Souls in Anguish

Vision is forged during the anguish of soul. Satisfaction and contentment are not found in attaining the vision, but birthing the vision. But birth is only the beginning. To carry a vision for a lifetime but too afraid to live it would a miserable soul make. Visions are ideals unto which we can aspire to live. Yet the hardest thing about leading with vision is living with the tension of one's reality. I can't remember which book I read that encouraged us to live with the tension between the vision and the actual reality of day to day life.

Isaiah 53:11, "Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied." My mother helped us memorize this entire chapter when we were kids. It is filled with the prophetic sufferings of Christ. The next chapter of Isaiah has been the chapter I've clung to this past year. Look at what we can do and what God's promises are:

• Fear not

• I will not be ashamed

• I will not be confounded

• I will not be disgraced

• God is my husband

• God is my Redeemer

• I've been called by Him

• God loves me forever

• God's covenant of peace shall never be removed

• All my children shall be taught by God and great will be their peace.

• I will refute every tongue that rises against me in judgment.

• God will vindicate me. This is my heritage.

What a great and mighty vision!

We get none of this kind of peace until after the death and suffering of Jesus mentioned in the previous chapter. Peace comes with a high price! But Jesus died so we could share it with Him! He promises us peace, not as the world talks about it because there will be lots of troubles, broken relationships, misunderstandings, pain, death and suffering in the world. We know we will all leave this earth at some point. It's a different kind of peace that we rest in, knowing God has all authority over us, loving us, caring for us, leading us, guiding us and will be all He says He is and do all that He says He will. This hope anchors our soul in peace and rest despite what is going on in the world today.

I was given the opportunity at a Christian Education committee meeting last night to read a new book, "Make My Church Safe," by Sam Rainer. Our group was invited to read it by our family pastor, Josiah Buhler, who mentioned that David Curtis, our previous pastor, had left them for us. Here's a beautiful picture of passing the torch, or vision for the church from one leader to another.

This morning I read, "Life with the Good Shepherd is comforting, not because he fulfills our desires, but because we find our purpose in fulfilling his desires." How does this ring true for you in your walk with God? Please feel free to comment below.

"The benefits of Psalm 23 do not happen without the sacrifice of Psalm 22," Sam Rainer writes. As I was reading Isaiah 53 and 54 this morning, I realized the same thing about God's peace and promises. They come after the sacrifice of Jesus.

Although I just started this book, I can already tell it's gonna be a good one because it's challenging us to be reminded of our dual calling as a church, "ensure safety and confront danger."

"Churches are not islands in the community, set up to isolate believers from the ills of society. The walls of the church are not a protective barrier to keep out community problems. Instead, the church is a vehicle engineered by God to send people into the neighborhood and the wider world to confront the darkness and rescue lost sheep."

We have souls in anguish all around us, what are we going to do about it? Let's create safe spaces in our churches, communities and homes where we can truly care for one another's souls! Be creative. Use whatever time, energy and talent God gives you to make the world a better place, just one soul at a time. We're not all going to be famous, rich or athletic. We don't all get a great singing voice or opportunities to create a following or land on a stage. But we all have neighbors. We have homes. We live in communities. Spread the love of God and the good news of peace in Jesus everywhere.

Here's an old picture from 10 or so more years ago of the original cardboard cutout of "Gingey," now turned "The Alaskan Gingerbread." Definitely a little cookie soul in anguish...we were traveling in B.C. Canada at the time. Who would of thought in all his running and narrow escapes, a book would be written about him one day....