Hello girls! I hope that everyone is doing well, and all of you are having a great start of the school year! Anyone already excited about summer?????
Ha Ha JK…but seriously.
When Brittany asked me to write, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to share. I began to make up cliche stories and ideas in my head that would probably sound good and “right” on paper, but I really don’t want to just provide a good story. I wanted to be REAL with all of you. As members of the Body of Christ, we are called to “spur one another towards Christ” (Hebrews 10:24)-to encourage and challenge one another. So, here it is girls. This is what I’m dealing with right now…
A broken heart. Can anyone relate?
I’m not going to fill you in with all the little details that don’t really matter, but in a nutshell-much of what I placed all of my security has been completely stripped from me. How easy is it to say you have complete security in God when you still have those tangible things there for you as well? I am in college – broken up with my boyfriend (security) – 4 hours away from my best friend who was, at one time, going to be my roommate (security) – 3 hours away from my family (security). Don’t get me wrong. College has definitely been awesome so far, and I’m not wallowing in complete misery. However, there are many times when I have just felt completely broken. I tell you all of this to ask you the question:
Where is your security?
It is so easy to say, “I trust God in everything” when life is going smoothly. How strong is your faith and trust? If something happened to test your faith (small or big), where is your security? Again in Hebrews 10, the Bible calls us to “hold UNSWERVINGLY to the hope we profess because (this is the best part) HE WHO PROMISED IS FAITHFUL.” (vs. 23) Yes, all of this is truth, and we will surely be blessed when we remain faithful. However, we all know how awful our “times of testing” can be. I don’t know how many times I’ve been told:
“Just give it time.”
“Talk/cry it out.”
“It WILL get better.”
While all of these statements do hold true for the most part, life can flat out hurt sometimes, and you just really don’t want to hear it. I had one of those days yesterday. There were lots of tears, and I just felt broken. With so much of my security gone or far away, I have no choice but to completely (for real…going beyond the words here) depend and fix my eyes on Christ. He never says that life is going to be easy, or that difficult times won’t hurt. And when I say hurt, I mean that sharp pang that seems to shoot through you at random moments during the day. Following? Well, as I was and am struggling, I remembered something Beth Moore said. She was teaching out of Luke 8 about the Parable of the Sower. The seed talked about in the chapter represents God’s Word and Truth in our lives. There is the seed that is heard, but takes no root. These people are easily shaken by difficulty and fall away. There is seed that takes root, but it is choked by worry and fear. Worry and fear hinders us from taking full root in Christ Jesus. This is another topic, but I am a worrier and planner and am constantly striving to surrender those worries/plans to Christ. After doing so I know that true freedom and satisfaction can be found. Anyway…Finally, there is the seed that hears, takes full root, and preservers to produce crop. This should be the goal for all of our lives. One statement Beth Moore made is something that really struck me…
“For the seed (God’s WORD) to take complete root in my life, I must become completely BROKEN (through trials, difficulty, tragedy,…etc.) in which my tears LITERALLY grow the seed, and I am desperately seeking His face.”
Also, in church last night (after quite a rough day) we sang two songs that I’m sure all of you know by heart that provided me with renewed strength and a new attitude. God is so good. In the midst my hurt and worry, he provides comfort. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard these songs, but I was able to take something new away from them. It really was what I needed to hear. It’s NOT about the song, but the content. Always keep your eyes and ears open. God speaks in so many different ways.
“Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord…Our Hope Our Strong Deliverer!”
“At the Cross I bow my knee where your blood was shed for me. THERE’S NO GREATER LOVE THAN THIS.”
Whew. That’s a lot of stuff. Now, I don’t know what you are going through. It could be ten times worse than what I have shared or what you may think is “not that big of a deal.” God knows our hearts and cares about every little detail in our lives. Nothing is too big or too small for Him! I challenge you to persevere! Place your security in Jesus Christ. He will NEVER let you down. Use your brokenness as a time to truly fix your eyes on Him. He is teaching, growing, and stretching me like never before! (Oh, and it is definitely VERY painful at times) But, He always provided me with the strength to make it! “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness!” -2 Cor. 12:9 Girls, we love to talk to each other and vent about EVERYTHING! I pray that in your moment of despair, you cling to His Word and truth like never before! He is the one that will fully satisfy, comfort, and help you. Hold on UNSWERVINGLY! This is my prayer for you! May your faith be unshakeable! Don’t even give Satan the opportunity! Lean on each other, but above all, lean on Him. He will never disappoint. He’s got the plan, girls. And, I am 100% positive it is going to be worth our while to trust that He has got our back!
I’m praying for you girls! I hope that you are seeking His face daily! He’s got great things planned for you. I better see all of you Fall Retreat! Love you!
Paige Meadows