It’s been possible for me, and maybe for you too, to lose sight of the full picture of worshiping Jesus Christ for who He is as God when studying the Bible because I limit my search of the Scriptures to finding what God gives and provides, rather than looking to learn about the Giver and Provider. The I AM statements of Jesus throughout the book of John can be especially made into personal placations for the soul—receiving them, yet not in worship of the God who gives.

In the next few weeks, I am taking Of Larks through a series on coming into rest in Christ. This post is the third in a four-part series.

I manage my expectations when interacting with others because I believe the truth that no person can meet all of my needs or desires, in any context. So I guard myself from putting improper weight on others; I keep myself from stacking expectations.  

There is a self-control needed in human interaction—self-control that my emotions or needs are not tied to another's such that if another person close to me is emotionally incapacitated for a moment in this imperfect world, I become unable to function well. We all give sharp responses at times, all speak too quickly, all exhibit a lack of compassion or gratitude—we all carry burdens that can keep us from fully seeing each other. But being in the Lord means that we can be on the receiving end of that and give back from fullness, especially when we never placed our expectations for fulfillment on each other and never gave each other such weight over the stability of our hearts and souls.

From human interaction, there must be a divine reprieve. Of course, this is our God. But I don’t always rest in Him because I don’t always approach Him for reprieve, though He is right there, right here. The habit of properly guarding my expectations becomes the more dominant habit, and I take it with me when I go to the Lord.

"It’s not our preparation for Christmas—but our preparation having been done in His honor—that is meaningful. This is how you simplify Christmastime: whatever you do this year, do it in honor of all-worthy Him."

There are foundations to our knowing, to our thinking, to our reasoning. These might be biblical or unbiblical, just like the daily content of our thoughts. We can sift through these foundations. 

So, how do we reach a conclusion—specifically, I am asking about a conclusion on the “big questions,” our beginnings, meaning, and purpose?

The Bible teaches that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord; it also says that believers "fall asleep" when they die. How can we understand the two together?