Glad heart

I have always been the eternal optimist. My wife calls my state of mind, "Jonny World." You tell me that someone is going through financial distress and I think of it as their opportunity to learn. I hear about someone's cancer and I am thankful that we have opportunity to deal with hard issues before they die. You tell me the bread is burned and I remind you that "That is my favorite part."

I am a Youth Pastor by trade. This week has opened my eyes to deep personal struggles that many of "our" former students have faced as they left our ministry and went on to early adulthood. Their struggles have made my optimistic heart soar with joy.

What is my Jonny world spin on their struggles? It's two-fold. First, for those who will return to their faith with all their hearts at least some of their painful experiences that God will eventually use to turn them are behind them. Yes, they will have to deal with the shame, the regret and the awful pain of utter brokenness before a holy God. But they aren't going to get there the easy way. So let the hard times roll. In fact, the harder the times become the more they are feeling the REAL love of that holy God. If God loves them He will expose them to utter pain and brokenness that will lead them to repentance before it's too late. That's love!

Second, there are some students who continue to fight the fight and walk with Christ. I could tell you the stories of Pete or Paul or Zach or Scott. It's so natural for us all to walk away, why did God bestow His loving hand on these students in such a way that they have not wandered away from their faith? Why has He graciously tethered them to His Son? How good is that God?

My heart rejoices that God chastened me. Through the hard and choppy waters of doubt and selfishness (which I still wade into all too often) God has siezed even me.

I cannot make choices for someone else, and I am not God. So I will leave the cosmic things in His care and do what He asks of me. God, open my selfish eyes to see how I might proclaim you to the students we have today. Keep them in your care. Guard the steps of this year's graduates and next year's seniors. Have mercy and help them be utterly captured by Your beauty, Your goodness, Your peace!