Shadow Casting Monsters

God knew what he was doing when he created you.  He equipped you with everything you need to be an amazing presence in his world, to serve him with joy, and to find fulfillment in all that you do in his name.  And yet, far too often we don’t feel amazing.  Our passion goes stale, and our power dwindles away.  We lose our sense of purpose and doubt that we can make a difference in the world or bring pleasure to God.  Shadows blot out the brilliance of God’s plan for our lives and we lose heart.

If we don’t realize that shadows are darkening our lives, we may believe that the world is dim and gloomy.  But when we understand the shadows we can bring them into Christ’s presence to be dispelled, and they lose their control over us.  Which of these five “shadow-casting monsters” threaten to separate you from God’s good plan for you?  

1. INSECURITY: Humility is a Christian virtue, but this monster warps it into a cancerous disease.  It makes us question our worth and forget that there is anything valuable about us.  So we work like crazy to try to prove to ourselves that there is a spark of good in us, or we drift into a dark corner and hope that no one notices us.

 2. BATTLEGROUND: This monster wants us to think that the world is a dangerous, hostile place.  Everyone is out to get you, and you can’t trust even your closest companions.  Be prepared for everything to go wrong and for opposition at every turn.  We build such strong defenses that nothing can touch our heart, or we attack other people before they can get to us.

 3. FUNCTIONAL ATHEISM: If you’re reading a pastor's blog, you probably believe in God.  But this monster turns our belief in God into a theoretical concept that has nothing to do with our everyday life.  We assume that ultimate responsibility for everything rests with us.  We push ourselves relentlessly, to the point of exhaustion.  We pursue goals that we believe to be worthy, rather than taking time to discern where God is leading us.

 4. FEAR: This monster whispers to us that chaos is just around the corner.  All the good you’ve worked for is about to collapse.  Protect yourself while you have the chance.  Don’t use the resources that God has given you, because you may need them when the bad times come.

 5. DENIAL: We don’t like to say good-bye, and this last monster tells us that we don’t have to.  Everything will turn out fine if you just keep doing what you’ve always been doing.  There will be no decline, no loss, no death.  And above all, no painful choices.  

Which shadow-casting monster is haunting you?  Which monster is lurking in our church?  I invite you to bring this monster into the light of Jesus Christ, whose brilliance chases all shadows away and reveals our true nature as God’s beloved children.