When Life Feels Upside Down

The ways of Jesus often feel backwards to us. “Blessed are the poor” he says, but that’s not what our world says. “Forgive your enemies” he teaches, but how many of us really do that? “Trust God; trust me also,” he invites. But we’d much rather trust ourselves and our ability to look out for ourselves.

Isaiah points out that it’s not God’s ways that are crazy, it’s ours. We literally have turned upside down the values that bring true flourishing, thinking we know better than God.

You turn things upside down,
    as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!
Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,
    “You did not make me”?
Can the pot say to the potter,
    “You know nothing”?

- Isaiah 29:16

Take a moment and think about what in the spiritual life seems really backwards to you. What if they represent life as it really is, the world in it’s true reality, and the path to a life of joy and fullness? (If you’re not familiar with some of those things, here are some to choose from)

“Blessed are those who mourn” - Matthew 5:4

“If you save your life you will lose it, but if you lose your life you will save it” - Luke 9:24

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies” - Matthew 5:43-44

Ask God to help turn your world rightside up and to value the ways of Jesus today.