Life of a Christ Follower
These past few weeks have probably been the most difficult of my life. Not in the fact that bad things have necessarily happened but more in the fact that I am faced with many circumstances that do not really have a conclusion. There’s a lot of open-ended goings on. Like, we need to do this, we need to take care of that, we need to buy this, we need to pay for that, etc. and we don’t have the means or abilities to make it happen. I reason with my self that if we are doing what God has called us to do, then this whole journey, this whole mission, at some point, must get a little easier, right?
You would think, or at least I would, but it seems like every mountain we get past another pops up, unforeseen, waiting for us, jumping on our back, weighing us down and filling our minds with countless impossibilities. The faith we were able to muster up to get past the initial obstacle gets pressed back down to feelings of doubt, worry, and fear as the next one arises. Constantly, it’s the mental struggle of the back and forth, the ups and downs, the good and the bad, the wins and the losses. Literally, we’re riding the roller coaster of life. I’m seeing more easily now the reasoning behind this cliché. Quite frankly, though, it’s exhausting and I don’t like it! I’d rather things, well, most things, be simple and straight-forward, knowing the necessities of life are taken care of, or rather, knowing there is a conclusion to the circumstance.
Right now, there are several things that we need to happen in order to move, as is in most cases and I’m sure you’re all well aware what it’s like to move, but, there are several things that I have no idea how they are going to happen, especially, in the next thirty days. I mean it seems impossible, and, if we had to move right now, in this moment, it would be impossible and I must be saying to myself one hundred times a day, “God, I don’t know what we’re going to do?”
However, through it all, our faith is not shaken. Tested, tried, and weary? Sure! But, not shaken. And, I would say, all things considered, that we are remaining very upbeat and confident. Honestly, I think that’s right where God wants us, especially, when I reflect on Hebrews 11:1,
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Honestly, right now, we are hoping for a LOT of stuff to happen that we don’t, or can’t, see happening. Most of it is financial, sure. Seems like daily we’re faced with expenses that we don’t have the funds for. Then we start to think about what we need to actually make the move, fees, deposits, moving trucks, etc. It never ends. But, it’s also physical and mental. Like I said before, it’s exhausting facing these immovable mountains on a daily basis. It’s exhausting to think about trying to pack up, load up, and move out with a three year old and a two year old, who want to unpack everything as soon as its packed! It’s exhausting thinking about making a 12-hour (probably going to be longer) trek to an unfamiliar area (with same 3 and 2 yr old!). It’s exhausting thinking about starting over, again, at a time in life when things are supposed to be figured out. Quite honestly, I ask myself often, “What are you thinking?” Most of the time my answer is, “I have no clue!”
But, still, we have hope! We are full of life and we are excited for the next phase! To most, we probably do seem a bit crazy and it doesn’t make any sense and the big question that most would be afraid to ask is, “Why?” Well, this hope that I’m talking about, now, it’s not your regular old, hum drum, falsified hope that doesn’t sustain and satisfy. No, it’s an eternal, true hope. It’s a hope that sees beyond our present circumstances and rests in the eternal kingdom of God Almighty. It’s a hope that rests and ends in Jesus. It really is the only circumstance that will matter at the end of time and it is the only circumstance that has a true conclusion. Everything else just builds up to that moment. We have assurance that our hope is going to be found and satisfied in Jesus because we believe we are being faithful to his call on our lives, to share the Gospel for the advancement of his kingdom for the glory of God. We believe this because we know that God is faithful and that he will take care of us and he will see us through to the end. We were never promised an easy road. We were never promised gold and diamonds. We were never promised a simple life free from trials, tribulation, and persecution. But, we were promised His Son, and He is more than enough and He is all we need to find true joy, living in hope, fueled by faith. We believe that He will provide for us and take care of our needs because He has continued to do so even to this very hour. There is no doubt that God is working and that He will see this through to the very end and He will cause it to be edifying for His kingdom. There is no doubt we are right where God wants us to be.
We have faith because our hope is sure in Jesus. This satisfies our souls, eternally! This is where our joy is found even in the midst of the storm. The doubts and fears we have about bills and expenses being paid, the anxiety about uprooting our lives with two toddlers for the second time in two years, and the uncertainty of living in a new, large city absolutely pale in comparison to this truth.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
It is true! I have peace in the midst of turbulence. I am able to lay down at night, close my eyes, and rest peacefully in spite of all of these anxiety-riddled, restlessness-causing circumstances of life because I know and I believe, I trust and I hope that laboring for the Gospel ultimately has zero to do with me and everything to do with the advancement of God’s kingdom and his glory. We’re just trying to be obedient to what He has presently called us to do!
*If you would like to stay up-to-date on this crazy adventure with God that Chris and I are on, we have a super amazing subscribe button you can push on the bottom of our homepage!
*If you feel like God is putting Chris and I on your heart for prayer, please pray because we need it!
*If you feel like God is putting Chris and I on your heart for financial assistance in being able to make the move to Indianapolis, there is a just as amazing link to click below!