Cancel the Subscription
Do you have a go to television series that you put on to “watch” regularly? You know, the show that you aren’t really paying attention to because you have seen it countless times. You may even be able to recite every line of a specific favorite episode. It’s comforting because you know what to expect. Personally for many years that show was “Parks & Recreation”, but after starting to work in local government the jokes felt a little too real and close to reality (unfortunately I’ve yet to locate our Lil’ Sebastian). Streaming networks have a term for this type of show. They call it “ambient streaming”. The various networks try to insure some of these go-to shows are within their catalog because they know you are less likely to cancel if you have to give up that comfort show you watch 4 times a week. The pattern is hard to break.
But do you ever feel like you are seeing the same story play out over and over again in your actual life? Maybe it’s the same conversation with a child, who has gotten in trouble at school again for the third time this month. Maybe it is with a relative who returns again to substance abuse after another short stint in recovery. Maybe it’s the repeated tension with a co-worker that happens each month when working together on the same report. Maybe it’s the anger in your own heart that shows up time and time again when disciplining a child. Whatever the scenario is, there are times in our lives when we begin to recognize painful (and even sinful) patterns, and wonder how this repetitive cycle can be broken. Unfortunately this is much more challenging than canceling that useless Peacock subscription.
Throughout the Old Testament we see the same pattern with God’s people. Things are going well, then Israel falls into a pattern of sin, God’s judgement/punishment comes, Israel repents, and God delivers His people. Is this not the same pattern that we see repeated multiple times in the life of Jehoshaphat? Things are going well in the Kingdom of Judah, and Jehoshaphat is even blessed with riches and honor. Then he makes an unholy alliance with Ahab, and Judah is pulled into a battle they shouldn’t be in and suffers defeat. After this event and before another battle Jehoshaphat leads Judah in seeking the Lord’s help. This leads to worship of God and a reliance on His provision. God delivers Judah, and even beyond victory “the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around” (2 Chron 20:30). Jehoshaphat has broken the cycle (although imperfectly).
Jehoshaphat is acting out what God had said previously to his people in 2 Chronicles 7:14. He said, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Although this is a specific instruction to specific people in a specific period of history, the instruction from God to us is the same.
When we find ourselves in a pattern of sin, we are called to seek the Lord’s face and turn from our wickedness. He promises to forgive these sins and bring healing (and we may even experience peace and rest). That doesn’t mean the road to healing won’t be painful. It doesn’t mean things will automatically be better overnight, but the promise is there. It’s the same thing we are called to when we resonate with the words of Paul when he says, “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Rom 7:19). Begin with the following: Seek God in His Word. Seek God in prayer. Seek godly counsel. When we do this, and the Spirit works in our hearts these sinful patterns can be broken through His transformative work of sanctification. It is then that the “subscription” to sinful patterns can be broken. Begin the hard work. It will be way more beneficial than canceling the $10.99 monthly streaming service.
By Brad Burkett