’. It’s about peace in the chaos – like maintaining composure when your teenage daughter “borrows” your new mascara and then ‘loses’ it.
And grace? It’s finding a smile when your husband grunts instead of talks, and you’re pretty sure he forgets your name at least once a week. Kindness? That’s the endless stream of snacks and laundry I provide. Goodness? Well, I’m working on it. Faithfulness? Absolutely, to my sanity. Gentleness? Ha! Self-control? Let’s just say I’m a work in progress.
They say Christianity is about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) Having faith and trusting in God paves the way to peace and goodness. Yeah, well, try telling that to my moody man-child and my brood of hormonal teenagers.
I’ve come to believe that authentic Christianity is actually about mastering the art of selective hearing, developing a saintly level of patience (which, ironically, the Bible says is a fruit of the Spirit), and cultivating a deep, abiding love for caffeine. All while having faith and trusting in God.
It’s knowing the Bible backwards and forwards (kinda), yet still messing up royally in my faith and life. It’s finding God in the pandemonium of carpools, non-stop dirty dishes, and never-ending laundry. It’s realizing that true faith is about stumbling forward, one messy day at a time, muttering prayers under your breath, and making note of Romans 5:1-10 every day.
‘Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also boast in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.’
Romans 5: 1-5 (NIV Bible) {1}
My faith and life take away:
- Justification by faith: We are made right with God through believing in Jesus Christ.
- Peace with God: As a result of justification, we have a reconciled relationship with God.
- Grace: God’s unmerited favor and love are freely given to us.
- Hope: Believers have a confident expectation of God’s future glory.
- Suffering: Christians experience suffering, but it produces perseverance, character, as well as hope in faith and life.
- God’s love: God’s love is poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
Divine disruption
My life is a reality show but instead of a camera crew following me around, I’ve got Jumanji and Judge Judy unfolding in my own home. Trust me, the ratings would be through the roof if this was prime-time TV.
I’m a Christian wife and mother of two challenging teenagers, which means I’m supposed to be calm, collected, also radiating a saintly aura. However, let’s just say the screenwriters have a wicked sense of humor and the divine disruption is real.
My reality show of faith and life
My days are magnificent masterpieces of blending colors of anarchy, caffeine, and dubious parenting choices. I’ve deduced that I’ve unlocked a secret level of Jumanji that involves advanced negotiation skills, the skill to decipher cryptic teenagers, and a Wonder Woman tolerance for grunts and sighs. It’s like being a hostage negotiator, a linguist, and a therapist, all squished into one.
Then there’s my husband, he’s wonderful, except when he’s not. I’m pretty sure he’s got a direct link to the planet Mercury, his mood swings are faster than a toddler’s temper tantrum. It is a regular game of “will he or won’t he” explode, and let me tell you, the suspense is killing me.
I often wonder if God has a running bet with Satan like HE did Job, about how long I can maintain my faith amidst this chaos. Sometimes, I’m convinced Satan is winning but then I heed the verse about counting it all joy when I face trials.
Yes, the road of faith and life is ridiculously tough like when the trying season just doesn’t seem to end or the knocks just keep on knocking. Here’s the thing though, through all the madness, there are always moments of grace.
Little glimpses of God’s light, peeking through the storm. I’m talking about divine disruption. You know, that subtle (or not so subtle) nudge from God (or whatever higher power you subscribe to) that jolts you out of your comfy little shell and screams, “Hey, there’s more to life!” Like when my teenagers surprise me with a heartfelt thank you, or when my grumpy hubby shows a tender side, these flashes remind me that even during the drama and crazy, God is with me.
These disruptions force me to step out of my comfort zone in my faith and life so that I can rely on HIM. I’m reminded that my hope is in HIM and my strength comes from HIM.Faith isn’t about having all the answers or living a perfect life. It’s trusting God amid the mess, and finding strength in His promises.
Wrapping up: My faith and life
So, embrace the chaos, find the humor in the little things, and trust that there’s a bigger picture being crafted.(If all else fails, there’s always coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.)And who knows? Maybe one day, my life story will inspire a reality show or even a self-help book called “Surviving Your Family: A Christian’s Guide to Domestic Chaos.”
Charlie
Charlene is a published author/writer who has embarked on a personal journey, with the hope of providing guidance, support and advice to all who may need it.