Today’s devotional: it’s a wonderful life!
What does the classic Christmas film It’s a Wonderful Life have to do with Lent and Easter? The movie (which ends happily) illustrates the despair that sets in when dreams are lost—when the harsh reality of life dashes our hopes for the future. According to this Slice of Infinity devotional, the journey toward Easter presents Christians with a similar dose of cold, hard reality:
“It’s a Wonderful Life” offers all who enter into its narrative a chance to look into the chasm between many cherished ideals and the often sober reality of our lives. This glimpse into what is often a gaping chasm of lost hopes and abandoned dreams offers a frightening opportunity to let go. Indeed, facing the death of ones’ dreams head on forces a moment of decision. Will we become bitter by fixating on what has been lost, or will we walk forward in hope on a path of yet unseen possibility?
For Christians, the journey through Lent offers a visible and living reminder of the fact that life entails death; it cannot be circumnavigated or avoided. Those who follow the path of Lent are presented with a similar decision: will the giving up of aspects we believe essential to our vision of a wonderful life lead us to bitterness or to hope? The discipline of Lent often reveals hands grasped tightly and tenaciously around ideals that must give way to new realities. Author M. Craig Barnes suggests that the journey away from our own sense of what makes for a wonderful life is actually the process of conversion. “It is impossible to follow Jesus and not be led away from something. That journey away from the former places and toward the new place is what converts us. Conversion is not simply the acceptance of a theological formula for eternal salvation. Of course it is that, but it is so much more. It is the discovery of God’s painful, beautiful, ongoing creativity along the way in our lives.”
Read the full devotional at Slice of Infinity.
What should we do when we’re confronted by the hard truth of sin and its terrible consequences? Easter offers us a choice: we can wallow in despair, or we can put our hope and trust in the message of Jesus Christ. Which of those two roads are you traveling along this Easter season?
Its a pity we were given this great concept but with no examples. I would love to be the man God wants me to be, but right now I’m not sure what that man looks like. What in my life needs to give, to get out of the way, for me to progress? We are not all at the beginning of our journey – some of us are in the middle, and have hit a dry spot.
I agree with Jim.Im in the middle too.I pray for a book to help ease the pain that Im going through at home.When will a glimpse of hope or change happen in our lives? How can it be easy living with a unGodly person that use to be with Christ-hardcore?Thats not wanting to grow towards God with me? I pray for answers or a solution for my family & direction for myself…
I have always loved the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life” but have never been able to relate to the lead Character. Before he has his suicide thoughts I could see he has a wonderful life. Much more than I ever had. I did not marry until I was 40 years old and it has been a struggle for Godly happiness before and after. I thought getting married and having a family would solve all my problems. It has been thirteen years now and my wife and I are growing further and further apart. She does not come to church with at all so our twelve year old son does not either. I have “terminal” lung cancer so my energy level is way down. This has caused a lot of stress and made it difficult for me to provide for my family. I feel I am growing in Christ but away for my family. Like the previous two commentaries I am looking for answers but I know my answers are in Christ.
I am so sorry to hear your situations, Andy et al. I don’t know if misery loves company, but your words make me feel closer to you as if you know what I am desparing about myself.
Three things have come to mind: one is that I will pray for you which is great for me and you; secondly, I will go to the scriptures to continue finding answers and direction found no where else, three, I will continue to call upon the Lord. He is right here, drawing me to Him and this has made that clearer to me. Thanks.