Focus on the Should’s that Give Life

Yesterday was Palm Sunday…and what a different way to celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry. It should have been celebrated with lots of brothers and sisters in Christ. It should have been celebrated with children walking down the center aisle of the church waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna!” And this should have had the most church gatherings in the calendar year as many gathers for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday services. It should have…but it’s not.

And this so grieves me. This loss of fellowship…this loss of connecting together…this loss of celebrating as a faith family…this loss of remembering as a body the work of Christ. My heart is saddened and it is ok – and really healthy – to admit that.

Yet, I do not want to stay there. I do not want to stay in the “shoulds” of life that are draining and totally out of my control.

I should be married by now.

I should have children by now.

I should have grandchildren by now.

I should weigh 150 pounds by now (ok, I might have a bit more control over this one. )

If I am going to spend anytime in the should of life, I want to focus on the ones that are life giving and in my control.

I should be dead if not for the grace of God.

I should be an emotional basket case if not for the transforming power of the Word of God.

I should be lonesome if not for the amazing love of those around me.

I should be in debt if not for the teaching of wise people.

I should be creating content for future blogs.

I should be reaching out to those who are shut-in.

I should be praying for my lost friends.

I should be trusting more.

There it is!! The last one…trusting more in the sovereignty and assurance of God. Romans 8:24-28 says, “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”

And what is that purpose…to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29).

So today, grieve what is lost and what this pandemic is doing to our lives but also turn quickly to the “shoulds” that give life and that you can do something about.