A Realistic View of Sanctification
As Christians, we often idealize what it means to grow and transform in our faith. We imagine a life where problems fall away, and we shine with an unwavering sense of purpose. But the reality is that life can be difficult, and struggles are a normal part of the Christian journey.
The Psalms, which portray the lives of people who struggled with faith and hope, give us a more realistic view of what sanctification looks like. They show us that even in the midst of hard struggles, we can still have faith and hope. In fact, it’s in these struggles that we often discover our greatest need for God.
The Beatitudes: A Different Kind of Strength
Jesus’ Beatitudes offer a unique perspective on what it means to be strong and blessed. The first four Beatitudes highlight the importance of needing help, grieving the wrongs of the world, submitting to God’s will, and hungering for justice. These aren’t the typical markers of strength we might expect, but they demonstrate a different kind of strength that comes from acknowledging our weaknesses and limitations.
The second half of the Beatitudes reveals that growth and transformation can happen in quiet, unspectacular ways. Becoming more generous-hearted, living with simplicity, seeking to solve conflicts, and persevering through difficulties – these are all examples of the kind of strength that comes from trusting in God’s power and provision.
Sanctification in the Midst of Struggle
So what does sanctification look like when we’re going through a hard patch in life? It’s not always easy to see, but it’s often in these moments that we’re being shaped and transformed in profound ways. It’s in the midst of struggle that we discover our greatest need for God and learn to trust in His goodness and provision.
A New Perspective on Growth
When we combine a realistic view of sanctification with a deeper understanding of the Beatitudes, we begin to see growth and transformation in a new light. We realize that it’s not always about achieving some idealized state of perfection but about learning to trust in God’s power and provision, even in the midst of struggle.
In the end, sanctification is not about attaining some kind of spiritual status or achieving a certain level of holiness. It’s about learning to live with humility, simplicity, and a deep trust in God’s goodness and provision. When we adopt this perspective, we can find peace and contentment, even in the midst of life’s greatest challenges.
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