By asking the question ‘why’ we naturally improve our emotional intelligence, for anyone that knows me knows that I am emotional.At the best at times I can perceive, use, and understand emotions but personally, I’m learning the art in managing and articulating my emotions that arise.
But asking ‘why’ unlocks value, it spurs learning and fuels innovation, it refocuses and directs your attention to what’s of importance to you.
Eight months ago, our family finished a season. A season our family whole-heartedly loved, and with every fibre invested in. As this chapter closed we opened our next with our hearts open to be still and willing to adventure so much so we packed up everything, bought a caravan and travelled around Australia, borders permitting of course.
Taking time off from agendas, from what we thought we knew was incredible and thought-provoking at the same time. I don’t know about you but I’m a thinker, someone that can quite easily get lost in thought and having absolutely no agenda was confrontingand made be reflect, realise, and ask a lot of ‘whys.’
I was in church on Sunday just gone and the person leading worship welcomed us to and proceeded to say, “look I’m half why through my life, which is confronting because I so desperately don’t want the second half of his life to be a repeat of the first.” “I want more, I know God has more” This is 100% the truth!Who wants their life just to be on repeat and asking the ‘whys’is dangerous but oh so necessary to live in everything that God has for you.
Being transparent and I realise I’m being transparent with so many people, people that I don’t know, people that may misunderstand but I’m not ashamed of being honest of being vulnerable and if I only help 1 person than my job is done. This trip has taught my so many things, it has brought me to my knees, it has taught me to just be me and that’s beautiful. It’s taught be to ask the ‘whys,’ it’s taught me towrestle with God, it’s taught me what’s important and to cling to my provider of hope.
5 ‘new’
A year of new I felt God said to me. New experiences, new perspective, new horizons, new ground, new authority, new peace, new strength but one word… “immediately.”
Over this time God has taught me anew.Regardless of the question at hand that our response holds great importance and weight.I don’t know about you but as I read the scriptures it comes alive as I read repeatedly Jesus’s immediate approach and response to humanity.
Mark Chapter 1 verses 41-42 says,
Then Jesus moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.
As Jesus came down the mountain, He meets the man at his point of need. Matthew records how Jesus demonstrated His love by serving him not by just cleansing him but by healing him. This man was a leper, an outcast, his body was ravaged by disease, he was dis-figured and uncleanuntil… he met Jesus and He changed everything.
It isn’t just the immediate response that draws me in and arrests my attention but it’s the fact that Scripture states that Jesus was moved with compassion and immediately Jesus responds with a corresponding action.
Today,I hear a lot of people say that compassion isn’t their thing, “it’s not my gifting,”“I’m not merciful that’s someone else’s job,”“I’m a leader I preach, I talk vision, I strategize, I don’t have time for emotions, for compassion.”
So often we confuse sympathy, emotions, and empathy with compassion. Compassion is not compassion unless you’re willing to cross the road and get involved. I think as Christian’s we need to be able to cross the road, regardless of what you do, your role at Church or how important you are.
I love how we read about Jesus’s immediate response to humanity but then we read in man’s brokenness and perfectly imperfect state you see man’s heart, man’s immediate response to Jesus.
Matthew Chapter 4 Verse19-20
“Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” And immediately having left the nets, they followed Him.
I can’t imagine what the disciples were thinking and feeling that particular day. The disciples exposed their bold and unwavering faith and obedience that day. To immediately pick up and leave everything behind, everything they knew, everything that was comfortable and follow Jesus.
The ‘how’
How are we able to live our lives with that same faith and obedience from just one word?
That “immediately” is our response and reaction to Him.
I encourage you over this next week or even day look for opportunities to be moved by God, pray Holy Spirit would you give me eyes to see the need around me and the courage to respond immediately to the need presented.
Chevaun Tabacaru is a mother to three children, two gorgeous girls and a cheeky, beautiful boy. Chevaun is studying a Bachelor of Ministry and Pastors alongside her husband Mark at Calvary Christian Church, Rockhampton. She is passionate about bridging the gap between Community and Church, as she leads Calvary Care globally.