In my counseling session this week, my therapist and I (Scott) were discussing navigating the complexities of raising children and their emotions and expectations, their hopes and fears, their dreams and worries. One aspect of this conversation that we devoted much time to was how to be an anchoring presence in their lives and our interactions with them, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. This led to reflection upon the role of Christ in my life.
When I think about Christianity and why I follow Christ and believe what I do, it has less to do with the plausibility of Christianity and its truth claims, all of which are important, but rather who it is that I follow and worship.
You can’t deny that we live in a tumultuous world, and that external tumult manifests itself internally in our own emotions and thought processes. One of the incredible things about having children is that in my experience, I see myself reflected in my children in their personalities, struggles, and victories. It really is a fascinating thing to behold. One of the challenges in parenting is pausing long enough to view the world through the eyes of your child. Throughout Jesus’s ministry and teaching, there is this idea that one must become like a child to inherit the kingdom of heaven. Childlike faith is a requisite for following Jesus. Not a naïve or blind faith, but an honest, simple, and seeking faith. Embedded in this notion of faith is trust. From a finite point of view, trust is a tricky thing. It is not easily earned, can be easily broken, and is difficult to be re-earned where it has been broken.
So where can we go with our hopes and fears, dreams and worries?
Who is trustworthy, especially when we are confronted with the brokenness that we see in the world, in the church, in our own lives?
One of the things that came up in the counseling session was the kids’ bedtime routines. I talked about how for years, Wesley has asked us to sing Silent Night to him. Years ago, at our church’s Christmas Eve service, we all joined our voices to sing Silent Night while lighting candles (there is that “a light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it” motif again). I was moved to tears. Although Rachael thought I was having an allergic reaction at the end of the song due to my red eyes, I was moved not just by the sentimentality of the Christmas season and being with my family, but by contemplating the incarnation. God clothing himself in humanity in the person of Jesus Christ. The baby in the manger who “upholds the universe by the word of his power,” (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man. God who entered our brokenness to make us whole and illuminate the darkness and show us the path of peace and true life. It does not mean the way is easy or straightforward or without conflict and opposition. Indeed, the path at some point will lead us through the deep and dark valley of the shadow of death, but we are not alone. The Good Shepherd who already traversed the deepest and darkest valley of all is present and faithful to journey with us through our own valleys and bring us into his light.
I believe that through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ, God has demonstrated his faithfulness and trustworthiness to all who are hurting, broken, skeptical etc. He remains steadfast, the Rock of his people, the anchor of our soul who alone provides the refuge and shelter that so many desperately seek. It is my prayer that I would reflect this reality in my children’s lives and in the lives of all whom I encounter in a way that helps people see the beauty of Christ, that they may know his anchoring presence in this world.
Here is the song Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor by Matt Boswell. We pray that it comforts, encourages and strengthens you today: