Can we be curious?

When life kicks us in the gut, when it seems God has shown up in order to disrupt our predictable lives, can we be curious instead of angry?

Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will.— James Stephens

When our first impulse is to be angry about something, if we can stop, take a breath, and take a minute to be curious, then maybe life's trails will begin to look a lot different.

I'm still learning this lesson. My first impulse is to be angry. I'm sick and tired of life going more wrong than right. I want a God that shows up at a moment's notice to solve all my problems. Instead, we worship a God that calls us to be faithful and to trust. Anger and trust are polar opposites. We cannot trust God while we sit in anger. Instead, if we can teach ourselves to be curious, we can learn to trust God. Ask: I wonder what God is up to in this? I wonder what God is calling me to right now?

If only Cain had been curious instead of angry. If he had approached God with a curious spirit, asking God what he was being called to in this moment, he may have learned why his offering was refused. He may have deepened his relationship with God instead of being exiled to Nod. 

​The next time your life is disrupted, be curious and find a deeper relationship blossom with God!

Sin often begins quietly. It may start with a harsh word, a selfish choice, a neglected prayer, or a heart that slowly drifts from God. At first, we may excuse it or ignore it. Yet over time, sin creates distance — not because God abandons us, but because we turn away from the life and peace God desires for us.
King David understood this deeply. After his great failure, he prayed in Psalm 51, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” David did not pretend he was innocent. He brought his brokenness honestly before God. That is the beginning of repentance.
Repentance is more than feeling guilty. It is turning around. It is choosing to leave behind the path that leads away from God and returning to the One whose mercy never fails. True repentance requires humility, honesty, and trust that God’s grace is greater than our sin.
The good news of the gospel is that God does not delight in condemnation. In Jesus Christ, we see a Savior who welcomes sinners, restores the broken, and offers forgiveness freely. No failure is too great, no heart too far gone, for the redeeming love of God.
Repentance is not a one-time event but a daily practice. Each day we are invited to examine our hearts, confess what separates us from God, and receive anew the mercy that is already waiting for us.
When we repent, we do not lose ourselves — we find ourselves again in the grace of God.
Prayer
Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed. Too often we follow our own way instead of yours. Forgive us, renew us, and turn our hearts back to you. Create in us clean hearts and lead us in the way of life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

According to the CDC, a little more than 36% of American adults don't get enough sleep. The national average is 36.8% while the average in Virginia is a little lower, 33-36%. Some of the main reasons that people are sleep deprived are: a sleep disorder like insomnia, or restless leg syndrome; age is a factor. People over 65 have a higher degree of sleep issues, usually due to medication or medical issues; and those suffering from depression, anxiety and stress issues.

Scripture has a lot to say about anxiety and stress. the Bible says "do not fear" or "do not be afraid" over 100 times. Jesus says in Matthew 11, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

As Christians, we are called to put our trust in God, and yet, we continue to wrestle with anxiety, stress, and sleep deprivation. It is all too easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we are alone, left to our own devices, and we have to solve everything on our own. After all, this is what the world teaches us. However, leaning a little more into the arms of Jesus, we find that we can find that peace, that shalom, that Jesus offers us. Spending more time in prayer, more time in God's Word and allowing the Spirit the time and space to move in our hearts and lives is the pathway to experiencing this "rest for your souls" that Jesus talks about. I'm not promising an overnight fix! God works on this own time. But, if we are willing to be patient, do the spiritual work required, being devoted to prayer and Scripture, then we find that God's solutions are so much better than what we could have ever come up with on our own. Trust God!