Sometimes I'm Up and Sometimes I'm Down
Posted by Ray Norris on 24 March, 2010
Category General
The title of this blog is taken from an old spiritual by Marion W. Easterling. It's a song of trouble and of redemption. The writer must have read James 1:2-4, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." We have a hard time accepting the trials of life and an even harder time receiving them with "pure joy." What kind of person would consider it pure joy when their world is crumbling around them? What kind of individual would consider it pure joy, when they have just received bad news from a doctor, or are going through a divorce, or when a loved one dies? That's not what most of us consider to be "pure joy."
I don't believe James meant to indicate that we should rejoice over the trials of life as the world sees rejoicing. He is talking more about a spiritual rejoicing because we know that God is in control when we are not....especially when we are out of control. Do you remember how the Bible starts? God created order out of chaos. God called order into being, but remember before order there was a great void. Genesis 1:1 says, "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep...." Isn't that pretty much what it feels like when our lives are spinning out of control, when our world is crumbling and chaotic? Our lives are formless, empty and dark. But Genesis 3 continues by saying, "God said, "Let there be light," and there was light." "Sometimes I'm Down," and it is dark, empty and formless. But "Sometimes I'm Up," and there is light and hope and peace.
We don't wake up in the morning and say, "Oh thank you God for all this trouble in my life."
But Christian maturity helps us to understand that we can wake up in the morning and say, "God thank you for being in control even during these dark times." We can wake up and say, "God I cannot handle this pain in my life, but I rejoice because I know you not only can, but you are in charge." Job displays our model of Christian maturity when he said, "The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
I am one who does not believe in accidents. Things happen for a reason and I don't have to understand that reason, only that God has NEVER been out of control. If God can take a formless, empty and dark world and make it into something as marvelous as we have God is certainly capable of making sense out of our broken, shattered lives and dreams. Plus all the fullness of God is with you always.
I have a dear friend who was recently devastated by a former church they had belonged to. This person experienced a divorce and the church they had belonged to told my friend that my friend was now outside of God's grace and the ministry of the church. This can be a horrific experience for anyone who has relied upon the ministry of a church and counted on their support. While this particular church committed an atrocity and was hugely out of line, God was an ever present help during this time of trouble. God encouraged my friends heart and brought other Christian friends to surround them with love and grace. This person will emerge stronger than ever before. How do I know that? Because in James 1 it goes on to say, "the testing of your faith develops perseverance," and "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
What is it that is dragging you down? Remember, God is at work in your life. Relinquish your will to God's. And, in the words of Easterling's song, "Nobody knows the trouble I see, Nobody knows but Jesus; Oh, nobody knows the trouble I see, Glory Hallelujah!" Glory Hallelujah indeed. God will surround you with peace, love and joy. If you need prayers, if you need to talk, if you need a listening ear remember St. Mark's is here for you also.
God Bless Each of You,
Pastor Ray
I don't believe James meant to indicate that we should rejoice over the trials of life as the world sees rejoicing. He is talking more about a spiritual rejoicing because we know that God is in control when we are not....especially when we are out of control. Do you remember how the Bible starts? God created order out of chaos. God called order into being, but remember before order there was a great void. Genesis 1:1 says, "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep...." Isn't that pretty much what it feels like when our lives are spinning out of control, when our world is crumbling and chaotic? Our lives are formless, empty and dark. But Genesis 3 continues by saying, "God said, "Let there be light," and there was light." "Sometimes I'm Down," and it is dark, empty and formless. But "Sometimes I'm Up," and there is light and hope and peace.
We don't wake up in the morning and say, "Oh thank you God for all this trouble in my life."
But Christian maturity helps us to understand that we can wake up in the morning and say, "God thank you for being in control even during these dark times." We can wake up and say, "God I cannot handle this pain in my life, but I rejoice because I know you not only can, but you are in charge." Job displays our model of Christian maturity when he said, "The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
I am one who does not believe in accidents. Things happen for a reason and I don't have to understand that reason, only that God has NEVER been out of control. If God can take a formless, empty and dark world and make it into something as marvelous as we have God is certainly capable of making sense out of our broken, shattered lives and dreams. Plus all the fullness of God is with you always.
I have a dear friend who was recently devastated by a former church they had belonged to. This person experienced a divorce and the church they had belonged to told my friend that my friend was now outside of God's grace and the ministry of the church. This can be a horrific experience for anyone who has relied upon the ministry of a church and counted on their support. While this particular church committed an atrocity and was hugely out of line, God was an ever present help during this time of trouble. God encouraged my friends heart and brought other Christian friends to surround them with love and grace. This person will emerge stronger than ever before. How do I know that? Because in James 1 it goes on to say, "the testing of your faith develops perseverance," and "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
What is it that is dragging you down? Remember, God is at work in your life. Relinquish your will to God's. And, in the words of Easterling's song, "Nobody knows the trouble I see, Nobody knows but Jesus; Oh, nobody knows the trouble I see, Glory Hallelujah!" Glory Hallelujah indeed. God will surround you with peace, love and joy. If you need prayers, if you need to talk, if you need a listening ear remember St. Mark's is here for you also.
God Bless Each of You,
Pastor Ray