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)
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.
