amidst all the great fun that summer brings, the reality of the struggles of life are unavoidable at times. a reality that i've both observed and experienced over the past few weeks is that people are hurting. deep down, people are hurting. relationships are drowning, not growing. hearts are easily pulled away from one another. even we christians forget that we belong to The Almighty God. what is wrong with us? why do we so easily get distracted? how did the stupid little details of life creep in and turn our eyes away from Jesus?
God carried me through the last few weeks when i felt He was distant. it takes me feeling lonely, dumb, frustrated, hurt and at a loss for the next step before i purposefully get myself away from the mundane crap of life and, this time, take my butt to starbux for 15 minutes. that's all He needed - was for me to show up and give up - so He could pick me up. i popped open a book i bought a few weeks ago. not gonna deny it, i was a little hesitant to pick it up. after feeling desperate and lost, i opened the book and started reading. His love came pouring out. it wasn't long before i realized He'd been carrying me. it wasn't long before my heart softened again... which of course means tears to follow. later that night i heard chris tomlin's song unfailing love. ok, i've heard this song 1,000 times, but this time, i listened.
i'm typically not a fan of copying/pasting lyrics, but read these words. can you sing them with an honest heart? do you believe them? can you trust them? i pray you find comfort in their truth during your time of need.
you have my heart
and i am yours forever
you are my strength
God of grace and power
and everything you hold in your hand
still you make time for me
i can't understand
praise you God of earth and sky
how beautiful is your unfailing love
unfailing love
and you never change God you remain
the Holy One
my unfailing love
unfailing love
you are my rock
the one i hold on to
you are my song
and sing for you
and everything you hold in your hand
still you make time for me
i can't understand
praise you God of earth and sky
how beautiful is your unfailing love
unfailing love
and you never change God you remain
the Holy One
my unfailing love
unfailing love
i was humbled by not only the reminder of His unfailing love, but the reminder of how stinkin selfish i can be. i'm worried about this or that and i'm not getting this or that and s/he's not treating me blah, blah, blah. stop. turn your eyes upon Jesus, yates! He's been standing with you the whole time. sometimes i beat myself up for not being able to do the right thing 100% of the time, or not being able to pull myself together or not being able to act the way i want to or be as nice as i know i can be. why? because i'm trying too hard. i made myself a note while on a mission trip last year: "you don't 'got this one.'" i often think i can handle what seems like even the easiest situations on my own. nope. but i don't have to. Jesus is there to guide and help. when i remember simply and ever so slightly to turn my eyes upon Jesus, i'm melted by his grace. my heart is immediately transformed and doing the right thing, being the right me and feeling confident in the woman of God that i am just comes [super]naturally.
i think for many years i got stuck there. i think many christians do... get stuck. they believe the story of Jesus. they go to church. even bought a christian cd or two. pray for sick people, etc. but their hearts are never transformed. what's it going to take? He's standing right there. He's been trying to get your attention. what's getting in your way? you? your sin? pride? life? you want to be a person that's close to God? genuinely loves God with all your heart? you want to be a Godly leader? who is it that God is calling you to be? oh, you're not equipped for the job? probably not. now He's got you right where He wants you, turning to Him, depending on Him...
every
step
of
the
way.
layna made me sing 'leaning on the everlasting arms' to her in church today. ha.
ok, You got my attention.
No comments:
Post a Comment