Digging In
Digging In
If someone passes down your aisle, you scoot aside to let them through. If someone sneezes, you immediately respond with “Bless you.” These gestures communicate care in the simplest, most routine human form. We do these things with no self-interest or intent for reciprocation. But how deep does that compassion go? Do we ask someone “How are you?” with a mind fully prepared to respond to any type of reply? And with a heart fully invested in celebrating their successes or helping them carry their burdens? Do we truly want to know their successes or struggles and engage further once they have confided in us? Or do we ask because it seems appropriate, but then want to duck into the next open door to escape the interaction once they start to give an answer other than “fine” or “good”?
Our human nature wants to have empathy, to show compassion, to love like Jesus, but the world, after lurking backstage in the shadows, enters from stage left. It dances in circles around us, causing a tornado of vulnerability and defeat. This weary whirlwind of the world encircles us, creating an environment where we can’t see beyond our own lives. Those little acts of kindness are now cautiously handed out to others, wrapped in our own protective boundaries and passive good intentions.
If we dig any deeper into the lives of others, we may fall short in our commitment to care. We may hear of their success that could spark jealousy or resentment within our hearts. We may hear of a hardship that won’t fit on our wagon that is already weighed down by our own burdens. So, how do we break free from the cyclone of self-centeredness while leaving all the worldly scars behind?
The answer (as are all answers) is found in scripture. You have to stop looking outward. (Remember you’re in a tornado, so you can’t see anything clearly. Come on y’all, stay with me here.) You must focus inward—inside your heart and mind.
Sitting in church on Sunday, I took a few notes here and there … Philippians 2:1 … Unity … Indicative before imperative … Dig deeper … You know, the standard, minimal notetaking with every intention of fully fleshing out the meaning at a later date. These terms stuck with me. I opened to the scripture during my study time, and a clear message began to form.
Philippians 2:1 (ESV)
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
The indicative (what we already have) is what God has already done for us. When you ask, “How does this affect me?”, this is the verse that covers “self.” Every verse following talks about others. This is the only “What about me?” verse; not because you get less, but because what you are given is all-sufficient. Here is the focus change that will pull you out of that vortex of vanity. You have received comfort, love, participation in the Spirit, affection, and sympathy. Soooooo—this tornado we get stuck in is only happening by the allowance of us and our reluctance to re-focus. If we are walking with Christ and are focused on His ways, there is no storm that can touch us.
Now that we have switched our focus, let’s dig deeper.
Philippians 2:2
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
We enter the imperative—a call to action. Verse 1 is the reminder that helps us clear our heart and mind of the storms of self-service, to allow us to dig deeper into others, and to interact with true compassion and Christ-like love. Verse 2 says “pass it on.” Live in community, as one accord.
If someone is hurting and, in-turn, you don’t hurt too, sister, something is wrong! It’s time to clean off that wagon, so you can help them haul that heaviness to the foot of the cross.
And if someone is celebrating, and it sparks something negative in you, girrrrrrl, you better get that shovel out and start clearing all that rotten fruit out of your heart!
Where do we need to dig? Should we be digging inward to clear the worldly storm debris, or should we dig deeper into others to help them clear theirs? The answer is both—both simultaneously, both intensely, and both consistently.
Hard times will always come our way. What direction do we allow our focus to draw–toward Him or toward the storm?
Hard times will always come to others. What direction do we allow our love to flow—toward them or toward ourselves?
With love like His,
Jessica
If someone passes down your aisle, you scoot aside to let them through. If someone sneezes, you immediately respond with “Bless you.” These gestures communicate care in the simplest, most routine human form. We do these things with no self-interest or intent for reciprocation. But how deep does that compassion go? Do we ask someone “How are you?” with a mind fully prepared to respond to any type of reply? And with a heart fully invested in celebrating their successes or helping them carry their burdens? Do we truly want to know their successes or struggles and engage further once they have confided in us? Or do we ask because it seems appropriate, but then want to duck into the next open door to escape the interaction once they start to give an answer other than “fine” or “good”?
Our human nature wants to have empathy, to show compassion, to love like Jesus, but the world, after lurking backstage in the shadows, enters from stage left. It dances in circles around us, causing a tornado of vulnerability and defeat. This weary whirlwind of the world encircles us, creating an environment where we can’t see beyond our own lives. Those little acts of kindness are now cautiously handed out to others, wrapped in our own protective boundaries and passive good intentions.
If we dig any deeper into the lives of others, we may fall short in our commitment to care. We may hear of their success that could spark jealousy or resentment within our hearts. We may hear of a hardship that won’t fit on our wagon that is already weighed down by our own burdens. So, how do we break free from the cyclone of self-centeredness while leaving all the worldly scars behind?
The answer (as are all answers) is found in scripture. You have to stop looking outward. (Remember you’re in a tornado, so you can’t see anything clearly. Come on y’all, stay with me here.) You must focus inward—inside your heart and mind.
Sitting in church on Sunday, I took a few notes here and there … Philippians 2:1 … Unity … Indicative before imperative … Dig deeper … You know, the standard, minimal notetaking with every intention of fully fleshing out the meaning at a later date. These terms stuck with me. I opened to the scripture during my study time, and a clear message began to form.
Philippians 2:1 (ESV)
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
The indicative (what we already have) is what God has already done for us. When you ask, “How does this affect me?”, this is the verse that covers “self.” Every verse following talks about others. This is the only “What about me?” verse; not because you get less, but because what you are given is all-sufficient. Here is the focus change that will pull you out of that vortex of vanity. You have received comfort, love, participation in the Spirit, affection, and sympathy. Soooooo—this tornado we get stuck in is only happening by the allowance of us and our reluctance to re-focus. If we are walking with Christ and are focused on His ways, there is no storm that can touch us.
Now that we have switched our focus, let’s dig deeper.
Philippians 2:2
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
We enter the imperative—a call to action. Verse 1 is the reminder that helps us clear our heart and mind of the storms of self-service, to allow us to dig deeper into others, and to interact with true compassion and Christ-like love. Verse 2 says “pass it on.” Live in community, as one accord.
If someone is hurting and, in-turn, you don’t hurt too, sister, something is wrong! It’s time to clean off that wagon, so you can help them haul that heaviness to the foot of the cross.
And if someone is celebrating, and it sparks something negative in you, girrrrrrl, you better get that shovel out and start clearing all that rotten fruit out of your heart!
Where do we need to dig? Should we be digging inward to clear the worldly storm debris, or should we dig deeper into others to help them clear theirs? The answer is both—both simultaneously, both intensely, and both consistently.
Hard times will always come our way. What direction do we allow our focus to draw–toward Him or toward the storm?
Hard times will always come to others. What direction do we allow our love to flow—toward them or toward ourselves?
With love like His,
Jessica
Posted in Women
Recent
Archive
2026
2025
No Comments