The Paradox of Abiding and Contending

One of the gifts of meeting with a spiritual director is the invitation to abide or dwell on the faith journey with another companion. In these monthly meetings we learn to abide together, to abide with our own souls, and to abide in God. But a paradox is often at work in this hospitable place of abiding. As we abide, we also may encounter struggles that ask of us to contend for the faith. That phrase, “contend for the faith” is found in the very short book of Jude which speaks about those things or individuals who try to steal our faith by twisting the grace of God.

Contending for the faith is an internal battle that we encounter as we mature spiritually. Unfortunately many Christians turn contending for the faith into an external battle and an invitation to enter into a great debate against the world about moral behaviors and expectations. They seek to prove their truth on a battle ground against others, using a singular interpretation of God’s word as the weaponry of judgement.

What if we looked at contending for the faith as a way to abide within ourselves, doing battle with our own temptations, wrestling with the hard questions, crawling through those spiritually dry deserts, conquering our own obstacles and doubts, side-stepping stumbling blocks and shame voices that attempt to twist the grace of God into something we must somehow earn.

This is where the abiding, staying the course, takes an act of courage to fearlessly look deep within, to name the habits or the demons that twist faith, making a mockery of grace. What are the ways you have wrestled with your faith? How do you face the battles of spiritual deserts, doubts, temptations? What has turned God’s grace into a hard-to-accept reality? I welcome the opportunity to walk with you through those contentious spots through spiritual direction. Contact me via email or schedule an appointment by clicking here.