Wrestling Life Out
1/4/2018
The triumph of my faith is not the absence of doubt. The triumph of my faith is the ability for the light of Christ to shine in the deepest darkest recesses of my heart. There's a benefit of having to wrestle with God and wrestle with where you are. That's where you find the revelation of the goodness of God. It is not in my self-confidence but my self-doubt!
-Steven Furtick
I don't know about you, but the above sums up my faith journey with Jesus! As a sojourner, I have had my times wrestling with God, and He has always taken me to a deeper revelation of Himself and a new level of surrender. My doubts and areas of discouragement drowning me at times have been the diving board for Jesus to come on into those deep dark recesses of my heart and ignite a brighter light of faith. It has been a painful purging process as He surgically removes, replaces and revives my heart of stone to one of flesh.
On this side of the cross, our faith walk is a continuum.
Spurgeon, in His sermon The Stony Heart Removed, speaks on the privileges of the renewed heart: 'It is here the Spirit dwells, 'and here that Jesus rests." The soft heart is ready now to receive every spiritual blessing. It is fitted to yield every heavenly fruit to the honor and praise of God. A soft heart is the best defense against sin, while it is the best preparative for heaven. Christ is the great heart changer. "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved." The Holy Spirit gives faith, and the through faith the mature is renewed."
We certainly are not renewed without the battles that scripture forewarns and prepares us for on our ascent.
However, we can take comfort that the Lord is well situated with where we are and where we are headed leading the way!
"We have not passed this way before, but the Lord Jesus has. It is all untrodden and unknown ground to us, but He knows it all by personal experience. The steep bits that take away our breath, the stony bits that make our feet ache so, the hot, shadeless stretches that make us feel so exhausted, the rushing rivers that we have to pass through -- Jesus has gone through it all before us. "He was wearied with his journey." Not some, but all the many waters went over Him, and yet did not quench His love. He was made a perfect Leader by the things which He suffered. "He knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust." Think of that when you are tempted to question the gentleness of His leading. He is remembering all the time; and not one step will He make you take beyond what your foot is able to endure. Never mind if you think it will not be able for the step that seems to come next; either He will so strengthen it that it shall be able, or He will call a sudden halt, and you shall not have to take it at all." Frances Ridley Havergal
This past year has been one of the most challenging years mentally, emotionally and financially due to my physical health. Even though I have seen and experienced a multitude of blessings they have been mingled with bludgeoning battles.
In the midst of the war zones and my brokenness, Jesus met me, held me, nurtured me and gave me a place to rest...in Him and His presence.
The sufferings, sorrows, and struggles have been the means of experiencing new widths, heights, and depths of my Savior. I have been tired, worn and fragmented as my soul at times felt crushed. In the midst of the struggle, I have been yet again refined, sifted and my perspective shifted. I am thankful 2017 has ended and am taking with me all that God has entrusted to me. I am singing with renewed joy the new songs He has already birthed for 2018 embracing the wild adventures He has set forth for my family and me.
He has new things for you too! I hope you can see the things He did in and through you in 2017 preparing you for the next level. Be willing to go where He leads, live out the truth in your daily encounters and be attentive to His voice receiving His instruction and correction. It's okay to wrestle it out with Him as He can handle it. Remember, He's all about you and nothing can compare to how He loves you. He can't wait to reveal more of His goodness and grace to you!
Happy New Year sweet friends! I love you and am excited for us as we begin our new course on our race to the finish line, one day at a time!