Our small group recently finished The Search for Significance by Robert McGee. We took our time through it, which I appreciate. There is a quote from the last chapter that I’ve been thinking through the past couple of weeks:
“…situations trigger false beliefs. In those situations there are almost always individuals whom we blame for our emotions. We think, I feel this way because of Harry. We become upset with Harry both for what he did and for our own response.
The next time you become upset and blame someone for your response, think about your tube of toothpaste. This morning you squeezed your toothpaste tube, and out of it came toothpaste. The reason the toothpaste came out is because that is what is in the tube. Someone may have squeezed you once, and out of you may have come responses that were really ungodly, maybe even embarrassing. You blame another for your responses, but you have to understand that what came out of you is what was in you.
Often, God allows us to undergo troubling circumstances so that we can see what is inside of us.” (pg 146)
This is not what I want to hear.
When every detail in a situation is going badly, and the reaction from me is unkind, I want to blame the situation. Or the people involved in the situation. But I can’t. Unkindness came out because my heart is sinful.
The idea that God allows us to be in these situations so we can see what’s in us sounds…mean. But it is actually a great grace.
When we tootle along as if we’re basically good people, it is easy to think, I got this. We rely on ourselves, maintaining deep community doesn’t seem as crucial, and we give God a few cursory glances at best.
But when we’re allowed to see the depth of our sinfulness, our need for a Savior goes from something we needed once to save us eternally to Someone we need moment by moment every day. To save us from ourselves.
And we learn that He’s got this.
As long as we’re squeezed in this life, some sin will inevitably come out. Perfection lies in the future.
But as He makes us more like Him, the more we’re squeezed, the more His character in us will flow through.
And a thirsty world will enjoy a taste of those streams of Living Water.