The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

The title of the 1960’s western reminds me a bit of life. The infamous movie carries themes that speak to the greed and ugliness that resides in humanity, as well as the good that is in us, too. Like in the movie, even the good in us has its flaws.

It should be said that life is so much more than just good. At times, it’s absolutely glorious! This makes the bad and the ugly all the more shocking to our souls when it happens upon us. Sometimes the bad and the ugly have to do with our own behavior, sometimes it has to do with others, and sometimes it’s just the reality of living in a fallen world.

How are you processing the good (and glorious!), the bad, and the ugly of your life currently? We’re all experiencing one of or all of them simultaneously.

I’ve been known to say about my current life that it is the best of times and the worst of times. I can imagine that you can relate then, too, to how I feel. Sometimes the most glorious things are balanced by the ugliest of things.

Right about the time I found myself needing to process this reality better, I remembered the new book by my writer friend, Jennifer Dukes Lee. Jennifer knows how to intertwine the good, glorious, bad, and ugly stories of life with God’s truths. So when my family went on our much-needed beach vacation, I grabbed the copy of her newest book, It’s All Under Control, that she’d sent me and focused on it for an entire week. I’m so glad that I did! I needed a mental, spiritual, and physical re-set and that is exactly what I got.

I must say that, aside from the book, the rest, salty air, walks in the waves at sunrise and sunset, and vitamin D-filled rays did a fabulous work of their own! This relished re-set wouldn’t have been lasting, though, without God applying the balm of His truth and Word to my wounds, cares, and even joys.

Over the course of this month, I want to share the main truths that the Lord impressed upon my heart as I read this book and experienced this much-needed re-set. I also want to give my readers a chance to get the book for free! I’ll be giving one book to one subscriber who leaves a comment about surrendering to the Lord in all of life. I’ll have a random drawing at the end of October. So will you join me as I share some thoughts from myself and Jennifer on surrendering to the Lord and acknowledging that He’s got this all under control?

The first and most important thing I received from this book, is the concept that we need to recognize the defining influence and love in our lives. That is, essentially remembering our true identity. WHO are you? Even more importantly: WHOSE are you?

Even though I write on this quite often, I needed the reminder from outside of myself from Jennifer:

“I like that about us – that our hearts drive us toward making the world a lovelier place. But our hard work shouldn’t come from the desire to prove our love. Instead, when we are at our best, our work ought to be a response to the love we’ve already been given by God.

In other words, our work can’t be the source of our identity. Our work should be an extension of our truest identity: in Christ.”

I’m not so sure I work hard out of a desire to prove anything to others or me. It’s quite possible! But right now, the main control conflict in me stems from a desire to make sure everything works out “correctly” according to my hopes, dreams, and plans.

No matter our reasons for our toil, worry, obsessing, or indulgences, a great question that she has us ask ourselves is this:

“Do I work this hard because it flows from Christ’s power within me? Or do I work this hard because I don’t know who I really am if I don’t keep pushing?”

Too often, I’m pushing forward in my own strength in life. This inward stance of forgetting WHOSE I am and what HE is able to do produces unneeded stress.

Sometimes life requires pushing forward through obstacles, stress, dangers, and fears. I’m convinced, though, that the experience of pushing forward looks and feels so much different when we pause first and remember who we are in Christ.

I need to stop and ask myself, “Does my identity have to do with what I’m doing or what He’s doing?”

Jennifer makes a helpful point:

“The Gospel of John reveals the disciple’s great love for the Master.

But-get this-John doesn’t describe himself primarily as someone who loves Jesus. Instead, he identifies himself primarily as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved.’

….

Jesus was the defining relationship in John’s life; therefore, John described himself as a person loved by the Savior. We will always surrender our lives to the defining loves and influences in our lives.

What’s first place in our lives? Whatever places first controls us most.

Because John saw Jesus as the first-place force of love in his life, John would have been willing to surrender control to him.”

There were so many other gems of truth in chapter 3 of Jennifer’s book. This main truth, though, helped me to regroup and to consider whether or not I was pausing as I was pushing through some of the good and bad in life. Am I pausing to recognize God’s love and care for me? That I am one who is loved by the Savior? Or am I only working away as one who is loving the Savior? There’s a difference between the two.

Am I pausing to recognize what I know about the One who loves me? Have I surrendered the outcome to His sovereign provision and care? Or, is it all on me?

These are the initial questions that led me toward a more healthy outlook for the present and future.

Whether we’re enjoying the best of life or pushing through the toughest in life, recognizing who’s ultimately over all of that, blesses us with peace and even joy in the midst of it all.

Are you experiencing the good, the bad, or the ugly? What helps you process that with the Lord? Please leave me a comment. I would love to pray for you!

You can get the book, It’s All Under Control, right here!

Learn more about Jennifer Dukes Lee here…

Linking up this week with these awesome bloggers!