The subtle myth that threatens your trust in God, and a practice that fights back

There's a myth sitting inside every single one of us: God is inefficient.

You'd never say it that way, and definitely not out loud (if you have, I'm positive you started worrying about lightning bolts). But the surest sign you're susceptible to this myth? Staring at an area of life and saying one of two things:

1. "That's not how I would do it."

2. "Why don't you just... [insert your way here]?"

These are natural statements to make, especially when it comes to work, the way the opposite sex does things, or the day after your team's quarterback plays.

But when it comes to God, our "efficiency emphasis" needs a pivot in perspective.

God may not appear efficient, but He's incredibly effective

How many times have you put yourself in God's place and imagined doing things faster, better, or differently?

Consider Mark 7:31-37. Ponder for a moment Jesus' thinking in going PAST the Sea of Galilee to a deaf and mute man in the Decapolis, only to go BACK to the Sea of Galilee (Mark 8). It's terribly inefficient.

It's inefficient - until you hear the response of the people. Listen to the people responding to Jesus' interaction with the deaf and mute man:

What reason would God have to go past the place he was going to end up later? It would be inefficient for any of us to drive from Denver to Florida in order to go to Texas. It simply isn't wise.

Unless there's a person in Florida that we love, and in need of help.

Viewed through that lens, efficiency leaves the picture. Why? Because love enters into it. I have more than a hunch it's what Jesus did here. He elevated the emphasis beyond the efficient action...to the effective action.

When it comes to love, to live according to efficiency is a mistake. It misses out on the effectiveness of God.

How to pivot your perspective to 'effective'

Effectiveness requires a pivot to "effective" perspective.

To do so requires the removal of ourselves from the throne that God alone occupies. We have to think in terms of what God in His grace has given us from His throne.

If you want to see from that place, here are three helpful perspective shifts:

Perspective #1: Look outward. I don't mean look out at the world through the news camera lens, social media lens, or someone else's lens. I mean look out the window at all creation.

When it comes to creation, He has done all things well.

Perspective #2: Look inward. I don't use 5-syllable words often, but I will here, because it sums up what God is doing with you: sanctification. That process is what Paul meant when He said God is carrying on to completion the work He began in us.

When it comes to sanctification, He has done all things well.

Perspective #3: Look backward. One of the greatest spiritual disciplines you can practice? Remembering. Nobody has to work hard to look back and see what God's grace has accomplished in our lives. But if you're struggling to think of something, look for - and begin with - that cross in the rear-view mirror of our lives.

When it comes to redemption, He has done all things well.

People who fall into the trap of efficiency thinking when it comes to God's ways tend to miss out on just how effective He is. But if we can look outward, look inward, and look backward, we discover something:

The ways of this remarkably effective God turn out to be remarkably efficient as well.

Until next week,

Nathan