It is always fun for me to sit on the pew side whenever my wife speaks. I get to hear the same scenarios and situations that we both face, and I get to hear the perspective and what God is doing through those moments to my wife as He also works in me. What an amazing privilege to know and see that God works on both of us – love you Karyne.
Life can be hard. And life is fast. There are things that we plan and there are things that just come up. You can’t plan for sickness, you can’t plan for repairs, you can’t plan for outbursts. Life throws out new victories and new challenges everyday – life gives us the opportunity for patient endurance – to choose how we respond or react every single day.
Reactions are instant, instinctive, usually on impulse, without consideration for the end result. Reactions are often driven by the unconscious mind and influenced by our past experiences or fears.
Responses are thoughtful and deliberate. It involves consideration of the situation, considers the long-term consequences and is a conscious decision.
Both Karyne and I, by instinct tend to react more than we respond. We are doers and problem solvers – we see problems, so we fix them! We see wrong, so we move to make it right! But reactions can often get us in trouble. And our reactions are often from the flesh and not from the spirit.
Life can be hard. Whether it is challenges with parenting, workplace, marriage, and even self-love, challenges are not avoidable, but whether we react or respond has everything to do with the power of the Holy Spirit. Our capacity to respond vs. react to a situation is determined by our connection to the vine. In moments of stress our natural reactions are to hide, fear, become anxious, doubt, be greedy, panic – all things that cause us to worry. Yet through the grace of God, by the power of His Holy Spirit, and the gift of hearing Him – we slowly learn to respond with the fruit of the spirit: respond with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
Jesus never reacted, He always responded. The Scripture says that Jesus only did what He saw His Father doing. He only responded to the scenarios, situations, and challenges around Him. In Jesus’ responses, He always brought about conviction, healing, and the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. We need to be like Jesus.
Responses are thoughtful and deliberate. It involves consideration of the situation, considers the long-term consequences and is a conscious decision.
With the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, let us be a family who doesn’t react. Instead, let us be a family who responds, listening to the voice of God in every situation and obeying that guidance every single day, no matter the scenario, situation, and challenge around us. Amen.