Apple TV+’s Shrinking: Why Things Get Worse Before They Get Better

Just before Thanksgiving, my wife and I were searching through different apps on our TV for something to watch during the upcoming holiday. Most of the time, this is a frustrating experience for us. I’m drawn to slow-paced dramas, while my wife usually wants to watch lighter, uplifting movies and shows. This difference in taste usually results in some form of continuous scrolling through Netflix and Apple looking for something you agree with. In most cases, there is nothing that meets your requirements.

We have a history of not being able to find the right programming, so the arrival of Apple TV+ was a welcome surprise. contraction It has appeared as a recommended program. The show stars Harrison Ford, Jason Segel, and the hilarious Jessica Williams as a group of friends and colleagues living in upper-middle class California. Although the show is admittedly vulgar at times and depicts a view of reality that most Christians feel is lacking, it is nonetheless a masterpiece of the modern streaming series genre. in contractionIn , the characters struggle throughout their existence, encountering death, illness, and divorce in ways common to all humans. In the background of nearly every moment of joy in the play is a sense of setback and disappointment, reminding the characters and the viewer that Eden cannot be reached in this life.

painful reality

The most fascinating character in the series is Jimmy Laird, played by Jason Segel. The opening scene shows Jimmy struggling to find his way as a disoriented widow after the death of his wife. His work as a counselor is ineffective, and his teenage daughter Alice continues to act as an adult at home, even as she develops resentment and anger toward her father. In an early scene, Jimmy’s neighbor, who is having a loud party at the pool in the middle of the night, wakes him up and scolds him. The shame on his face as he tries to hide the fact that he uses drugs and women to cope with his pain is heartbreaking.

the beginning of contraction The series depicts what can happen when life is disrupted in unexpected ways. Jimmy’s wife’s death did not come after a long, slow process as he came to terms with his grief. Instead, just as their relationship was on the rocks, his wife died in a sudden car accident. While most viewers may not have experienced the loss of a spouse, everyone will be able to relate to Jimmy’s condition in some way. Not only is he at a loss, he’s bouncing around on all the things that seem to give him salvation, but the most important thing he has to do in order to move forward is face his pain and his failures. We ignore receiving blessings from.

pattern of salvation

One of my favorite books in recent years is J Curve: Dying and rising with Jesus in everyday life Written by Paul Miller. This book provides a framework for transformation and an explanation of the often perplexing ways God works in our lives. Following Christ’s example, Miller details how the Christian life is a series of death and resurrection that slowly conforms us to the image of Christ. This pattern begins as a “death” caused by some kind of life experience that throws us out of balance. At this moment (or more often, during this period) the Christian experiences a kind of communion with Christ in death. Like Christ, we often wonder where God is and become disillusioned with our lives. In imitation of Christ, we are led to: shout“God, God, why have you forsaken me?” Perhaps the defining feature of this experience is our inability to extricate ourselves from the hole we find ourselves in. It may last several weeks. In other cases, the suffering can last for years.

The J-curve gives us a framework for our suffering, but it also describes our deliverance. At some point in the hole something begins to change and God appears. As a result, we grow upward and are brought to a more mature faith than before. In the process, illusions about ourselves and God are removed, and we begin to see more clearly that God has been at work in our lives all along. Pain leads to salvation, just as the suffering of Christ broke through the kingdom of God through his death. According to Miller, this is how we become sanctified, and it is an ongoing experience throughout our lives.

meanwhile contraction Far from being a Christian drama, it is an unexpectedly Christian story in which the characters freely embrace sexual sin and often celebrate evil as good. The first few episodes show Jimmy falling into a pit, but season 1’s development shows that Jimmy is able to find some kind of redemption as his closest friends surround him and love him despite his suffering. The result is that we get Unlike many shows where salvation comes quickly, Jimmy’s healing is a process of ups and downs. Through many scenes of forgiveness and mercy, the relationship between Jimmy and his daughter is slowly repaired and their friendship is revived. Jimmy’s counseling, which used to be boring and ineffective, becomes transformative because he is able to connect with his clients in new ways. Just like Christian’s life story, death in Jimmy’s life becomes a vehicle for further growth.

I am always encouraged when worldly pursuits inadvertently reflect the gospel. It reminds us that God has engraved His story deeper into our imaginations than we realize. Our culture teaches us that life is about pursuing new pleasures, but the truth is that life is about being faithful to the beautiful and difficult experiences and relationships God leads us to. That’s what it means. Patience is the way forward. Almost every relationship in Jimmy’s life is sometimes contentious, but through perseverance, Jimmy and the other characters learn to appreciate each other more deeply.

Perhaps the most touching change is the relationship between Jimmy and his daughter Alice. As Jimmy grows closer to the father he wants to be, Alice’s attitude softens and she begins to trust him in new ways, even if things don’t always go her way. This pain is a means for Jimmy to become the father he is destined to be.

while we are watching contractionOur family is also experiencing a J-curve of sorts. Over the past year, I have had to endure an illness that causes a bewildering array of symptoms that are both frustrating and scary. Although the number of moments of salvation has increased, we are still waiting for the salvation that will lead us to greater heights. As we hope, we also understand the basics. For Christians, this deliverance is not necessarily what we expect or expect. Sometimes God doesn’t give us the healing or change of circumstances that we desire. While this is true, it is not the only story. We live in a reality where the kingdoms of this world are slowly slipping through our fingers, but the kingdom of God is patiently manifesting itself in our disappointments and joys. In our experience, we come to understand that the J-curve is actually a process that brings us a deeper and more sincere love for the Kingdom of God, despite the dissatisfaction of the earthly kingdom.

remind me of hope

contraction It captures the reality of life in a way that few television shows have been able to achieve. The best part of this show is that the characters exist as imperfect people who are broken and slowly changing. This show is very funny and often sweet, but the reality it presents is realistic. The most difficult parts of life are the most transformative.

The work of change and the patience required to wait for salvation can cause us to question God’s goodness. Nevertheless, our suffering leads us to deeper life experiences. As Paul so eloquently puts it in Romans 5:3-5, we “know that suffering produces patience, and patience produces character, and character produces hope. , we should rejoice in suffering, for the love of God is not ashamed of hope, poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. ”

If characters created in a secular television series can unwittingly imitate gospel stories, how much more can we as a people led by a sovereign and good God? Is there any hope? If you can take a look contractionWe hope you will receive the hope of salvation that God has woven into our creation in a way that even Apple cannot help pointing out.