dirty diapers and discipleship

I have two kids and when my oldest was born hers was the first diaper I had ever changed in my life.  I would tell folks I took the "silver diaper pledge" and they would laugh and then say "really? The FIRST?"

Yes. Why does that sound stupid? Diapers are not a pleasant thing....everyone finds this out and has a favorite story they share at daycare, or church, or wherever.

But it's reality. It's messy. It has to be done.

And it is the way our salvation plays itself out. Honest.

I first heard this from my Old Testament Professor in seminary...he walked around this desk at the end of his lecture and sat on the corner. His slowly lifted his head and gave us all a look over and dropped the most life-changing words I had heard in school:

"God works out his plan of salvation in the mundane tasks of everyday living. Changing diapers, taking out the garbage, doing the shopping."

I mean, here is the guy who opened my eyes to the first five books God had given his people, had spent his life studying it in the original languages, and had such a faith and passion for God. Diapers?

Yeah, diapers.

See it's all about trust. Trust in God, not in ourselves.

It takes trust in God to change a diaper when your wife has cancer.
It takes trust in God to take out the garbage when your husband has been laid off.
It takes trust in God to buy groceries when your daughter is back in the hospital because of her eating disorder.

The book of Lamentations says it well. It's a book that is brave, bold and honest. It pours out our hearts to God in all it's pain. And then, in the midst of it, a chorus of hope:

God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,
    his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
    How great your faithfulness!
I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).
    He’s all I’ve got left.

Lamentations 3:23-24

Some days it is very hard to see that God is good. 

Some days it is very hard to see that God will redeem all things. 

Some days it is very hard to trust that God is indeed for us and nothing can be against us. 

On these days, change a diaper, take out the garbage, buy some food, and in the numbness of the fog get real and honest with God and pray as simply as you can. 

God, I have no freaking idea how you are going to turn this around. I have no freaking idea how I am going to make it through today. But you said you are good, and I am going to trust you.