The Hero Without...Not Within

This article by Tullian Tchividjian was freeing. 

When you’re on the brink of despair-looking into the abyss of darkness, experiencing a dark-night of the soul-turning to the internal quality of your faith will bring you no hope, no rescue, no relief. Too often our preaching (and our counseling) is the equivalent of giving a drowning man swimming lessons: “Paddle harder, kick faster.” We assume that people possess the internal power to get things right so we turn them in to themselves. (Interestingly, Martin Luther defined sin as “mankind turned inward.”) But, as too many people already know, every internal answer will collapse underneath you. Turning to the external object of your faith, namely Christ and his finished work on your behalf, is the only place to find peace, re-orientation, and help. The gospel always directs you to something, Someone, outside you instead of to something inside you for the assurance you crave and need in seasons of desperation and doubt. The surety you long for when everything seems to be falling apart won’t come from discovering the dedicated “hero within” but only from the realization that no matter how you feel or what you’re going through, you’ve already been discovered by the “Hero without.”

"Turn my heart from vanity, 
                          from dissatisfactions, 
                          from uncertainties of the present state, 
                          to an eternal interest in Christ." 

"You look at the early church and these people were dying for Christ and yet they were full of joy. They were experiencing the glory of God and the power of God breaking in in their midst. That doesn't happen unless the people of God are on the mission of God. Because the Spirit of God has not been given for our sake. The Spirit of God has been given to glorify God and accomplish his mission. And when we think it's just about us we are going to become narcissistic, self-focused, apathetic, bored, sorry people. That's what happens." 

Jeff Vanderstelt 

Faith

Eyes heavy laden with tears
Heart raging into stormy fits
Thick darkness
Deep valleys

O, you of little faith,
Where is your faith?
It is but a flicker, a small ember.

"Be still."
The words are strong.
My colic soul is quieted.
The calmer of the waves
Speaks to my drowning heart.
His words quiet my fits.
"Know that I am God."

I am not God.
He is God.
Thank God.

What is faith, but the
Pulling off the mask
Of a seemingly cruel God
And exposing the
Hidden smile of God

The One who is
True
Good
Wise
Sovereign
Love

The tiny spark of faith,
Is fanned into flame.
God's words
Trump
Misaligned feelings.

This weak sinner now hopes
That her heart will be filled with
Indestructible joy
In God
Despite circumstances.

Sweet, Sweet Sibbes

I just finished reading The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes and it was sweet to my soul. So sweet, that I am reading it again. 

'But for all this, I feel not Christ so to me,' says the smoking flax, 'but rather the clean contrary. He seems to be an enemy to me. I see and feel evidences of his just displeasure.' 

Christ may act the part of the enemy a little while, as Joseph did, but it is to make way for acting his own part of mercy in a more seasonable time. He cannot restrain his bowels of mercy long. He seems to wrestle with us, as with Jacob, but he supplies us with hidden strength to prevail at length. 

Faith pulls off the mask from his face and sees a loving heart under contrary appearances. Fides Christo larvam detrahit (Faith pulls away the mask from Christ).