Surviving Calamity Fatigue

Numbers 7; Psalms 42–43; Song of Songs 5; Hebrews 5

Some have said that life is not like this –––––––––––––––– but more like this: /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\. It seems to me that even the ups and downs are irregular and unpredictable. 

For example, today’s newspaper had this headline: “Let us guard against calamity fatigue.” It is about a city north of us that is experiencing severe flooding on top of coronavirus and a wildfire four years ago that destroyed homes and businesses. What next? Who knows? Stress levels are high.

Life is like that. People usually react to those valleys with ‘why’ questions and are despondent and struggle. Where is God and what is He doing? Even those whose relationship with Him is long and deep have those dark days when all seems hopeless, people like the psalmist who likened himself like a deer panting for water.

I can imagine it. The deer is quivering with thirst and perhaps fear. Certainly, the psalmist is too. He is cast down, in turmoil, feeling forgotten and mocked by those who taunt him. But even in that valley he calls for light and truth. He knows that this season of hunger, fear and uncertainty will not last. His prayer ends with these words:

Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Psalm 43:3–5)

I’m not in a flood, nor have any of my friends succumbed to the virus. No fires, no enemy attacks, but I feel the struggles of those I read about in the news. For them, life is a nightmare and my empathy and sense of weakness in disasters is nothing compared to their calamity fatigue. It motivates me to pray, not necessarily that God will fix it but that He will use it for good, bringing people to call out to Him, like that deer seeking a drink. Even like Jesus did as He suffered a great thirst for His Father who had seemingly forsaken Him.

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, (Hebrews 5:7–9)

God the Son had to learn obedience? As the Son of man, He was like us, helpless in the ups and downs of life, certainly weaker than anyone could be weak as He hung on the cross and suffered for our sin. In that human body and human nature, the most extreme trial was this test. He could have escaped but He stayed there — for our sake.

I think of the people in the floods and in quarantine, those hooked to a ventilator and dying. Could it be for the same purpose not to save the world but that in this world of sorrows we experience the deepest valleys so we might learn obedience through what we suffer?

APPLY: I will not become a Savior of the world when and if I learn to trust God in those deep valleys. I will never be the source of eternal salvation because of anything I’ve done in obedience to God. The best I can hope for is that God will be glorified and that others will be drawn to Him. Lord Jesus, help me be like You in the peaks and valleys of life included those today, and to do the best that I can to honor You.

Self-effort vs. God’s ‘rest’

Numbers 6; Psalms 40–41; Song of Songs 4; Hebrews 4

God instructs me in dreams. Not verses and chapters, but usually to show me the issues in my life with greater clarity. I’ve been trying to purge the not-used, not-needed stuff out of my home, yet most of it seems like hangers in an empty closet — it multiplies in the dark — like rabbits and ants!

Last night the dream was two rooms, one with a bed and the other with stacks of furniture. I was trying to make room for all the furniture but the bed was in the middle and that room already had tables and desks around the perimeter. I woke up and my mind could not stop trying to sort it out. By the time I was fully awake, this dream had overwhelmed me.

God talks about Christians entering His rest. I know this means ceasing from my own labors to be a godly person and by faith trusting Him for salvation. However, the salvation message is not just a one-time incident. Colossians 2:6 says, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

This means my Christian life is also one of trusting Jesus to save and keep me in this life, just as I trusted Him for eternal life. Obviously, that involves realizing my works will not do it and humbly admitting that I cannot save myself. In fact, I cannot do anything with success apart from trusting Him and walking in the Spirit. The flesh (my sinful self) cannot profit in any way. Jesus also said, “Apart from me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

All this is subtle. The dream tells me that in a subconscious manner I am trying to simplify my life and enter that rest that God talks about. To ease the clutter means to remove the burdens, but I’m certainly not at rest in the process.

Hebrews 3-4 says that the OT people of God did not enter God’s promised rest because of unbelief and disobedience. They trusted their own rationale (“there are giants in the promised land, too big for us”) instead of trusting God to do what He said He would do and wound up wandering in the wilderness for a long time.

Last night was a wilderness experience. I know that because the Word of God has separated my fleshy efforts from the work of the Holy Spirit. I can see this from reading this!

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:11–13)

“Strive” should read “eager” because it does not mean ‘try harder’ or put effort in. It simply means to want the rest that God is talking about, a rest of obedience and walking with Him AND He uses His Word to expose what is flesh and what is spirit. The people in the wilderness may not have defined their sin this way, but they knew what God told them to do and decided God didn’t know what He was talking about. Yikes. I know it too and feel exposed — by a crazy dream too.

The answer to all this comes a few verses later. It tells me that Jesus knows what it is like to live in a human body and battle the temptation to humanly solve issues, but He didn’t give in to that . . .

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14–16)

APPLY: When I am tempted to do anything without first drawing near for the grace needed, I must recognize and confess the flesh trying to overrule the Spirit. I’m to walk in Him, trusting and obeying Him. Otherwise, the flesh profits nothing and the efforts to do whatever I want to do are in vain.

Trying harder does not work . . . !

Numbers 5; Psalm 39; Song of Songs 3; Hebrews 3

A child became angry and hurt another person. He was mortified at his actions and made a vow to never again lose his temper. In adulthood, he is always level-headed, never seems to get angry, but also cannot express joy. Shutting off negative emotions has its benefits but also this terrible side-effect; positive emotions are turned off too.

This is not psychological gobbledygook. It is expressed in the Psalms by David, a man of God.

I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.” I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse. My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: (Psalm 39:1–3)

David wanted to be silent. He resolved to not sin with his mouth, particularly around wicked people. However, this was not the self-discipline that comes from the Holy Spirit. It was human resolve and it didn’t work. He eventually had to speak.

I’m thinking about bad habits. How common is it to determine to eat less and then find ourselves always hungry and looking for a snack? How often have I decided not to do something and wound up doing it even more? Or decided to start a new behavior, like a certain type of exercise, but in only a few days forgot all about it?

I’ve read books. One recent title was “Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science (A Guide for Sinners, Quitters, and Procrastinators)” Even with this grand title, it was mostly about trying harder and fit David’s example; it didn’t give helpful advice or go beyond whatever I’ve tried and found wanting.

David’s next words in this psalm hint at the beginning of what does work regarding self-control . . .

“O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah (Psalm 39:4–5)

Human resolve is based on a human “I can do this” notion, an idea that fits with my biggest problem — sin. The Bible is clear that sin is “turning to my own way” (Isaiah 53:6) even if that way seems like a good thing. It does not work. In fact, “the way that seems right” can lead to death. (Proverbs 16:25) Instead of my way, God’s way is to remember that He is my Savior from sin. I cannot save myself — even by making a deep resolve and effort to do so, even for things like eating habits because this is “my own way” not His way.

As a new Christian, God struck me with the importance of one verse to the process of spiritual growth and overcoming sin. At first it seemed like an accidental discovery, even a coincidence. I know better now. The verse is:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

He does it. I only need to own up to the sin and that I cannot fix myself. My life is fleeting, nothing before God, a mere breath, yet He is my Lord and my Savior. He grants the power of His Holy Spirit to give me the kind of self-control that works, that sustains. It isn’t by resolution, trying harder, focusing better, gritting my teeth and being determined, or a deeper resolve. It is by admitting that I am weak, willful and unable. It is by looking at my self-effort and realizing that it too is sin because I am ignoring God and trying to do my own thing.

This does not negate obedience, but obedience is also a thing of the Spirit, motivated and enabled by Him. Why? So the Lord gets the glory and I cannot boast, so I cannot pridefully say or even think “look what I did” and elevate myself in my own eyes or in the eyes of others.

APPLY: Two habits come to mind. Small things in the minds of some but enslaving in my estimation and totally resistant to self-effort. I am such a slow learner. Thank You Lord for giving me this reminder to go Your way instead of continuing to frustrate myself with trying harder.