YOU'RE DOING GREAT!
You were born for greatness! When you were woven together in your mother’s womb, the ingredients for existence were poured into you and the plans and the purposes for your life were written into being.[1] You are not an accident. You are on this planet to do something that only you can do. But it takes time. Greatness is not an overnight thing. We have many things to contend with–in this thing called life–to help refine us, so we can contain the greatness we’ve been called to.
Recently I started reading through the Bible chronologically and have been struck by how many times the early biblical heroes messed up–and I’m only up to Jacob! They made some rookie mistakes–and then some of them, even made them again! But God kept His promises to His people and more than that, sometimes He even let them benefit from their sin[2]. I don’t pretend to understand that (and I’m definitely not condoning sin), but I realised (again!) God is God. I won’t always understand His ways; why certain things happen or what is to come in the future. But I do know He is El Shaddai, the God Almighty.
Like Abraham and Jacob, sometimes we make mistakes. Sometimes we do the best we can in a moment and in any other moment we might do better. People can throw us curveballs, life can rock us and what we thought we understood can be turned completely on it’s head in an instant. Continuing to wait for something–whether it be circumstances in health, relationships or finances–to turn around, can wear us down.
It’s when we’re tired and confused that it’s easy to let the guard down around our heart and our mind. We can start to believe things that just aren’t true. When we’re tired, the battle is always harder.
So to everyone who is feeling tired, a bit worn out or unsure about where you’re at, I want to tell you that you’re doing great. Father God has seen your struggle, He’s right there in the midst of it with you, though you may not have been able to feel His Presence. I see Him gifting you a bouquet of flowers. The flowers are significant of what you need right now. To some I see Him whispering tender words of love in your ear, letting you know how special you are to Him. To others, He's releasing additional angels to protect you and your loved ones. To some, He’s calling out, drawing you in so you’ll pour out your heart to Him[3]; He’s longing to come to you as the Comforter. In all of this, you are not alone in your circumstances.
Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “How enduring is God’s loyal love; the Eternal has inexhaustible compassion. Here they are, every morning, new! Your faithfulness, God, is as broad [large from one side to the other][4]as the day.”[5] Every day we’re given the opportunity to start afresh; we are able to keep the dark clouds of yesterday from spoiling our blues skies of today. Walk in truth today, you’re doing great! Keep going!
[1] Psalm 139:13-16
[2] Abraham gaining flocks from lying about Sarah being his sister (Gen 12:16 & 13:2, Gen 14:20); Jacob deceiving his father and gaining the blessing over Esau (Gen 27:1-29); Jacob gaining large flocks from Laban by his deceptive breeding practices (Gen 30:25-40).
[3] Psalm 62:8
[4] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/broad
[5] The Voice translation
PERMISSION TO CHANGE DIRECTION
You are not stuck; you have permission to change direction!
I wish someone had once said that to me. The saying goes, “The only constant thing in life is change.” That may be right, but it doesn’t make it any easier for certain personality types (one of which is mine!) Change is not easy for me. Understanding my boundaries and people’s expectations make me feel safe; I know what I’m dealing with. Plans are my allies; they work with me to achieve my future. They provide a framework that is the safety net for my mind. Unfortunately, these things can sometimes keep me stuck and restrict my potential because I fear free falling into the unknown.
I wish someone had once told me that it’s great to have plans and a framework for the future. And that it’s helpful to understand people’s expectations. But these are not restrictions to be tied to. Instead they are a reflection of how my Creator made me in order to outwork my purpose.
Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” This means we have dreams we want to see fulfilled and hopes we want to come to pass, but it the Lord himself who establishes us. We can try to make things happen in our own strength or we can stick rigidly to the way things were. Either is not God’s way. We must be willing to listen for the whisper of our Heavenly Father and to walk in step with the Holy Spirit who will guide us.
For me, to let go of things where other people are involved feels like failure. I feel like I’ve let people down and haven’t followed through on my word. Other times, it’s the fear of people’s perceptions, what I think they’re thinking, that keeps me stuck; I don’t want to look like I’m wavering to and fro.
But the truth is, life is dynamic. We constantly face change. It’s okay to have to adjust what we’re doing, in order to keep pace with what God is doing in our lives. At times, we have long periods where it feels like nothing is happening at all, but God is going ahead to prepare the way for us. Other times, so many adjustments are taking place, we feel like we’re lying on a chiropractor’s table. And sometimes, we just don’t like what is being asked of us. No one season is more virtuous than another. All are necessary because they teach us different things.
I’m here to tell you what I wish someone had told me. You have permission to change direction. You are not stuck in the past. You are not stuck in what happened to you. God’s purposes have not overtaken you and left you behind. You are in His loving hands and He is guiding you towards your future. Trust Him. He’s totally and utterly faithful. Listen for the whisper and when you hear it, be willing to move. He will establish you and it will be beyond your wildest dreams!
THE BEAUTY OF CHANGE
Have you ever had one of those moments where you’re really excited about your future and then suddenly, out of nowhere, you’re slammed with a million questions and your elation melts into an overwhelmed puddle?
Earlier this week I had one of those moments. I can’t wait for this year to happen, yet the practical reality of juggling multiple projects, managing my busy household and having to make a continuous stream of important decisions, took a toll on my mood. Needing unhurried time with my Creator, I decided to walk along the beach.
Orewa Beach is a three kilometer stretch of sand not far from where my children go to school, so that was my destination. Leaving my phone in the car, I started towards one end. As I walked, I found myself facing a familiar location; the place where the estuary meets the ocean at the end of the beach. There’s a strip of grass and a small sandy expanse. At low tide, you can walk around the rocks to another tiny, sandy bay. It’s a safe place, both practically because it’s small enough that I can keep my eye on all four children and the dog at the same time and psychologically because I know this place.
A lot of time has been spent at this little beach on the other side of the river, either on my own or with family. I've processed a lot of important decisions there. I know the concrete bunker where I've sat and journalled or just rested when I couldn't write. I know the plaque in the ground that says, “…Anna loved the beach.” And I know how far the rubbish bin is if it’s needed [insert smiley face emoticon]. The estuary was somewhere I gravitated to and often ended up when I needed time out.
But today, I wasn't there, I was standing opposite my familiar place. In a sense, it was if I had “crossed over”. I was no longer confined to the small patch of sand and grass that edged the estuary, I was on the beach where the sand stretched further than I could see and the ocean extended to the horizon. I was standing in a spacious place, free from restriction and it felt refreshing.
Yet, I realized that sometimes a spacious place can also feel overwhelming. It’s different; things are no longer familiar. It’s going to take time to learn and get familiar with the details of my new place. Decisions still need to be made in new seasons but I no longer have the comfort of the familiar to help guide those decisions. Thankfully, I have the ultimate help with the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13).
As I stood and looked, I had three potential views:
The endless stretch of sand ahead of me; it speaks of the future. I don’t know all that it holds and I can’t see beyond the corner but I can trust the One who holds my future. He is always good and the plans He has for me hold hope (Jeremiah 29:11). He is also my strength (Psalm 18:1) when life throws curve-balls.
The waves rolling in from the side; they speak of the present moment. I can stop looking forward, trying to figure everything out and I can take a breather to appreciate right where I am and the scenery around me. In every moment, there is something to be grateful for (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
The estuary behind me; this is my past. What lies behind is familiar because I've been there. I can enjoy the memories and appreciate the learning that’s contributed to my growth as a person. But if I want the ease of my “safe place”, it means I will have to leave the beach of my future to go and stand back on the sands of comfort; I can’t live in the past and have my future simultaneously. I must make a choice.
As the sand massaged my feet, the breeze lightly on my face as I breathed the salt air, I felt the weight of uncertainty gently lift off on my shoulders. It was exchanged for the beauty of this moment. The future is mine, I’m only required to take one step at a time. Each step I take is further along the beach and into what’s ahead. Every time I feel overwhelmed, I can stop and look out to the waves and be grateful for the good things in my life. And when nostalgic comfort comes knocking, I can be appreciative of what I've learnt, the people I've met and I can smile and continue taking walking up the beach.
A VALLEY OF DRY BONES
“Son of man, can these bones live?”[1]
How often do we travel through life when it feels dry and uninspiring? Maybe it’s not our whole life but areas of it. These areas lack freshness and instead of making us feel alive we drag our feet through each day hoping for change but not knowing how to bring it about.
God shows Ezekiel a valley of dry bones and asks him, “Can these bones live?” If I asked you about the dry areas of your life, can you see them coming to life? Do you have hope or is it best to bury the bones and move through the valley to greener pasture elsewhere?
This is what God says about those areas, “Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord...I will put breath in you, and you will come to life.”[2]
Our lives are designed to be lived fully alive in the Spirit of God. It is a lifelong journey of discovery and learning. Billy Corgan says, “I think a spiritual journey is not so much a journey of discovery. It’s a journey of recovery. It’s a journey of uncovering your own inner nature. It’s already there.”
I fully agree with this statement; I think it is very insightful. We are all made by design and throughout our life we learn more about our own design, the purpose we were designed for, our Creator and how it all fits together. It is not something that can be done in one moment of time; it is something to journey through for a lifetime.
As a recovering perfectionist and a lifetime learner of patience, I want my life to be inspiring and fruitful NOW! The expectations I have placed on myself in the past have been excruciating and too heavy to carry; I have been crushed under the weight of them. When I read verses like the ones above I thought it should be done instantaneously otherwise I am failing God and/or there is something wrong with me.
I am learning that yes, God has done the supernaturally fast work in my life but that doesn't necessarily make it a pattern for the future. Instead, I need to adjust the mind-set with which I approach my life. Can the dry parts of my life come to life with the breath of God? Yes! I know God can do it and wants to do it so I will continue to speak life into the dry areas so they might flourish.
Do you think God can breathe life into your dry areas?
[1] These words are taken from Ezekiel 37:3 in the Bible (New International Version)
[2] Ezekiel 37:4&6c