There’s something about stories that draws us in like nothing else. From Netflix and Hulu, to Instagram and Snapchat, all of these outlets are tools for storytelling. Personally, there is no series of movies I love more than The Lord of the Rings. I’ve been rewatching them recently with my Dad and brother, and they still awake the kid inside of me and create an overwhelming desire to live an adventure.
In his book, Epic, John Eldredge argues that our love for stories is not a coincidence, as the way we experience life is through story. He goes on to say that each of us embraces certain stories in order to make sense of the world, and the stories we accept have a significant impact on the way we see ourselves and others.
There is a narrative (a story) that our culture forces upon us, and tells us to enter every day. It’s promoted through our shows, our music, our politicians. Often, it’s even spread through our churches. This story revolves around three primary themes: Fear, hustle, and survival. Over the next couple of weeks, I want to look together at the story that culture pushes us to swallow, versus the story Jesus is inviting us into.
HUSTLE v DWELL
Work harder, achieve more, get richer, at all costs. In a podcast I heard recently, Dr. Vivek Murthy argues that our culture bows before three gods: power, reputation, and wealth. He says that these are what culture tells us to base our self-worth on, and I think he’s right. From grade school where we are categorized as “gifted” (or not) based on our grades, to business culture that adores those who amass great wealth (ignoring any other measure of success), the story we are told is: You are what you produce. So you better hustle . . . or you’re nothing.
Throughout history, portions of the church have also embraced this story, preaching that people have to earn the love of God through grit, devotion, money, and more.
I have lived entire seasons of my life in this story. Driven by a desire to achieve at all costs, measuring my worth based on my grades, what others thought of me, or whether or not I could land a job at my dream company, I’ve lost total balance in my life at the expense of my health and relationships. I bought into the story that I am what I produce; that I need to figure things out on my own. What about you?
Into this cultural moment steps in Jesus, offering us a counternarrative (a different story) through the words of Psalm 91.
1 “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” (NIV)
In a culture that coerces us to hustle, Jesus invites us to dwell in His shelter.
Jesus tells a story of a God whose love is big enough to dwell in, rest in, abide in. He invites us to turn from trying to figure everything out on our own, or trying to save ourselves, to trusting that in Him we will be ok. It’s a shift of focus, turning our eyes from what we must do to survive, to the One who has promised to be our shelter even in the most difficult of times.
Matthew 6 NLT
31“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
I think through these words, Jesus is telling us today, “Just be with Me, walk with Me, dwell in Me, and You’ll be ok. Trust Me; I will provide for you.”
HOW?
Merriam-Webster defines the word “dwell” as, “to live as a resident,” and to “exist.”
Staying informed is amazing, but what if on one morning this week you tried to “exist,” or “live as a resident” in God’s presence? Try this:
Stay off your phone (IG, the news, etc) for 30 minutes after you wake up. Instead, read Psalm 91, asking God three questions:
What are You saying to me today?
How does this intersect with my life?
What’s the invitation (what step are You inviting me to take)?