3 Secrets of a Divine Life Candy Crush Can Teach
The other day, I was playing Candy Crush Soda Saga when it hit me like a candy bomb! Candy Crush has so much in common with a good Christian life (EARN CROWN, anyone?)But for some strange reason the way we play video games is completely different from the way we live--and not in a good way! It struck me that if only we could live our lives like we play Soda Saga, our relationship with God would be dramatically stronger.
TRUST THE CREATOR
While playing Candy Crush Soda Saga, I have unwavering and completely blind trust in the the creator. When I get to a hard level, I don't balk. I don't try to skip it. I don't run and hide. I actually get excited--because I know that if there's a hard level--no matter how hard it is--the creator has made a way through it.I trust that the creator places no challenge in my path without also giving me the tools needed to get through it. Enough greens in a row for a candy bomb. A hidden coloring candy. A massive pink fish.Sound familiar?? Our Creator allows many challenges to cross our path--trials and tribulations--but He never does so without giving us the gifts to endure and survive and learn from them.How many times have we tried to run away from a trial? How many times have we tried to hide from our tribulations? We tell God to make it go away.Yet, He knows exactly what He's doing. He knows exactly what we need to make it through. He's hidden all kinds of amazing treasures on the path--special people to help us, incredible doors to open for us. But we tell Him we just want to skip it.How foolish we humans can be!If we can put this level of trust in the creator of a smartphone app, how can we not put this much faith in our own Creator--who balances the planets on their orbits with one hand while numbering the hairs on our heads with the other (Matthew 10:30)?
As for God, His way is perfect;The word of the Lord is proven;He is a shield to all who trust in Him.(2 Samuel 22:31)
FOCUS ON YOUR OWN JOURNEY
In Candy Crush, I never care about my ranking. I never compare myself to my "friends." I am solely focused on moving steadily forward, on improving upon my old self with every round. I know that when I pass a hard level, I might not be at the top of the class, but I have conquered a challenge. And that is enough for me.Not so in the real world. The temptation to look around and check how far behind we are is so strong.--Why didn't I get that promotion at work?--Why isn't my Instagram feed as pretty as so-and-so's?--Why haven't I married and/or had kids yet?--How come God hasn't done this-or-that for me?But that's not what we are asked to do in this life. We are asked to struggle wholeheartedly towards God without wasting time worrying about how we compare to others. If only we can wake up each morning pressing on towards the goal instead of slowing ourselves down looking around!
NORMALIZE FAILURE
It's completely normal in Candy Crush to fail a level. I rush headlong into a level over and over again. I know I am learning something every single time about how the puzzle works that makes it possible for me to solve it next time. I actually laugh when I fail a level, and then I grit my teeth and squinch my eyes and say, "Bring. It. On!" as I hit the big green TRY AGAIN button.But outside Candy Crush? The idea that we might fail causes paralysis. It makes our chests tighten and our breathing shallow. There are so many ways we could live a much bolder Christian life, but we don't because--what if something goes wrong?We avoid big gestures of love because we don't want to humble ourselves. We avoid people who make us comfortable because we might say the wrong thing. We avoid confession because we don't want to admit that we're weak.But God asks us to hit TRY AGAIN!! He gives us a way back. He greets us with open arms.I often wonder why, in the parable of the three talents, no one lost their investment. Have you ever noticed that? The first guy invested five and got five. The second guy invested two and got two. No risk made them bankrupt?I think I've finally figured it out. No one ever walks out in the red with God. No one who invests their talents in God walks out empty-handed. God will bless the increase--thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. It's a guarantee that if we love Him and serve with all our hearts, He will bless.So hit TRY AGAIN. Get up and TRY AGAIN.
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12)
You can't EARN CROWN without striving for it.