Be Held

Next week, we are beginning a “Questions” series for our Monday night Bible study at the RTC. I like to do this occasionally, and I ask the kids to write down any faith questions that they may have that they would like for us to discuss. It’s always an interesting time, and we don’t always leave with concrete answers, but we at least have some great discussion, and hopefully end knowing more than when we started.

The picture above is of the questions that were turned in this week. I know that it’s hard to read all of them, but there were questions of God’s age and Jesus’ race, questions about evolution and homosexuality, questions about heaven, and questions about why God allowed certain things to happen. These are all pretty typical of the questions that are usually asked. And then, there in right corner of the picture, on a post-it note that had been crumpled up, was the one that got me. “How do I get myself together?”

Oh, friend—if I only had an answer for that one. This is a question that I think we all feel so deeply, regardless of our age, our status, and any diagnoses that we may have. We know that the kids and clients we see every day are struggling to get it together. That’s why they are with us. They are working on learning coping skills, on processing past traumas, on gaining healthy techniques they can employ to get them through the next hour, or day, or week. However, in the midst of whatever your role is at MFH (and they all help with this in some way), there is also the realization that NONE of us really “have ourselves together.”

We try. We are good at our jobs, we are good with our friends and family, and we want to appear like everything is perfect, and we have it all under control, and that we aren’t ever rattled, or worried, or ashamed, or insecure, or unsure. But, the fact is, deep down, even if it never bubbles to the surface where it’s visible, none of us are 100% “together.” And the best thing we can ever hear, the absolute most freeing news, is that it’s okay.

It’s okay to not have everything perfect. It’s okay that we make mistakes, it’s okay that we feel fear, it’s okay that we are unsure. And, the reason that all of this is okay, is that we are not the ones in control of keeping ourselves together. Praise God, that’s one of the things that He knew was a job that was a bit too big for us. There are so many different Scriptures and promises that remind us of this, but one of my favorites is Isaiah 41:10:

So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

You know that song “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands?”--- it’s from this verse. And He does. He has us in His hands. God is holding us, giving us the strength, and help, and courage we need. When we don’t have strength, He does. When we don’t have courage, He does. When we just feel like we need to stop, and breathe, and be held—God is there, with us, holding us through the problems.

How do we get ourselves together? We don’t. We give ourselves to God, and let Him put us back together, using His love and grace and mercy every step of the way.