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)
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
is married to Andrew, has an adorable puppy named Calvin and serves with
Children’s Ministries. She teaches sixth grade at Silver Lake Intermediate
School and is the Fresh Start Coordinator.
