Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“And I do not ask on behalf of these only, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word, that they all may be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, that they also may be in us, in order that the world may believe that you sent me. And the glory that you have given to me, I have given to them, in order that they may be one, just as we are one—I in them, and you in me, in order that they may be completed in one, so that the world may know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me.”

John 17:20-23

In music, a dyad is a set of pitch classes. In sociology, it is two people in an ongoing relationship who are then referred to by that relationship as a single entity. In chemistry, it is any element, radical, or atom combining the power of two. In mathematics, it is a tensor of order two and rank one. In Star Wars, it’s the relationship between Rey and Kylo Ren. It is any set of two elements that are treated as one. It is what a marriage between a man and a woman was meant to be (Genesis 2:24), and it models our relationship with Adonai (John 10:30; 1 Corinthians 8:6).

In a marriage, it is not one person leading and the other following. It is more like corporate leadership. One person has the responsibility to be the final say – the one whose head is on the chopping block, you could say – but the whole leadership team work together to get to the decision that the top dog announces and stands by. There is an authority structure for the purposes of responsibility and culpability, but it isn’t a dictatorship. It isn’t meant to be a domineering structure. It is a TEAM. A dyad of equals, operating as a single unit, toward a common goal. Within it there are different skill sets, different responsibilities, different talents, and different tasks. Some are singular and some are communal. Together they made up a whole thing. A strong thing. And when those two entwined strands are joined with Adonai, it is almost impossible to break them apart (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

“So when the disciples heard this, they were extremely amazed, saying, “Then who can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With human beings this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”” (Matthew 19:25-26). Being materially prosperous was considered such a godly virtue – being evidence of the BLESSING – that the disciples were flabbergasted when Jesus said it was hard for those who were focused on material things to be saved. They questioned whether ANYONE could really be saved if that was the case. Jesus told them that on their own, they couldn’t be. But WITH ADONAI all things were possible. That right there is the major struggle we all have. The material world is all around us. It is EASY to be focused on it. To take up work, hobbies, family, spouse, friends, and the routines of life and have them be the end-all, be-all of what we do. It is easy to lose hours, days, and weeks to what – on an eternal scale – is nonsense. Yet these are the tasks and activities that surround us. It is the same struggle that we have in marriage. Are we giving our spouse TIME and ENERGY, or are we getting caught up in the rest of life and letting the relationship take a back burner.

Marriages work when both parties are subservient to the other in NEEDS, not in do what I says. If both partners are seeking the best for the other partner, doing those things that make them smile, seeking to get them what they need, and generally putting them first, you will have a VERY strong marriage. When you add Adonai as the SOURCE of those needs – essentially taking from His hand to give to your partner – then you will have a POWERFUL marriage. In ourselves, we can meet physical needs (food, clothing, shelter, etc). But WITH ADONAI we can meet more. Adonai is responsible for the emotional needs (we get contentment and happiness with HIM, not each other – although we can be happy with each other), but He helps us with our relational needs, with our financial needs, with our methodology in going about our lives. He helps us prioritize and see things we never would have seen on our own. He makes our lives worth living. He gives a weight to them that otherwise would be fluff. He helps us dot the i’s and cross the t’s and gives us the ink to do so.

Our lives and our marriages are meant to be COOPERATIVE endeavours. Cooperating with each other and cooperating with Adonai. Ruach HaKodesh was given to us – among other reasons – to remind us of who we are in Jesus (John 16:8). He reminds us of who we could be if we were to trust Jesus. He reminds us that there is more than a sink of soapy dishes in front of us. He reminds us there is more than exuberant, attention-demanding children around. He reminds us of all the things we CANNOT see. He challenges us to use the tools He offers us so that we can be better people, better partners, better parents, and better disciples of Jesus. WITH HIM things become simple. Not always easy. There are struggles. But they are struggles we face hand in hand with Him and hand in hand with each other. Connected. Together. A dyad in Jesus.

When we get overwhelmed and we need to take a step back to self care, we need to remember to get out the Word and spend time self-caring our hearts and minds, not just our frazzled emotional state. We are not truly recharging if we are not recharging in and through Jesus. We need to always – singularly and as a couple – be bringing it back to Jesus. What is He saying? What is He wanting to show us? How can we praise and worship Him today? Instead of just praying in the morning or at night, what about micro-conversations with Him throughout the day? Little moments of gratitude that He brought to your mind where the other sock was. That a week ago you had plans for tonight’s meal. That this isn’t your normal route to work, but it helped you avoid that accident on the number seven. Asking His opinion. Asking for His help. Thanking Him for His Fruit. If we will take the time to make sure we are Jesus-centred, through the leading of Ruach HaKodesh, just like we take the time to make sure we have ‘couple time’ to centre our relationships, life becomes a whole lot simpler to live. There is a peace that flows through it. There is a confidence that things are NOT out of control – whether we have things in hand or not.

Reminding ourselves that we are not alone, but in a marriage with Jesus is so very FREEING. It lifts a weight from our shoulders and gives us space to breathe. Life will become much less of a battle and much more of a journey when Adonai is in charge. When the Father is driving, Jesus is yoked to us, and Ruach HaKodesh is guiding us along. When we are with HIM, everything becomes possible because when HE is running things, providing everything, and the centre of our hearts, things WORK. He is a GOOD FATHER. He is a GOOD GOD. He is GOOD. He truly, TRULY is. Lean into Him and you will never fall over. You may slip here and there, but Jesus has you. Just grasp Him tighter and determine not to let go. Be on a JOURNEY with Him. Be in the BOAT. Don’t dog paddle in the storm. WITH JESUS is where we are meant to be. His arms are open. Live there.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Isaiah 41:13

“For I, Yahweh your God, am grasping your right hand; it is I who say to you, “You must not fear; I myself, I will help you.” We are not in this alone. Adonai is with us. Not only that, but we are not left to provide all the effort. That’s right. Adonai does not sit atop a mountain and make us climb it before He will commune with us. Adonai does not make us perform ablutions and prayers three times a day before He will look our way. Adonai does not change His mind and temperament on a whim, leaving us in doubt as to His intentions. No. Adonai reaches down from His Throne and takes us by the hand. Adonai reached out to US before we even KNEW HE EXISTED. THAT is the kind of God we serve. He makes sure we can find Him. He makes sure we are empowered to interact with Him. He makes sure we can live with Him and He with us – it’s all accomplished through Jesus. And then He takes our hand, HOLDS our hand, and WALKS WITH US. He helps us. The God who created the universe HELPS US. Isn’t that spectacular? Isn’t that wonderful? Adonai is UNIQUE. Adonai proves it every day in every way. He is a WITH US God. He is a MORE THAN ENOUGH God who is holding our hand. What a treasure! What a GOOD God!

Your Daily Confession of Elohim’s Goodness:

I taste and see that Yahweh is good; I am blessed because I take refuge in Him.

Psalm 34:8