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We can’t lead others to healthy places when we are making unhealthy choices ourselves.
We must not forget that our soul hunger can only be satisfied by daily doses of truth, otherwise we will be prone to snack on deception.
But what if life settling down and all your disappointments going away would be the worst thing that could happen to you? What if your “I don’t know” is helping you, not hurting you? What if your “I don’t know” is helping you let go of things you aren’t supposed to know, because that knowledge would be too heavy a burden for today? But the One you do know, the Lord, is so perfectly capable to bear it all.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33–34)
We think we want comfort in the I-don’t-know times of life. But comfort isn’t a solution to seek; rather, it’s a by-product we’ll reap when we stay close to the Lord.
Without challenges and changes people tend to grow increasingly distant from God and resistant to His ways.
Make no mistake: being lulled into a false sense of security is worse than going through the process of suffering.
We must sip the suffering of today, so we don’t have to drown in the devastations of tomorrow.
Isaiah 43:18–19 reminds us, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
We were not made to dwell in the past but instead to abide—to soak in and be saturated—with Christ in the present.
If we have a misunderstanding of God, we will most certainly have a wrong understanding of our circumstances. But when we see that God’s purpose is good, we can trust His process is good.
The enemy tries to gain a foothold over: Affection—my heart, what I love Adoration—my mouth, what I worship Attention—my mind, what I focus on Attraction—my eyes, what I desire Ambition—my calling, what I spend my time seeking Action—my choices, how I stand firm
But as Lamentations 3:21–23 reminds us, we are to call in the hope by recalling the truth: Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. (James 5:13 NASB)
“Perfection intimidates. Compassion inspires. And in that you will finally find the why.
I am a human who is sold out to the sacredness of marriage but who very much realizes I can’t control anyone’s choices but my own. I’m also a human who desperately wants to still believe love can be good. People can change. Addictions can be healed and affairs can be gotten over. It’s not easy. But it’s the path I’m choosing.
To open my heart again means to expose what’s been so badly wounded to the sharp edge of trust again. To gain trust, you must come close. And dare to try it. Yes, this is risky. Yes, I shake with the uncertainty that it’s okay to try again. Yes, I am unclear how to push away the fog of uncertainty. So, I make the choice to not try and figure it all out.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (Isaiah 40:28–29)
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2–4)
Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:8)