Daily Devotable - Upside Down

Get Upside Down

One of my favorite things to do as a little girl was play in the monkey bars.

My upper body game must’ve been fierce back then. I could swing on those bars like a monkey bar ninja. The best though? Hanging upside down.

The world looks so different upside down. It’s the same world. Just with an alternate view. That’s where I am these days. I am invited into an alternate view of the world.

Where once I was a youth pastor of a phenomenal group of students, now I am in a wholly alternate space, learning to see God’s Kingdom in all it’s complexity and depth. Planting a youth center in a downtown location isn’t for everyone. Somedays I’m not even sure it’s for me! And when I’m confused or discouraged or uncertain, God whispers “Come on. Get upside down”. And right on time, God offers me an alternate view.

Like a loving parent gets down on the floor with their child–to really see all the places the child can get hurt, right? We assume everyone has the same view–ours! It’s just how humans are.

God is in the business of doing that. Discomfort is the signal for me.

To see upside down requires me to get uncomfortable.

Rich turned upside down is poor. So in God’s economy the poor are rich.

Power turned upside down is weakness. So in God’s view weakness is power.

Winning turned upside down is losing. So when we lose we win.

So to be upside down. I need to get poor, weak and lose! Ouch!

Here’s Paul: “We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints”

Their world flipped on them and even Paul was astonished.

God invites us to see upside down. If you aren’t poor, go live with the poor. See their view. If you have power, go and sit with someone who doesn’t. See their view. If we love to win, what can losing teach us?