I loved reading Winnie the Pooh storybooks to our children. But to be honest, I was never a huge fan of that mopey little grey donkey, Eeyore. Never did I imagine how the shadow of gloom and doom that characterized his little world would one day permeate my own life.
And yet it did. A number of months ago, I sensed my passion for Jesus, His Word, and His people beginning to wane. What had once been a roaring flame was being reduced to mere embers. Deeply concerned, I asked the Lord to show me if there were areas of hidden sin or unbelief in my life.
And He did. He exposed areas of pride, fear of man, unbelief, and a host of other sins that had been deeply rooted in my life. I wept over the depravity of my own heart. I grieved over the pain my sin has caused my Lord. I confessed, repented, and sought God’s forgiveness and the forgiveness of those I had offended. And yet a grey cloud of “Eeyor-ish” thinking still settled over my mind.
Though I knew well (at least in my head) the truth of God’s love for me and His merciful forgiveness toward His children, my life reflected little of the joy that flows from those incredible truths. Far too often the conversations in my mind centered more on condemnation, guilt, shame, and fear. The roaring accusations of the enemy threatened daily to undo me.
Then I came across these words on The Gospel Coalition Blog:
Brokenness without triumph is Eeyore-ish gloom that emphasizes the fall to the neglect of redemption; crucifixion to the neglect of resurrection. The gospel gives us the only resource to look our brokenness squarely in the face, downplaying nothing, overlaid with—not in competition with—unspeakable victory. Both together.
A light bulb came on. I had forgotten the gospel!
I had lost sight of God’s immeasurable love toward me (Ephesians 3:16-21). I had lost sight of the fact that every thought He has toward me is for good (Jer. 29:11). I had lost sight of the fact that my life has been redeemed, my sins have been forgiven, and I’ve been adopted as a daughter of the King of kings! (Eph. 1:3-8).
See, the gospel isn’t just for those who don’t know Christ as Lord and Savior. The gospel is essential for Christ-followers every day! Only through the gospel are we able to realize the depth of our sin and brokenness and yet leave the foot of the cross rejoicing because Jesus’ work of redemption is complete and we are gloriously forgiven!
Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Rejoice and exult with all your heart. The LORD has taken away His judgments against you; He has cleared away your enemies. The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will quiet you in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy (portions of Zephaniah 3:14-15, 17).
So what about you? Has eeyore-ish thinking filled your mind recently? Do you believe that these Gospel truths are true for YOU? If so, how can they impact your daily life?
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