By Tawna Wilkinson
The context was that human beings have an undulating
relationship with everything and everyone, including their relationship with
God. And by not realizing this “law,” when we are in a “trough,” as Lewis expresses
it, it can lead a person into depression, or complacency.
I was intrigued, because I was in the middle of a “trough,”
and had been there for a discouraging month. So, wanting to be clearer regarding undulation’s meaning, I
looked it up.
- Undulate: “To move in waves or with a smooth wavelike motion. To increase and decrease in volume or pitch.” (New American Heritage Dictionary)
After that, I was reminded of a phrase from the Message
translation the Lord used to encourage me during another “trough” a few years
back:
- “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” (Matthew 11:29)
Then, I flashed on the first week of creation. How God demonstrated
the “Law of Undulation” quite nicely. Those first seven days were nothing but sweet
wavelike motions emanating from Him while He spoke night and day, earth and sky,
evening and morning. He established the law of ebb and flow. And He created me
in His image.
What’s more, when sin did enter the picture, He didn’t
change His mind. Ecclesiastics 3:1-8 makes this clear:
- “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance…."
Yes, sin did mess with conditions, as well as my perception of
this “Law of Undulation.” However, my being aware that this was God’s design, it is His way of being, and it still is His will that I reflect the same, will
better equip me to move more freely while learning the unforced rhythms of
grace. And it will help me guard against being lead into the smothering heavy
of depression, or complacency during my “trough” times.
Beautiful!