Mama Bear and a Guy Named Job

When we follow the Holy Spirit, we are always looking for the creative third space. 

I heard a woman say this on podcast a while back, and she was speaking my language. She spoke of current context, polarizing issues, picking a side, either/or. But we, who follow the Spirit—we live in a different space altogether. 

If you know me at all, it shouldn’t be a surprise to hear me say, I do not have political allegiance. No actually—I don’t. I might in fact be the least political person you know. This is not to say I live beneath a rock, oblivious to things going on in the world. I do try to keep up with current events—albeit in a rather unconventional fashion. My primary source of information is my inbox. Specifically, a couple of email newsletters. 

This allows me to enter into most social conversations with sufficient awareness about what’s going on in our current moment. At the same time I hardly ever feel like I’m consumed by information overload, and my headspace is not crowded with the clambering voices of competing opinions. Or worse yet, the triggering tongues of fear.

The primary reason I do not give my loyalty to politics, is I’m convinced my allegiance belongs to another kingdom. That of course being the Kingdom of Jesus—or what He calls the Kingdom of Heaven. And for me this allegiance is so consuming, I do not have room in my heart to add another. 

There are other reasons, too, which I’ll explain in a minute. But first, let me share a personal story. 

I’m sure you’re aware that my home state has recently been getting a lot of attention. Minnesota is once again hot in the presses. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about you’re even less of a newsy than me!) 

Last weekend my husband and I were on our way into the city to attend a basketball game, when we received a phone-call from our youngest son. He was asking us to send a picture of his citizenship paperwork. For context, Jimmy is a dual-citizen of Colombia (where he was born) as well as the United States (where he was adopted.) So on this particular night our son was calling, not only for documentation, but also to tell us he was pretty scared. And with reason. You see, Jimmy works as a construction manager for a remodeling company in the Minneapolis metro and surrounding suburbs. And last summer he had an unfortunate encounter. A nosey neighbor of a homeowner client called the cops on Jimmy, giving this as explanation—“He just looks creepy.” 

Enter Mama Bear…

Jimmy & Sidney and Baby "T" (due 3.3.26)

The truth is, as much as I’m quite inclined to side with my son, I realize the “nosey neighbor” was also a victim of our unfortunate cultural moment. Both Jimmy and the less-than-discerning woman are living in a world that’s feeding FEAR. That woman was probably listening to voices telling her she needs to fear certain people. And Jimmy, too, is listening to scary stories that hit a tad too close to home. 

And THIS is another reason I cannot fathom giving my loyalty to political ideology—

Because every single one of us has limited perspective, and we are vulnerable to deception, and there is just a whole lot that we don’t know. 

We don’t really know. 

Enter the story of Job. 

A book of the Bible that’s admittedly never been my favorite. And yet, inspired by a group of neighbors and a Bible reading plan, it became my primary text for devotional reading at the start of the new year. And it’s been wonderfully timely. I’m not sure if it’s the cultural moment, or simply the Spirit’s teaching, but the story has been exactly what I’ve needed. For perspective. And humility. 

Long story short, the book is a very lengthy discourse between a suffering man and his opinionated friends. Each man in the story (five in total) is devoted to God and knows a great deal about Him. These are righteous men who seek genuine wisdom. And they have MUCH to say… thirty-seven long-winded chapters of the most verbose human wisdom recorded in the pages of Scripture. And then, finally, in chapter thirty-eight, God shows up. And when God speaks, every listener—Job, his buddies, and all of us hearers and readers over the course of history—are stunned to silence. 

Then Job answered the Lord:

I am so insignificant. How can I answer you?

I place my hand over my mouth.

I have spoken once, and I will not reply;

twice, but now I can add nothing.

Job 40:3-5

Speechless. Opinion-less. Pride-less. 

Humble. 

Because

We. Do. Not. Know. 

We don’t know. 

Right? I mean, sure, we know some things. Like Job and his friends. Most of what they said was true in part. It was holy in part. It was good in part. But in light of God’s wisdom. His perspective. His sovereign goodness. Human wisdom is just miniscule. 

tiny 

We are teeny tiny knowers in a world that was birthed from God’s vast mind. 

But that’s not all of it. Because as God’s story unfolds, He gives us something utterly unexpected. 

You see, in addition to reading Job, I’ve been memorizing Colossians. A wonderful contrast, reminding me that one of the reasons Jesus came and lived among us…inviting us into His heaven-on-earth kingdom…is so we could 

Know

Him

Here’s the passage I’ve been memorizing this week: 

For I (Paul) want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person. I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ. In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable. (Colossians 2:1-4 CSB)

God does not mean for us to be ignorant, or stupid. He means for us to know a Person—and in that knowing comes ALL the riches of complete understanding. Jesus is God’s mystery, and in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. God wants to share Christ’s great bounty with us humans. And He does NOT want us to be deceived! 

Here’s what I imagine. God has given us minds that are meant to consume HIM. In a world that clambers for our attention and allegiance, we can respond with what my pastor calls “Defiant Peace.” We can be calm, quiet, uninterrupted, undistracted, and non-anxious recipients of all Jesus has to offer. We can hear His voice. We can receive His wisdom. We can uncover mysteries. Not by knowing a few good things, but by knowing a WHOLE PERSON. 

So. To Jimmy, and to a nosey stranger, and to you dear readers, I offer this blessing straight from the lips of Jesus: 

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful. (John 14:27) 

Amen and amen.