Triggers

The other day my daughter and her two friends lured me out of the house and into the garage to soak me with their water guns.  Throughout all their attempts to get me out of the house, deep down I knew that they were up to something, and was not surprised once I was in an open space that they pulled the trigger and succeeded in their goal-to soak me.  We all had a good laugh and it made the day of at least three 13 yrs. old girls.


The pulling of the trigger is an image that I believe helps us in dealing with what goes on within our hearts.  Jesus says: Do you not see that zwhatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled?1 18 But awhat comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come bevil thoughts, cmurder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, dslander. 20 eThese are what defile a person. But fto eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” (Matt. 15:17-20 ESV) Basically, Jesus is saying this: "What we are believing in our hearts about God and ourselves will affect then how we live among others when faced with the many challenges in our lives."


So what does this have to do with "pulling the trigger"?  Take my example from my blog, "Transitions are hard."  This current transition has revealed again the over desire to feel wanted by others.  One of my triggers is when I receive the rejection email from the church.  What will I do with that rejection?  Will I let if affect me to the point of taking it out on my family by withdrawing from them or speaking to them in an unloving way.  How my "mouth" that Jesus talked about in the above verse plays itself out depends upon if I pull the trigger.  The trigger is stationary, it doesn't do anything until one pulls it. I didn't get soaked until the girls pulled the trigger. The trigger could be a disappointing conversation with a spouse,  your son or daughter not respecting you, being passed over for a promotion at work, a colleague confronts you on a mistake, not getting the A on the test you diligently studied for, a woman you really like rejects your offer for a date,  getting a parking or speeding ticket, receiving an unexpected tax bill---you get my drift.  The normal and not so normal stuff of life often are triggers.  


What we do with these triggers (if we pull them or not) often shows us what our hearts believe about God and ourselves.  What are your triggers?  What do the triggers show you about your heart (what is important to you, what brings you most life-Jesus or feeling wanted, respected, and valued by others, for example)?  And when you pull the trigger where do the bullets shoot (anger towards your family or God, harsh and flippant words, porn, depression and withdrawal, critical and judgmental towards others, jealously or envy towards others, resentment and lack of forgiveness, lack of trust towards others and God, ignoring the needs of and disregard for others, gossip and tearing down of others, etc.).  Pulling the trigger often affects those around us!  (Much like how the girls pulling the trigger of their water guns affected me:))


I leave these words with you from Jesus as you and I honestly seek Him in working through the triggers of life.  His Grace abounds and gives all the resources we need to live life!

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; [26] yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. [27] All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.  [28] Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25-30 ESV)

Transitions are HARD!

Most of us have experienced transitions. Some transitions can be fun and exciting but also hard and challenging. I guess in transitions one can experience fun, exciting, hard and challenging at the same time. My family is again experiencing another transition. It was self-imposed but nonetheless it is still hard. What I continue to learn about myself is this: It is so easy for me to get my identity (my life, my contentment) in "wanting to feel wanted". After sending my resume to churches, I anxiously await if they will decide if I have "what it takes" to be their pastor. Some respond promptly while others take forever, some say "no" rather quickly while others seek more information or an interview. I know that I wrestle with "wanting to be wanted" when I become discouraged, confused, frustrated, humiliated, sad, or even angry when these churches respond no. On the positive side, when a church begins to pursue me I become encouraged, happy, and excited. Of course, these are all "natural" responses during this time, but it is interesting to see how quickly my thoughts about myself and about God can change depending if I receive "good" or "bad" news. As I wait my next pastoral call, I serve as a biblical counselor. When a couple or individual share their struggle with me, I often ask them "Where is God as they work through their struggle?" "What do they believe about God?" "What do they believe about themselves?" "What do they believe about how God's view them and how does that help them engage their struggle?" So I need to ask those same questions to myself. This is what I know and desire to believe: God wants me. The cross of Christ shows me that God wants me. In fact, Jesus went to great lengths to demonstrate His desire to be in a relationship with me. As I reflect more and more on this gracious truth, it does give me hope as I experience the "no's" and "yes's" of my transition. How about you? Are you facing transition? How are you handling it? What do you need to believe about the gospel in the midst of your struggle so that you find your ultimate identity in Jesus Christ and not in your highs and lows of the transition? I leave you and me with this encouragement from the Apostle Paul for those who are facing transitions: What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39)