 |  |
It has been an emotional past few weeks for Micaela and I saying goodbye to family and friends, squeezing in as many last minute hugs and kisses as we could, and finally pulling out unto the open road. As we left my families drive way with our lives packed up in forty-five feet worth truck and trailer we finally understood the emotions described to us by others who had forsaken all to follow the King. Verses like "loveless your father and mother" became an actual reality, not just ink on thin sheets of printed Bible. We left having felt every conceivable, and unpleasant emotion except for doubt. When you fully surrender your life into the gentle hands of the Father something strange happens to your perception of discomfort.
When trying to follow God's plan for our lives most people run at the first ache of heart or uneasiness of soul. For whatever reason the modern day church has been spoon fed the idea that Christians are meant to live a life without any form of pain or discomfort. They feel sadness, anxious, or butterflies in their stomach and flee as fast as they can waving a banner of retreat that reads, "It must not be God!" However, the only place we see in the Bible that Christians are without these things is heaven. Alongside the promises we are given of healing, salvation, and prosperity here on earth are promises of being hated, trials, and struggle. But why? Why would God allow us to experience discomfort? Why wouldn't He keep us from a life with difficulty? Because of what it produces in and through us.
Even though Micaela and I don't like leaving our families. Even though we hate the pain of walking out the door, and wondering if our new niece and nephew will even remember us when we get back. Even though we aren't sure when we might be able to spend another holiday with our families, we know what's at the end of all of this. Through the tears and missing our families. Through the difficulty of comprehending a foreign culture; we know beyond a shadow of turning that God is refining us for his plan and purpose!
If we tucked our tails and ran when we felt afraid or overwhelmed, then hundreds of lives might go without ever hearing the beautiful gospel of Christ. If we slammed on the brakes to avoid a few fleeting moments of uncertainty, we might miss out on key opportunities to build the character required to carry the anointing! When we understand God's inability to make mistakes it's easy to embrace every moment whether comfortable or uncomfortable. When we know who is sailing through storms with us we no longer see terrifying waves and wind on the seas we travel. Rather, we feel a little rocking back forth to help us fall asleep, and gain the rest needed to bring healing to those who wait for us on the other side of our trials. Those people need you!
They need you to buckle up and bound down the road less traveled. They need you to suck it up in the midst of tribulation, and know even if it's hard; it's always worth it. They need to see the endurance trials produce in you and let that launch them to their finish line. They need to learn how to smile like you smile when everything is seemingly going haywire. They need to see you say, "though He slays me, still I trust Him", and find courage within themselves to say the same.
These are the thoughts that are driving Micaela and I right now. It's what pushed us out the front door, and it's what will continue to push us through whatever life throws at us. Our only prayer is that when we are in the midst of "hard things" you will be inspired also to surrender your life recklessly into the arms of Jesus, and press hard toward the mark of His calling!
When trying to follow God's plan for our lives most people run at the first ache of heart or uneasiness of soul. For whatever reason the modern day church has been spoon fed the idea that Christians are meant to live a life without any form of pain or discomfort. They feel sadness, anxious, or butterflies in their stomach and flee as fast as they can waving a banner of retreat that reads, "It must not be God!" However, the only place we see in the Bible that Christians are without these things is heaven. Alongside the promises we are given of healing, salvation, and prosperity here on earth are promises of being hated, trials, and struggle. But why? Why would God allow us to experience discomfort? Why wouldn't He keep us from a life with difficulty? Because of what it produces in and through us.
Even though Micaela and I don't like leaving our families. Even though we hate the pain of walking out the door, and wondering if our new niece and nephew will even remember us when we get back. Even though we aren't sure when we might be able to spend another holiday with our families, we know what's at the end of all of this. Through the tears and missing our families. Through the difficulty of comprehending a foreign culture; we know beyond a shadow of turning that God is refining us for his plan and purpose!
If we tucked our tails and ran when we felt afraid or overwhelmed, then hundreds of lives might go without ever hearing the beautiful gospel of Christ. If we slammed on the brakes to avoid a few fleeting moments of uncertainty, we might miss out on key opportunities to build the character required to carry the anointing! When we understand God's inability to make mistakes it's easy to embrace every moment whether comfortable or uncomfortable. When we know who is sailing through storms with us we no longer see terrifying waves and wind on the seas we travel. Rather, we feel a little rocking back forth to help us fall asleep, and gain the rest needed to bring healing to those who wait for us on the other side of our trials. Those people need you!
They need you to buckle up and bound down the road less traveled. They need you to suck it up in the midst of tribulation, and know even if it's hard; it's always worth it. They need to see the endurance trials produce in you and let that launch them to their finish line. They need to learn how to smile like you smile when everything is seemingly going haywire. They need to see you say, "though He slays me, still I trust Him", and find courage within themselves to say the same.
These are the thoughts that are driving Micaela and I right now. It's what pushed us out the front door, and it's what will continue to push us through whatever life throws at us. Our only prayer is that when we are in the midst of "hard things" you will be inspired also to surrender your life recklessly into the arms of Jesus, and press hard toward the mark of His calling!
RSS Feed
