We’ve been here before.
October 9, 2025 | PastorChixsta
We’ve been through deeply hard things.
You, me and countless followers of Christ, we’ve been here before.
Regardless of its familiarity though, never in my lifetime did I imagine leading a community in the divisive and often cruel political environment in which we find ourselves today. But, here I am and here we are, and, sadly enough, we have all been here before. Any world history book recounts those details, including the oppressive regime under which Jesus and his early followers lived.
Unfortunately though while we’ve been here before, familiarity isn’t really much comfort. Our times leave me speechless and demoralized more often than not. And, I long deeply for clear answers that can nullify the current challenges.
But? I don’t have any Pro-Tips or Life Hacks for us. I sure wish I did.
Sometimes… actually … a lot of time, I wish that I professed a faith that had clear, go-to answers. But, I am pretty sure that if my faith had easy, straightforward answers to the incredibly complex and contextual challenges of life today:
I’d be a lot richer.
I’d have a phenomenally larger social media presence.
My faith simply wouldn’t reflect the life of Jesus and the early church.
The reality is that the more I pastor, the less clear I am about the faith practice of following Jesus; the more questions I have; and the more I wrestle internally before providing any answers.
Reassuring, right?
But, in the same breath, I will say also that the more I pastor, the more clarity I have that our God is big enough for all of my and your lack of clarity as well as our doubts, challenges, sorrow, struggles, worry, anger and frustration.
And, in that same breath, I will say also that the more I pastor the more I experience that when I follow the way of Jesus >> I mean really follow the way of Jesus >> the more peace I have in times such as these.
It isn’t a peace that will solve all of the problems.
It is a peace that gets me to another day and helps me feel not so dang alone along the way. Sometimes, I think that was exactly Jesus’ point.
Get me to another day and help me not feel so alone along the way.
Jesus didn’t give us strict rules and religious laws to follow. In fact, he spent much of his time teaching how religious laws can result in the exact opposite of what God desires. Jesus taught us to follow and share the ever-expanding and evolving expanse of God’s love and grace. And, when we focus on God and doing the sharing, no one and no thing can strip us of that exact love and grace that God showers upon us.
That brings a kind of peace that can fill us head to toe (if we allow it).
Enough peace to fill us for another day.
As we continue in these difficult and confusing times, I am going to suggest that we focus on God and do the work of “desir[ing] first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness,” (Matthew 6: 33a) in three specific ways.
1. EXPERIENCE JOY
No matter what is happening all around us – and it’s a lot if you are paying attention (and I get it if you aren’t too – there is time for both), God wants us to experience JOY. Recently, in his weekly newsletter Into the Gray, the Rev. Benjamin Cremer wrote a beautiful piece, “Caring in a Cruel World” that I highly recommend. Reflecting on joy, he shared:
“However you find it, humor and joy can unmask the absurdity of oppression and arrogance of our time. Joy is not escape, it brings depth, it brings healing, and it is resistance. So laugh with friends. Celebrate life. Double down on joy, because joy restores strength (Nehemiah 8:10).”
~ Rev. Benjamin Cremerhttps://benjamin-cremer.kit.com/posts/caring-in-a-cruel-world
2. SHOW UP IN COMMUNITY
Show up with your people (family, friends, faith community, and/or peers). Find joy together and rest. Comfort one another and heal. Laugh out loud at the water station or on the soccer field or gym. Sing loudly in the car or at a communal worship service. Cry aloud or march in the streets.
Readers, dinner church attendees, friends, family, Long Beach church, yoga practitioners, hockey parents, orchestra boosters, all of you – you are my community; my tribe. My deepest hope is that we are and can continue to be each others’ community now and in the days ahead. Now more than ever.
3. LET GO OF GUILT AND SHAME.
Photo by Beyzaa Yurtkuran on Pexels.com
While we experience JOY,
While we seek and find COMMUNITY,
… we must also work to let go of any guilt or shame that may get piled onto it.
God needs you and I to experience JOY whenever we can – especially now – so that we can help the world when we are ready and needed.
We must not let the power of guilt and shame strip away what God needs us to do.
— Our joy gives us the capacity to be healing agents; to do what is needed when times get tough.
— Our Joy gives us the strength to put the one foot in front of the other when that is all we got.
God needs you and I to spend weekends in nature together … to be community … to laugh out loud >> do silly things >> love one another >> experience JOY whenever we can and however we can.
So church, as I reflect on the teachings of Jesus and in my struggles as a faith leader today, here is how I am seeking to remain sensitive and caring and even painfully aware … in these times:
Experience JOY.
Show up in COMMUNITY.
Let go of guilt and shame.
I trust that this how we work together to “desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness,” and what Jesus taught us in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter six.
May it be our way.
