When we consider foolishness and the idea of being a fool it can be hard to define. My goal in this blog is to firstly attempt to come to a definition and then figure out what exactly a season of foolishness is and how the hell to get out of it.
I've spent the past month trying to determine exactly what Psalm 107:17-18 is talking about when it says: "Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death." What season is it in our lives that brings us to the point where we may be considered "fools"? What exactly does that look like?
Dictionary.com defines a fool as "a person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person." At some point in our lives, often at multiple points, we all act unwisely. We do something or make a decision that could be considered "foolish".
I believe the key to foolishness is that we know better. We are a fool when we know what is right but we CHOOSE wrong. We rebel. The crazy part is that for a time foolishness is fun. After all for a time it is great to be a silly person. Being "bad" feels good for a little while, but then it turns against us.
That very folly we enjoyed and even reveled in becomes a poison to our very being. It rots our innards and destroys our surroundings when we stay too long.
So yes, first and foremost the season of foolishness is marked by rebellion. We rebel against God, authority figures and the choice we know to be wise. The reason foolishness is so difficult a season to reckon with is because we don't want to talk about our own rebellion. We don't want to admit that our grudges, our unforgiving natures even are a form of rebellion in and of themselves.
"Unfortunately, some of our greatest tribulations are the result of our own foolishness and weakness and occur because of our own carelessness or transgression." -James E. Faust
Sometimes rebellion/foolishness doesn't look like what we think. Notice I mentioned unforgiving natures in that last paragraph. When someone does us wrong, I mean really betrays our trust, it feels good to hold a grudge. It feels RIGHT even. However, holding a grudge is just plain wrong. It sounds cliche, but anytime we don't forgive someone it doesn't really hurt them so much, it hurts us. It causes bitterness.
And I know bitterness. I fight it everyday. If we're honest with ourselves, we all do. Why? Because forgiveness is hard. It's hard to receive and give it, but that's the Gospel. Receiving and giving forgiveness even when it's not deserved.
So how do we get out of the cycle of foolishness?
We find the answer in the rest of the verses from Psalms 107:
"Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thank to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy."
Did you catch it?
Surrender.
All that anger, all the pain, our need for approval, our disappointment and any other reason for our rebellion...We have to surrender it. Lay it down and cry out for help.
Is it hard? Hells yes it is. But that's what makes it surrender. That's what make genuine Christian living hard: We have to choose to lay ourselves down.
Blessings, peace, grace and mercy to each of you
Barbara
