Devotional Thoughts: Week #2

Practicing Our Sustenance: Confession

Our Foundation

- We are accepted by God and each other.

- That acceptance is what sustains us.

- That sustenance allows us to find our significance.

- Our significance is what we do to celebrate our acceptance.

- In that joy, we may get to participate in some great achievements.


Introduction
For my first two years playing high school tennis, I had a secret that I didn't tell anyone. But I'll confess it to you now...

I don't smoke.

I've never smoked. But I didn't dare tell that to my high school team. You see, for whatever reason, the mid-1990s tennis players at my school liked to smoke cigarettes. Sometimes when we went for a run my freshmen year, seniors would sneak off the prescribed path to smoke. I just jogged on, a wide eyed 14 year old just trying to impress my coach by getting the lowest time.

So, I didn't partake, but I also never let them know that I didn't smoke. By my sophomore year, I was a varsity member myself. When ever the topic of smoking came up, I laughed, I nodded, I smiled. I felt very uncomfortable. I was so afraid to say what I thought. I was afraid of my teammates opinions.

My junior year, I was riding in a car from practice to a team event with one of the seniors. He handed me a cigarette. He flicked his lighter and held it out to me. My time for hiding was over.

"I don't smoke," I said. Then I held my breath, I waited for him to laugh at me. I waited for him to try to convince me that smoking was awesome. I waited for him to hand it back to me.

But he didn't. He said, "Dude," then took a deep breath, "that's awesome. I wish I'd never started actually." Then, when went on to have a long conversation about our regrets. Things that we wished we never would have done. I talked about breaking into a baseball teammates house (not to steal anything, don't get too excited.) He talked about a couple of his girlfriends. I talked about the way I had treated some of my friends. It was a good, brief conversation.

And it allowed me to finally relax around my teammates. We had been honest, and it was a good thing.

Sustenance
As followers of Jesus, accepted by God, we are sustained by joy.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

- Philippians 4:4-7

We are accepted, and that should be a catalyst into joy. Our situations may become dark, we may have difficult decisions to make, but our worth is secure in Christ.

Their are two things that really kill joy as far as I can tell.

1 - Comparison
Theodore Roosevelt once said that comparison is the thief of joy, and I believe that is so true. When I start focusing on who others are, and how I might stack up to them... that's a dark road. Comparison keeps me focused on the future or the past, either the things I have to do to be better than someone, or the things that I haven't done to be better than someone. Joy is found in receiving the gifts of right now. Of receiving our acceptance right now. Comparison is one killer.

2 - Hiding
As I introduced with my little story, the other killer is hiding. Hiding inside ourselves. Hiding the things we've done. Hiding from ourselves, not seeing the reality that is around us. Or hiding from God's love, telling ourselves the lie that we don't deserve it.

Often in tennis, we hide and compare. We compare ourselves to teammates and then we hide from them. We get scared that they think less of us, so we don't ask for help in places we need it. We pretend every thing is okay when others around us seem happy. We pretend every thing is bad when those around us are complaining.

But there is a simple cure to being sustained by joy - it's called speaking the truth.

Confession: The Key to Living in Joy

Confession is simply telling the truth. Yes, the truth about where we've failed. But also about how we feel, what we fear, and the things we are tempted to believe. Confession is simply admitting what is going on. It doesn't always have to be sad.

It means that when we are tempted to start comparing ourselves to others, we confess that we are God's sons, truly and wholly loved. Right now.

It means that when we are tempted to hide, we tell the truth about where we are struggling or why we are feeling good or what we truly think.

Confession is hard, because it requires trust. But when it comes to our relationship with God, we can have ultimate trust there. We can always come before God and tell the truth. I also hope that there is at least 1-2 other people that you can go to when you need to tell the truth. Having someone to "confess" to is key to living in joy.

As a team, we are starting with the foundation of acceptance. We are starting there, and then hoping to live in joy because we have the freedom to confess. To be us, to tell the truth about being loved by God and anything that is difficult for us. To tell the truth about being sorry when we mess up.

And let me confess, I've messed up this week. I challenged you guys to be up to the difficulties and the times when odds were against you. I asked you to relish them... and then I got angry and bitter about the rain and started to give up when it was a challenge. I have spoken too quickly in correction instead of encouragement. I have not gotten these devotional thoughts out until the end of the week. But another thing that is also true is that I am feeling a lot of joy because of how we played and sang and talked together as a team last night. So despite my shortcomings, you picked me up and I appreciate that!

Prayer
God, may we live in Your acceptance. May it sustain us with joy! Amen.