Friday, May 26, 2017

Deconstructing
By Lexi Ellis

Unless the Lord builds the house,
    the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.
Psalm 127:1 (NIV)

A friend of mine is in a time of deconstruction professionally. Programs and procedures she’s built in the past need to be reorganized, revamped and simplified. She completely understands the necessity of restructuring to be more efficient and effective, but there’s almost a sense of mourning over the initiatives previously constructed…great for then, but now not best. There is a clear need to simplify… but wow, is it hard.

God sometimes calls us to deconstruct spiritually. In the chaos of busyness and extensive to-do lists, God invites us to deconstruct. Sometimes there comes a time to “go back to the basics.”

In the midst of all the “stuff” we have designed and chosen (which often isn’t in-and-of-itself bad), there are moments we need to stop and examine what we’ve built or elevated. And within them, we need to deconstruct:

·         our expectations. Unrealistic expectations hinder our relationships with others and with our God. They also commonly lead to bitterness when our expectations aren’t met. These need to be identified, torn down and shifted. 

·         our self-righteous or self-centered attitudes. The focus on exclusively ourselves, or our accomplishments, rather than oneness with God is something that desperately needs to be taken apart, replaced by a spirit of humility. 

·         our trust and dependence on ourselves. This one often regularly needs to be deconstructed. When we exclusively pursue our own ability rather than seeking God’s best, we miss out on the privilege of being part of God’s plan.

Oh, but the work it takes to spiritually deconstruct! And the struggle to simplify or get rid of the things we’ve accomplished “on our own.” But when we build up unhealthy expectations, self-righteousness, and self-dependence, it becomes more difficult to pursue an active relationship with Christ. Deconstructing is imperative because it allows us to simplify and fully embrace the “great love the Father has lavished on us so that we could be called children of God” (1 John 3:1, NIV). 

My friend is deconstructing and simplifying programs and initiatives in her job. It’s hard, but needed. May we likewise tear down the things we’ve built up that shift our dependence away from God and hinder an active relationship with Him. 

Going Deeper:
1.      What have you built up in your life that prevents you from the simple, incredible gift of Christ?
2.      What do you need to do to deconstruct unhealthy expectations, self-righteous or self-dependence?

Further Reading:


Lexi and her husband, Andrew, have an adorable dog named Calvin. Lexi teaches sixth grade Reading and Writing. She serves with Children’s Ministries and is the Fresh Start Coordinator.