A Ring, a Robe, and a Roast: Creative for Kids

A Ring, a Robe, and a Roast

By: Michele' Triplett

Published: December 07, 2006

Have you ever felt hopeless… the kind of hopelessness were the thought of teaching a bunch of kids or helping in children’s ministry does not appeal to you anymore… and you don’t even want to get out of bed because you cannot think of a good reason too? One morning, after dragging myself out of a bed of hopelessness, I went for my daily walk. Normally I would think about issues I was dealing with or the current crisis I faced… but this particular morning I tried something different. I chose to just “be still” (something that I don’t do easily) and see what God had to say. After a short time of silence He asked me the following question. “Do you want to continue trying to find a quick fix of fun or would you like me to lead you on your life’s Journey of Joy?” I realized that even though I was facing some tough choices, and emotions were high at times, some days wanting to give up others fighting like “heck” to hold on, He was saying I could still have Joy. Not just a fix of fun to tide me over. Maybe if I explain how I got to this point of hopelessness you will relate. If I think back several months before this particular morning, I can see how I got to busy to spend time with my Father. I no longer looked to Him for strength, guidance, and fellowship as I faced every day issues and current crisis. I took control of my life, relationships, work, and ministry. Things started to overwhelm me, stress me out, and my attitude level started dipping. Then the questions began… the ones about the purpose, meaning, and reasons for my life, relationships, and future. Well, the only one giving me answers was myself, with some assistance from negative thoughts placed there by the Father of lies, which spiraled me to a low place where I just didn’t care anymore…..! Don’t get me wrong, asking these questions can be good if you ask from a healthy heart and a healthy mind but I was not. I had reached a point of 'burn out' and hopelessness and that makes them destructive. I lost hope in everything; I saw no purpose or reason in my everyday life. Its normally at this point that we all opt to “take a break” from volunteering and ask to be taken off the teaching schedule. Only problem is… I wrote the schedule and was paid to teach, or I would have. Little by little my thoughts and attitude began to steal my joy and hope. This is a dangerous place to be… because it is at this point that you are most vulnerable to the enemy’s temptations. He will strategically begin to lure you towards a fix of fun. Because you stop doing the things that have meaning since they no longer have meaning to you. Now that you have idle time on your hands you will begin to find things that are self gratifying and only provide a fix of fun to fill your idle time. Anything that you become addictive to (can’t live without) or that becomes more important to you (you put it before anything else) than your relationship with God can be considered a fix of fun. Whatever the fix is, it slowly begins to build a stronghold around you. Its soul purpose is to distract you from addressing the real issues you need to face and to pull you further from fellowship with your Father. The longer you avoid the issues the more powerful the stronghold becomes. I reached a point where I didn’t even care about the call I knew God had on my life. When I did try to minister it was in my own strength and I quickly found I had nothing to offer all the volunteers, children and families I was called to minister too on a weekly basis. My days were filled with searching for fixes of fun. I reached an all time low and knew in my heart I was in trouble. First I tried to reason it out, then I tried to cover it up, followed by trying to excuse it, but sin is sin and you cannot run away from God's gentle promptings to come home as you find yourself in a place of desperation. I related to the prodigal son… and like him, I reached a point where there was no desire for the fix of fun anymore. The lowest point was when I believed I had lost my relationship with my Dad, and had no inheritance left. In this place of ashes your mind spins, body aches, eyes burn, and your spirit cry’s to be hugged by your heavenly Father. At times you can almost hear the Holy Spirit's sweet voice calling you to humble yourself and cry out for His help. But your spirit is so weak and your flesh so strong that you listen to the voice of condemnation instead. You believe that you have to clean up the mess you’ve made and you begin to work on it in your own strength. That is exactly what I did. Just like the prodigal son…. I tried to fight my way out on my own, but all this did was land me in a Pig Pen! Trying to fix my mess by myself only brought more destruction and I sunk deeper. I went from being broken spiritually to sitting in a pig pen broken spiritually AND starving. Restoration came the day I made the choice to humble myself, cry out to my Dad and ask for His help to find my way back home. I knew that sin always has consequences, but I wanted to go home… no matter what the consequences would be. I was willing to pay the price for my fixes of fun in order to get back on the road that leads to a journey of joy and freedom again. Like the prodigal, I was willing to just be a slave in the kingdom, even that was better than being a slave in a pig pen, serving a master that did not care for me. I bet God smiled at this thought… He was pleased with the humble heart but He was also looking forward to giving me a robe, a ring, and a roast. A funny thing happens when you come clean ….. Its nothing like you thought it would be. When you are surrounded by those who love you and a God who forgives you, you get a glimpse of what true grace, mercy, and forgiveness looks like. Yes there will always be the critics, phrases, and people holding stones… but it’s the ones that love you, that count during confession time. There is a time where you face sincere regret, remorse, and repentance and what follows is the reward of the ring, a robe, and a roast. After you come clean you must realize that the Father of lies will still try to lure you back. You will deal with withdrawals and there will be the need for accountability. You will need to rely on God’s help and learn how to walk in self control and discipline. You have some work ahead of you but its worth it. Each day gets better, and you find yourself moving further away from the fix of fun and closer to the journey of joy. And if you seriously think about it… who would want to go back to a guilty fix of fun… when you can enjoy a Godly journey of joy and an intimate relationship with your Dad? Besides the benefits of walking away from the pig pen are great. No more feeling guilty, having peace and real joy, and being able to enjoy fellowship with your Dad again. PLUS… you are now the proud owner of a ring, a robe and the memories of a roast, celebrating your return home. And if you aren’t into rings, robes, and roasts….. Your blessings will come in the form of whatever best fits into your future life and the call God has prepared for you. He will give you the desires of your heart. Now I CHOOSE (key word) to spend time with my Dad, doing the things that bring joy (this will be different for all of us) instead of searching for a fix. I understand the importance of spending time with Him. I love the way he loves me and it is my hearts desire to make Him proud, please Him, and bring Him glory. Why would anyone feel this way about a God they cannot touch, see, or prove to atheists? Because He is the reason I have joy today. My days are filled with hope and purpose again, instead fleeting moments of fun, faith instead of fear, a new sweet innocence instead of the weight of guilt, peace instead of frustration, and healing/health instead of hurt. I look forward to my future instead of wondering what I am missing out on because of the sin and disobedience in my life that is hindering me from Gods best for me. So how about you…? Are you allowing God to lead you in your life’s Journey of joy or are you spending your time trying to find the next fix of fun? If the latter is your answer… do yourself a favor… cry out to God, Humble yourself, get out of the pig pen and start walking home. Your heavenly Dad is waiting for you, arms outstretched, holding a ring, a robe, and ready to plan a roast in celebration that His precious child has come home. You may think that what you’ve done is beyond a ring a robe and a roast. You may ask why He would still want to go to all that trouble. I did. His answer… could best be found in the words of a song. “Who am I” by Casting Crowns. His answer to your question is, “I do it because you are mine”.