What We Know to Be True AND…
Would you be surprised to learn the following things are true? Ants don’t have lungs. In a group of twenty-three people, there’s about a 50% chance two people will share the same birthday. Willow bark can be used as an alternative to aspirin. The national animal of Scotland is the unicorn. And Ernest Vincent Wright wrote a 50,000-word novel titled Gadsby which doesn’t use the letter e.
Truth
We seem to think truth should be easy to believe. Or at least, truth should be obvious! However, I’m sure you are aware, if you gather a random group of people together, they won’t be able to agree on “truth.”
Often, we find truth difficult because more than one thing can be true at the same time. For example, people see colors differently. My sweet Pastor husband and I don’t always agree on whether something is grey, green, or blue, depending on the shade we are examining. Let me give you another example. You can laugh and enjoy a moment of joy even while experiencing deep grief.
One truth doesn’t eliminate the other truth. Both exist at the same time, even if they seem contradictory.
The Word AND
In November of 2020, my mom passed away. In 2021, God led me to make the word AND my word of the year. I learned the power of the word AND as I processed through my grief. I experienced so much heartache while I also experienced so much tenderness and encouragement.
When we use the word AND we identify two things we know are true. I want ice cream AND I want to be thinner. I long to discover new ways to be generous with what God entrusts to me AND I love new clothes. I’m learning to love a new community with a new network of relationships AND I experience sadness and loneliness.
I find power in the use of AND because I remind myself, I am not limited to one truth. It’s beneficial for me to know I enjoy ice cream and that I would also like to be thinner. I can then choose to enjoy a smaller portion of ice cream or choose a sorbet over a custard. If I were to use the word “but,” I would struggle with wanting something I didn’t think I was allowed to have. Using the word “but” pits the two truths against each other, which creates unnecessary animosity and tension in my spirit.
AND Jesus gives Peace
Amid the turmoil, pain, and grief of our world, how can the power of AND help you? Scripture tells us Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:5-6). The word for peace in Isaiah is the word shalom which actually means to be whole or complete. Peace is more than the absence of conflict. We experience peace when we live within safe boundaries; when we enjoy relationships that are aligned; and when we flourish within our purpose. Jesus came to give us the life we were created to live when God created the world.
Regardless of the circumstances we live in, Jesus came to give us peace. In fact, Jesus said to his disciples, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33, CSB)
- We can experience deep grief AND know God will treat us with loving kindness (Psalms 86:15).
- We can feel alone AND know God is with us, beside us in our emotions (Isaiah 41:10).
- We can lose our job AND know God sees us and promises to be our provider (Psalm 33:18-22).
- We can be afraid AND know God as our strong tower (Psalm 18:1-2).
- We can fail AND know God reconciles and restores (1 Peter 5:6-10).
- We can long for a spouse or a child AND know God is our portion (Lamentations 3:22-24).
- We can endure sickness AND know God is our healer (Psalm 103:3).
- We can feel overwhelmed AND know God will help and comfort us (Psalm 23).
- We can be exhausted AND know God will renew our strength, and/or lead us beside still waters (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
AND the Truth of Who God Is
The power of AND lies in identifying a second, powerful truth. We must be honest with ourselves about what we are dealing with in life. We are not serving ourselves well if we stuff our feelings down or lie to ourselves about their significance. God blessed us with emotions, and they are a part of our human experience. However, we must also make sure we always remember the truth of who God is.
Sometimes we find the truth of who God is as difficult to believe as a novel that doesn’t use the letter e. We give our emotions and our struggles more weight than the power of God. We can only fully experience the power of AND when we fully comprehend the power of Almighty God.
AND God Transforms our Minds
We only begin to comprehend His power when we allow Him to transform our minds, when we choose to fill our minds with the truth of His Word. I mentioned several weeks ago in “How to Battle a Stronghold,” that we create neuropathways when we repeat the same things over and over to ourselves. We can create a pathway of Godly truth and power by repeating scripture.
AND God is Greater
I don’t know what you are currently facing. You may have entered March with a happy skip and a song on your lips. Or you could’ve stumbled into this month carrying the weight of difficult circumstances from February. All of us can use the power of AND. We must see our situation and emotions honestly, as well as view God in all His majesty and might.
We live life in a fallen world. AND God is always greater than anything we face. We live in the tension of knowing God’s ideal, while still battling the enemy. Remember Jesus’ words from John 16:33 “…Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” To God be all the glory.
Truth Photo by Michael Carruth on Unsplash
