Word of the Week: Caffeine

How would the modern world stay awake without caffeine? Perhaps it’s that cup of coffee in the morning to get you going. Maybe you’re more of a soda person, sometime in the afternoon when that post-lunch lull is settling in. Do you ever find yourself reaching for something caffeinated to give you that jolt you need to stay awake?

Last Sunday we wrapped up our sermon series in 1 Thessalonians and, in the book’s closing note, the Bible instructed us to stay awake. We’re staying awake until Jesus finally returns to make all things new. But staying awake is hard when we’re tired. What’s the spiritual caffeine to give us that jolt we need? Here’s two that show up the most in my life:

1. Answered Prayers – We’ll wait for the Lord as long as we think he’s worth waiting for. However, sometimes the normal rhythms of life distract us from the goodness of God. This is where answered prayers come in. Prayer doesn’t promise immediate answers or necessarily the answer that we want. But when we pray for something and God shows up, it’s a reminder of who we’re waiting for. Our God is good and his steadfast love endures forever.

2. Suffering – No one in their right mind would sign up for this one, but suffering happens to each of us all the same. If we think about them rightly, our sufferings can shake us awake. Resist the temptation to get angry or bitter when you’re hurting. Don’t fall into the trap of accusing God and spiraling downward. Instead, let your sufferings stir the coals of your heart for something better. You were not made for this world and, when Jesus returns, we’ll receive the new heavens and earth for which we were made.

Those are a few things that come to mind for me. How about you? What helps you stay spiritually awake?