Get Out of the Box

In May I told you to get back up. Did you do it? If yes, now it’s time to get out of the box. 

I have spent most of my life trying hard to be a good girl. I followed rules, obeyed  authority without questions, and looked for ways to improve physically and relationally. Although I was walking with the Lord, my moments of peace were brief and far apart because I rarely felt that I was good enough.

I began to challenge my viewpoint as our sons grew and developed their own opinions. (Did you know that you can actually evaluate situations without blindly accepting them as facts?) Then...2020 came! Now I question everything and realize that there is a lot of corruption, manipulation, and deceit everywhere. I don’t want to scare you, but it appears that “the man” is not always looking out for our best interests. The education, political, legal, media, and medical systems are broken. Yes, they can do good things, but something has run afoul at the top. The common person enters these fields to educate and help children and hurting people. What is the motivation of those running the show though? 

I recently read articles about studies done to evaluate the differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated children. This includes all shots and not just to prevent Covid. The findings were startling with the high numbers of autism, ADD, digestive and nerve issues, etc.found in the vaccinated. I never questioned this with our children, but now I encourage parents to research before making decisions. One of the doctors investigated only his patients’ records. He did this to prove the benefit of vaccines and was shocked by the results. Within two days of publication, his medical license was taken. It doesn’t sit well in my spirit when medical professionals are punished for looking out for their patients and wanting to present all of the information. What is it that the higher ups want to hide? Unfortunately, I have discovered that corruption in America isn’t a new thing. This has been going on for decades, possibly centuries. 

You may be angry and say, “Who can I trust?”

I’m glad you asked. 

The answer is simple. You can trust your Creator.

Let’s get back to the disciples. When we last saw them, they were devastated that their fearless leader had been crucified. Judas had betrayed Jesus and committed suicide. What else could go wrong? All hope was gone and there was no choice but to mourn and hide in fear of the religious leaders. Just as the Israelites felt perplexed about why God rescued them from slavery in Egypt to wander in the wilderness, I believe the disciples were confused. Why did Jesus spend three years talking about His kingdom, victory, and freedom to all of the sudden be crucified and leave them with no direction? Even if Jesus had been very ill, His death would come as a great surprise. But, He was only 33 years old and healthy. They ate the last supper/first communion with Him shortly before His arrest. He was just with them, and now He’s gone! How is this possible?

 Before Jesus performed miracles, people were not seen again after death. But, Jesus doesn’t stay in the box like the rest of us. When the sabbath was over, the women went to anoint Jesus’ body. They were surprised to find that not only had the stone been rolled away, but His body was missing from the tomb.

According to Mark 16:9, “When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.” How would you have responded if you were there? In Mark 16:11, we learn that when the disciples “heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.” 

John tells us that Jesus appeared to His disciples behind locked doors on the first day of the week. He “showed them His hands and side…[and] the disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord…Jesus said, “‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you’” (John 20:19-21). If I was there, I would have needed a lot of time to process that He was resurrected and that His Father was sending me since I relied on Jesus for everything when He was in human form. John continues by writing that Jesus “breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven’” (John 20:23-24). Who is this Holy Spirit and how on Earth will I have the ability to forgive others’ sins when I am just a human? This is challenging my limited in the box thinking.

It appears that doubting Thomas may think similarly to me. He wasn’t with his friends that night and didn’t believe them. He said he would have to physically touch the wounds to believe. Of course Jesus understood this and gave His usual grace. In John 20:27-29, He “said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ 

Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’

Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”

Where do you fall in this story? Do you doubt Jesus was who He said He was because you have not physically touched His wounds? Are you still in the common sense box? Have you opened the box to see a partial view of what is outside of it? Or, have you taken the leap of faith based on how you have seen Him move in your life? 

During the last week of school, I was presented with two horrible accidents that left one of my student’s family and our son wondering if a loved one was going to perish. The enemy assaulted to destroy. But, our risen Savior said, “Not today!” Both of those people are doing well today. Hallelujah that Jesus is very much alive and well and still in the business of miracles!  He is a God we can trust. But…He doesn’t work in a box. He rose out of the tomb/box because He is God from the beginning and throughout all eternity. No one can close a lid on His infinite power.

I AM does what He wants, when He wants, and however He wants. The wonderful news is that He does it all with absolute wisdom, perfect timing, and for our benefit. 

In Ephesians 1:13-14, Paul tells us, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of salvation. When you believed, you were marked with him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit”. Have you heard the gospel and received it? If yes, let me remind you that the Spirit who raised Jesus out of the tomb is working in you. Paul continues to write that Holy Spirit “is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession-to the praise of His glory.” It seems like most people tend to believe that our heritage won’t exist until we get to Heaven. But, we can experience that inheritance right now. Are you enjoying it or staying in a closed box living according to the world’s standards and directions and left with empty feelings and little fresh air to breathe? Do you wait to open your Christmas gifts 15 years later, or do you use the products immediately? 

I’m tired of living under depression, guilt, shame, and exhaustion. Bring on the gifts that came with Jesus’ resurrection. In Galatians 5:22-23, we are told that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Amen! That’s what our Heavenly Father wants us to enjoy now. Are you thriving in these gifts?

Recently, our friends have had several deaths of loved ones. While they grieve through their loss, they also celebrate those who are with Jesus. But, those who shook their angry fist at God out of deep pain leave their loved ones wondering where they are. I am so thankful for the story of the thief on the cross who believed Jesus is God shortly before death. Jesus gave him the assurance that, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Life brings unexpected challenges. When you try to live out of the Earthly box, though, you discover our Lord’s peace, grace, mercy, and strength. Recently someone close to me unintentionally said something that broke my heart. I have forgiven this person, but it’s taking me a while to process. A few days later I was on an airplane looking out the window on my right. The seat was empty to my left. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw what appeared to be a small puff of smoke. I turned to my left and saw nothing. This happened again. I asked, “Who are you? An angel? Jesus?"

The response was, “Your Heavenly Father. You need a parent right now.”

Tears filled my eyes as I put my hand in the empty seat and pretended to hold His hand. Father told me that He loved me so much that He sent His Son to bring me to Him. This brought great comfort. I thanked Him for revealing the heart condition of the person who spoke a painful message to me a few days before. I AM has removed so many of my chains of oppression that began decades ago. I believe this is one of the last chains that I couldn’t put my finger on to give a label. Now that I can give it a name, I can allow Jesus to break it. Its control over my heart and mind is over. 

So much pain! So much freedom!

If you have read my books, you’ll know that it is only in the past year or so that I acknowledged keeping my Heavenly Father an arm’s distance away due to lack of trust. He’s been so patient and gracious, and now I feel free to talk to Him often.

Please do not wait until your death bed to decide that God is worth your attention. You can grab His hand now to climb out of the box and see what peace, healing, and amazing adventures He has prepared for you. You will not be disappointed.