Life is really good right now. I know this comes as a surprise given my recent whinings about all my drama, but recently, God's been going above and beyond to give me peace. And, beyond that, I'm genuinely happy.
Church is unbelievably encouraging. Lately, I've felt like the sermons were written for me, which I know is God's way of speaking to me, but it goes even further to remind me that I'm not alone in my struggles. He's working on and speaking to others just like me. Even my job is a reminder that God will provide. I work for a company founded on Christian morals, I have a great boss, and with a few small exceptions, I work with some awesome people from many different walks of life. My friends and family are there for me, even in the hard times. Time after time, I'm being reminded of how truly wonderful my life is, the countless blessings that I don't deserve and take for granted all too often.
Coming from an instantaneous generation, I tend to live in the now, confining my view to the things going on at this very second. That's, I guess, why I go downhill so fast when things get tough, but I'm learning. I'm learning to turn to God for everything instead of just the tough stuff. Beyond that, I'm learning that I can, in fact, trust people. I used to think that talking to people, letting anyone too close was dangerous, social and emotional suicide. I'd been burned too many times to ever think otherwise.
Now, I realize that God doesn't just put people in our lives to come and go. God puts people in our lives to affect us, in one way or another. Sometimes, it's to test our faith, and other times, it's to provide a tangible presence to help us through the hard times. Either way, they all have some sort of purpose, no accidents. Through others, God can mold us and make us stronger.
Ultimately, I feel like I'm being guided, which is quite possibly the most incredible feeling I've ever had. To know that my life is in God's hands (and, even better, not in my hands) has brought me peace. I'm looking forward to my future with excitement and wonder, rather than trepidation now, and to be honest, I want others to feel the way I do.
I'm not trying to turn my blog into a church invitation or anything, but I'm completely serious. If you get anything out of reading my words, I want you to know that you can have true peace and you can know true love through Jesus. Because, as I'm being reminded again and again, that's really all that matters.
Showing posts with label Guidance.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guidance.. Show all posts
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
We all need somebody to lean on.
Psalms 34:4 - I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Story of my life, right there. This entire week I've tried to, once again, place my focus on strengthening my relationship with God, and I'm not going to lie.
It's really, really difficult to keep that focus.
I fail. Constantly, I fail. I have to remind myself of my goal incessantly because if I let myself slip, even for a moment, it's back to square one. And it's frustrating because I know I can do better. I know I can try harder to clean up my act, to be a better person and Christian, but even at my best, the thoughts are still there. I still have to fight to keep myself in check, especially this blasted tongue of mine.
Despite the fact that I do have to rely entirely on God to "deliver me from all my fears," I have a really bad habit of idolizing other people who are closer to God than I am or, at least, people I think have a stronger faith than I do. On it's own, that's not a terrible tendency, but the catch comes when those heroes and mentors fall. Because when they screw up, I fall right along with them, and my excuse, of course, is that if they can do it, it must be okay. The logic is twisted, yes, but that's human nature for you, twisted.
I've seen people go down hard, people I looked up to and respected and turned to for help in almost every aspect of life. Whether it's using God's name to advance their personal status and fame or blatantly going against the very things they supposedly stand for, it's not easy to uphold the standards taught in an atmosphere of hypocrisy.
Granted, human nature is overwhelming at times, and everyone falls. I get that. Regardless though, it can hinder those who are still learning, those like me who yearn to be closer to God but need true and dependable guidance to get there. I'm not calling anyone particular out, and this is in no way an attack on any specific person or people, but from a young Christian who has seen leaders crumble under the weight of sin, think about the people who look up to you. Think about your followers, those who turn to you when their back is against the wall, when there's no one else to turn to.
Because when you fall, you throw them into a state of confusion and uncertainty, and if they're anything like me, it'll take a long time to build up that stability again.
And it'll take even longer to build back up their trust in you.
Story of my life, right there. This entire week I've tried to, once again, place my focus on strengthening my relationship with God, and I'm not going to lie.
It's really, really difficult to keep that focus.
I fail. Constantly, I fail. I have to remind myself of my goal incessantly because if I let myself slip, even for a moment, it's back to square one. And it's frustrating because I know I can do better. I know I can try harder to clean up my act, to be a better person and Christian, but even at my best, the thoughts are still there. I still have to fight to keep myself in check, especially this blasted tongue of mine.
Despite the fact that I do have to rely entirely on God to "deliver me from all my fears," I have a really bad habit of idolizing other people who are closer to God than I am or, at least, people I think have a stronger faith than I do. On it's own, that's not a terrible tendency, but the catch comes when those heroes and mentors fall. Because when they screw up, I fall right along with them, and my excuse, of course, is that if they can do it, it must be okay. The logic is twisted, yes, but that's human nature for you, twisted.
I've seen people go down hard, people I looked up to and respected and turned to for help in almost every aspect of life. Whether it's using God's name to advance their personal status and fame or blatantly going against the very things they supposedly stand for, it's not easy to uphold the standards taught in an atmosphere of hypocrisy.
Granted, human nature is overwhelming at times, and everyone falls. I get that. Regardless though, it can hinder those who are still learning, those like me who yearn to be closer to God but need true and dependable guidance to get there. I'm not calling anyone particular out, and this is in no way an attack on any specific person or people, but from a young Christian who has seen leaders crumble under the weight of sin, think about the people who look up to you. Think about your followers, those who turn to you when their back is against the wall, when there's no one else to turn to.
Because when you fall, you throw them into a state of confusion and uncertainty, and if they're anything like me, it'll take a long time to build up that stability again.
And it'll take even longer to build back up their trust in you.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Healing.
It's an inspiring word, isn't it? It gives new meaning, new life to something broken.
God comes to my mind. I think He's the reason things heal. The reason things break? That's all us. All flawed human nature. Not that God doesn't hurt right along with us, but He's not always going to prevent things from falling apart. Sometimes we have to figure things out for ourselves, mostly by ourselves.
Guidance only goes so far. We have to act and speak on our own accord.
We have to acknowledge our brokenness, and we have to aid it along in the healing process. Taking care of the situation, nursing it, and even simply giving it time is a difficult, sometimes draining process. Although, the end result is what makes it all worth it. It's the part that God smiles on, the reason He allows things to break.
It's the strength that returns, greater than ever, when the healing is complete.
Granted, the healing doesn't always return things to the way they were. Despite how things may seem, the healing process may completely alter what once was.
Although we may have some rose-tinted, fairytale ending planned out, we never know for certain until the end actually arrives. But regardless, things heal the way they were meant to heal. There are no mistakes in that.
God comes to my mind. I think He's the reason things heal. The reason things break? That's all us. All flawed human nature. Not that God doesn't hurt right along with us, but He's not always going to prevent things from falling apart. Sometimes we have to figure things out for ourselves, mostly by ourselves.
Guidance only goes so far. We have to act and speak on our own accord.
We have to acknowledge our brokenness, and we have to aid it along in the healing process. Taking care of the situation, nursing it, and even simply giving it time is a difficult, sometimes draining process. Although, the end result is what makes it all worth it. It's the part that God smiles on, the reason He allows things to break.
It's the strength that returns, greater than ever, when the healing is complete.
Granted, the healing doesn't always return things to the way they were. Despite how things may seem, the healing process may completely alter what once was.
Although we may have some rose-tinted, fairytale ending planned out, we never know for certain until the end actually arrives. But regardless, things heal the way they were meant to heal. There are no mistakes in that.
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