"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." -- Matt. 11:28-30
Rip current. One minute you're happily swimming along, and the next you realize you're no longer in control and you can't seem to get to the shoreline, no matter what you do. You can put forth a lot of effort and fight, but no matter what you do, you won't be able to correct things. All you'll accomplish is making yourself completely drained. The best thing you can do, in this scenario, is to let go and float. The current will push you back in.
This is the way it is with grace. Sometimes we try to force it. We recognize a promise God has given us, and when we don't see instant fruit, we panic. We begin to swim toward shore as hard and fast as we can, but it only makes us tired. Our efforts are counterproductive. Why? All of our efforts are not going to bring about God's promise of grace any earlier than His appointed time. When we exert so much energy, even when we are so sure we're doing the right thing, the end result is always exhaustion. Being tired accomplishes nothing.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace...
When I think of rhythm, I think of dancing. And lately, I've been hooked on watching "Dancing with the Stars." I find myself mesmerized each week by the moves, the costuming, the music, the sparkly sequins…
So I decided to look at this whole baffling concept of unforced rhythms of grace in the context of ballroom dancing…in the hopes I'd come to understand it better.
• Only one person can lead. If both try to lead, the result is a hot mess as you each try to lead the other in opposite directions.
• If the wrong person leads, the dance won't flow properly. And don't "steal" the lead; let your strong partner lead you.
• Finding and following the flow and rhythm of the music covers a multitude of wrong steps.
• Find someone who knows more than you do and follow them.
• Don't worry about getting it perfect. As time goes by, and you work at it, you'll get better.
What does this teach me about the unforced rhythms of grace? Obviously, only one person can lead, and that person is Jesus. When I lead…well, hot mess.
I have always been blessed to have people in my life that I can look up to spiritually; people I can learn from and grow with. I try to make sure I hang around these people and follow the Christ-like example I see in them.
Staying connected with God allows me to flow with His rhythm, so even if I'm not always following His lead, I don't get far before I realize He's changing the steps around.
And last, I find that, like with a rip current, if I just let go and allow God to gently lead, despite any mistakes I may make, I get better at this whole grace thing over time.
I suppose learning the unforced rhythms of grace is, in an overly-simplified way of looking at it, to let go and let God. Stop fighting the current. Stop stealing the lead. Just let go…and let Him guide.
