Trustworthy Framing

Not only is our Father God trustworthy, but His Word is as well. “Righteous are you, O Lord, and your laws are right. The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy” (Psalm 119:137-138). A devotional I was reading recently used this verse to describe that God is framing a masterpiece…He uses Scripture as a frame to give us the correct perspective on life. I think a lot of times I get caught up in what I think my life “should be”. I forget that the Scripture often talks more about our character than our comfort. The Scripture doesn’t say that I will find the perfect husband, be happily married, have a successful career, have beautiful children, and enjoy every aspect of life. Yet, I think that is what “should” happen. I look at those around me, and I wonder why God has left me out. Why do they have those things and I don’t? Has He forgotten about me? Has He decided I am not good enough for those things?

I could choose to think He is not a good God and think He has abandoned me. But the framework of Scripture tells me “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged" (Deuteronomy 31:8). I take my first step toward the right perspective on life by reminding myself that God doesn’t leave me. Then, I take the next step by choosing to put my mind on Him. Isaiah 26:3 says “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You”. I can look back on past circumstances that have built the character quality of faith in my life as well as to be inclined, or have the tendency to believe that He will be faithful again. Only by keeping my thoughts on God and reminding myself that He and His Word are COMPLETELY trustworthy am I able to find peace of mind. Then, I can believe in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I can choose to believe that He still has a plan for my life….it may not look like anyone else’s plan or even like my plan for my life. But I can decide to think on the positive things in my life, like amazing friends and family who love and support me. I can focus on what God wants me to think about. The Bible commands us to think on what is “true, honorable, and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8).

Is it always easy for me to think positive thoughts, to believe He has a plan, and to trust that He won’t leave me? Definitely not. Sometimes it is a moment by moment process. Thank goodness God recognizes our weakness: “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). He says I don’t have to be strong all the time…in fact, He works the best when I think I have no strength at all. I can reframe my thoughts by choosing to believe the Bible is true despite my circumstances. By changing my perception of my life to God’s, I am changing my outlook. I am then able to see that His “frame” makes my life look more beautiful, even the parts that I previously viewed as ugly. He is creating a masterpiece of my life, a string of pearls.

CHOOSING to Trust

Like the train story, we often think we have things figured out when we are really going in the wrong direction. Sometimes we think we are honoring God with our lives and although we know there are a few “skeletons” in our closets, we think we are doing pretty well. It can be so easy to get caught up in thinking we are living the Christian life by serving God at church, building relationships with others, and attempting to have a quiet time of prayer and Bible study. I don’t know about you, but sometimes God gently shows me that this is not all there is. He calls me to a deeper surrender, a place where He is all I need, a place that I must completely trust Him in order to survive. He calls me to a place where I must give up my ideas of how my life should be and completely lean on Him, completely trusting His plan for my life. Wow. He desires that I not just have a pearl created once a year or even once a month, but He sometimes wants to create one each day! He allows irritations, uncertainties, and pressures to “pearlize” my faith and my character. He allows circumstances to cause me to question my beliefs that He has a plan for my life, that He is still at work, and that He ultimately knows what He is doing. These circumstances are crossroads for me to either have faith and choose to trust, or for me to give in to my thoughts of abandonment, frustration, and “why me?”.

As with every change in my life, I am forced to decide if I will have faith. Ironically, I often want God to give me more faith and trust in Him by SHOWING me things. I ask that He help me to trust Him by showing me the path ahead. It makes me laugh just thinking about how silly I am. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” The path of obedience is often scary because we really don’t know where we are going. We can’t concretely SEE what He is about to do. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says “for we walk by faith, not by sight”. I must CHOOSE to walk with Him; I must consciously CHOOSE to trust Him. I am finding that it is better to pray that God will not only help me to trust (like in Mark 9:24), but to also actually use the phrase “I CHOOSE to trust You in this.” We must make an active choice to choose to trust Him, even when we don’t feel like it or don’t even feel trust. We can’t trust our emotions and feelings. We must make choices to walk by faith and not by sight. By doing so, we are giving God the glory rather than ourselves. There have been so many times in my life that it is obvious it was God’s work rather than my own. By giving us circumstances to make the choice to trust Him, God is giving me opportunities to SEE He is trustworthy. “O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant” (2 Samuel 7:28). While God doesn’t give me a road map to life, He does promise to be trustworthy. Sometimes I just have to take an active step of faith before He allows me to SEE the plan and to SEE that He is trustworthy. I can fully trust Him each day to have my best interests at heart, to trust His timing, to trust His purpose, and to trust that He is constantly forming pearls out of the struggles of my life.

The Train

This past week I was in Dallas for a conference and became quite a “city girl”. I would drive to the TRE train station near the airport, hop on the train to Dallas, then ride a shuttle to the appropriate hotel. One morning I decided to try out the DART train instead of the shuttle to the appropriate hotel, thinking it would be faster. My colleague had stated all I had to do was get on one of the DART trains, regardless of the color. So, I confidently hopped off the TRE train, boarded a DART train, and thought I was set to go. Well, it turned out I had gotten on the train going the OPPOSITE direction of my hotel. I realized this as I began comparing the map inside the train to the stops we were making. I quickly determined I needed to get off and find a train going the other direction. When I arrived at the appropriate hotel, late I might add, I asked my colleague why he had not told me that I must ride the NORTHBOUND train. How was I supposed to know which train that was? Later, we compared the trains at the train station and he agreed that they were not clearly marked. This left me frustrated, wondering how I was supposed to figure out which train to board. The next morning I decided to ask someone who was waiting for the train which direction it was going to ensure I boarded the appropriate train. Miraculously, I arrived at the right hotel.

I am still laughing about my experience in the city, and I am also thankful that God was with me the entire time. I am thankful that he kept me safe, kept me calm, and helped me problem solve to get to my destination. I am also reflecting on this story and recognizing the direct ties to the Christian life. Just like my colleague told me it didn’t matter which train I chose, many times we are told it doesn’t matter which train we choose because they will all lead to the same location. This, of course, is not true and is actually quite misleading. One example is in regards to the route to heaven. Many people today believe there are many ways to heaven, that it doesn’t matter which road we take. But the Bible says there is only one way, there is only one train, and that is Jesus Christ. I can also see that this correlates to the paths we choose in life. Not all lifestyles lead to obedience to Christ. Some lifestyles actually lead us astray, ending in the wrong destination. The exciting part is that we can get off the wrong train! Just like when I realized I needed to get off the southbound train and board a northbound train, the Holy Spirit convicts us when we need to get off our current path and turn completely around. And like a train, there are many stops. I believe He gives us many opportunities to make that change. Finally, I relate asking the person at the train station which direction the train was headed to Christians asking other Christians which way their train is heading. I believe God places other Christians in our lives to keep us accountable to following the right route. I believe we can ask them if we are on the right path toward obedience. They can also be helpful in instructing us on how to get to a destination….like how do we have a better prayer life, how do we handle a situation in a Godly way, how do we grow a deeper relationship with Christ? While other Christians are critical to our walk with Christ, it is also important to keep in mind that like my colleague, even the most well-meaning person can lead us astray. So how do we know? We must always look to God’s Word, for 2 Timothy 3:16-17 states: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." We must constantly look to the God who loves us deeply and who desires us to be on the train that draws us closer to Him. So, what is your destination? Are you on the right train?

Faith or Accomplishment

Sometimes I feel like what I do is not important, that I am not having an impact. I am not saying that I need to hear a “good job” or see instant results, but sometimes I wonder how much I am really accomplishing. Hmm…accomplish…not that word again! Yes, I have the personality that desires to accomplish and finish things….a need to complete things and have closure. So, I guess that by not seeing results, I am not accomplishing and therefore not feeding that part of my personality. Interestingly enough, this can either frustrate me or cause me to look to Christ. It puts me at the crossroads of faith and self. I can either look for approval, ask what others think, or try to bulldoze my way through to the finish; or, I can have faith. By faith I can trust that God is still in charge, that He has a plan, and that HE is accomplishing the plan, even when I don’t feel it. It is another opportunity for me to see that I am not enough on my own, that I need God in order to fulfill this need to accomplish. I can trust HIM to finish it, for HIM to complete the project, for HIM to accomplish His will and purpose. But then I am again faced with a choice. Either I can feel relieved and rest in that fact, or I can get mad that it isn’t me that has accomplished….and how SELFISH is that!? My job is to be faithful to what He has called me to do, to be obedient. He has given me specific talents and abilities and placed me in certain roles to fulfill a purpose. I am humbled to think that He would use me to accomplish something, despite my failures and insecurities and shortcomings. Like Moses, I often question why God has placed me in areas that require public speaking. I really do not have a gift for the spoken word. However, I am constantly amazed at how He gives me the words to say and somehow uses what I say to impact others. He is faithful to complete the work He has begun and is glorifying Himself by speaking His words through me. I just have to remember that my work for the Lord is NEVER pointless or purposeless….so I must be steadfast in my work for Him. As 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Sweet Spot

“God created us to live with a single passion to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life. The wasted life is the life without this passion. God calls us to pray and think and dream and plan and work not to be made much of, but to make much of him in every part of our lives” (John Piper, “Don’t Waste Your Life”, p.37). “Enjoying and displaying are both crucial. If we try to display the excellence of God without joy in it, we will display a shell of hypocrisy and create scorn or legalism. But if we claim to enjoy his excellence and do not display it for others to see and admire, we deceive ourselves, because the mark of God-enthralled joy is to overflow and expand by extending itself into the hearts of others” (p.31). Do you joyfully display His excellence? Do you enjoy being in the presence of God, reveling in His power and love? I can honestly say that sometimes doing so is easier than others. How about those times when you really feel His presence during a worship service, or maybe up in the mountains overlooking a stream, or even during a hard time when you sense His love and comfort? The believer has the presence of God with him at all times, yet sometimes we just don’t feel it. Yet we must passionately pursue making His presence known to all people. So, how do we do that? First, I believe you must have a personal relationship with Christ. Without Him, you can’t display his excellence, because we can’t display Him without Him in us. Second, it is important to recognize what passions and gifts He has given you to display. Do you have a talent for singing, public speaking, math, building things, computers, or drawing? Do you have a passion to help people, teach others how to do things, manage money, or to create? By using your unique, God-given gifts and passions you are doing what God has created you to do and glorifying him. He wants us to pray and think and dream about our lives, focusing on what He has called us to do….to make much of Him. Our talents are not so that we can have the focus on us, but rather they are to shine light on Him. “ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23). Max Lucado in “Cure for the Common Life” says: “Use your uniqueness (what you do) to make a big deal out of God (why you do it) every day of your life (where you do it). At the convergence of all three, you'll find the cure for the common life: your sweet spot.” Have you found your sweet spot? Louie Giglio has a 268 Declaration: "Because I was created by God and for His glory, I will magnify Him as I respond to His great love. My desire is to make knowing and enjoying God the passionate pursuit of my life". This statement is taken from Isaiah 26:8- “Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” Have you recognized God's great love for you? Then respond to that great love by living out your "sweet spot", by enjoying God and using your gifts and talents to make Him known.

Seashells or Pearls

Last night I began reading “Don’t Waste Your Life” by John Piper. The author tells the story of a couple who took retirement before the age of 60 and spent the rest of their lives on their boat, playing softball, and collecting seashells. As appealing as that sounds, we were not created for a life of leisure. In heaven, God won’t be asking to see our seashells. He will want to see our pearls….he will want to see what we have done to bring glory to him. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 says “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” Nowhere in this passage does it say that we will be rewarded for “checking out” or “retiring” from serving God. We must finish this race, running strongly to the end. While God grants us seasons of rest, these seasons are not merely to relax and do only what we wish to do. They are seasons to refocus on Him, times for reflection on where we have been and where we are going, times to allow Him to rejuvenate our souls so that we may re-enter the race stronger than before. My mind thinks I will be happy to spend my summer sleeping in, laying by the pool, watching movies, and doing whatever I want to do. But I find that I am not truly at peace only serving myself in this way. I find true peace by spending more time with my Father, by reflecting on who He is and what He has done in my life. My true joy comes from serving Him and others. So while I think that I would love to just collect seashells, I am actively choosing to let Him make pearls.

Releasing to Find Rest

As I travel this road in expectant and anxious pursuit of a pearl, I am finding God’s rewards along the way….maybe they are just baby pearls, or maybe my life will one day consist of a string of pearls, tiny pieces of beauty strung together by my Father’s hands. I am also finding myself to be a walking dichotomy. While I generally attempt to keep my life the same and avoid change, I also find that at other times I actually embrace change. I guess it all depends on the circumstances. For instance, I hung on for dear life to keep my relationships the same about a year ago, yet now I am releasing my grip and enjoying my changing relationships. Maybe I don’t mind change as long as it seems to be for the better…..well, the better for me.

In ways, we kind of “outgrow” our current place in life or get too big for the body we are in. So, we change to move forward in life. Without change, we would never leave our parents’ home, live on our own or get married, and become part of society….kind of scary. Change enables us to impact our world, to live the life that God has planned for us, and to ultimately bring glory to God. While change can seem scary at first, I will be the first to say that there is freedom and peace in relaxing your grip on your life, trusting God, and letting Him change you and/or your circumstances. He is the Almighty God, the One who has created us, and the One who has our best interests at heart. Though our first instinct is to hang on for dear life to what is “normal”, we can actually find true rest by trusting in our Father. “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken” (Psalm 62:1-2).