Moments for the Heart

Where are you right now in your life? I mean, in terms of what you want to accomplish with what you feel you were called to do? Ah, maybe you still aren’t quite sure of what that is yet. Don’t worry, that’s okay. Many people aren’t. It can take half a lifetime before one discovers their true calling, or one can find it even before they hit High School. Every person’s life story is written differently. Again, that’s okay. We are all created differently. Our successes and trials will vary, and it’s what gives us the story we are to tell. It’s what makes each of us unique. If you are reading this and still have no clue, Great!! Your story is still being written. In reality, it’s constantly being written; just the ‘it’ hasn’t been revealed yet. And, that’s okay.

Anxious Anxiety

If you watched my YouTube vlog a couple of weeks ago, I discussed the anxiety writers could feel about their writing. If you remember, we talked about getting distracted by the creation process or going through imposter syndrome. It comes with the territory. But we keep on writing. It’s what we are meant to do.

Other-than-writers work within what they do day to day. Are you a banker, a rancher, a health care worker, or an office clerk? Do you own your own business, work retail, fast food, or even a student? Whatever the vocation, this is the area God has called you to. This door you’ve walked through is your mission field. We all have a calling that we are to fulfill.

What We May Not Realize

There is another fight we may not realize, though. Now, it won’t be as dramatic as a beam from the sky like Paul received, where we immediately know that we are to preach the gospel, but it can be just as simple. In fact, it reminds me of the Matthew West song, “Do Something,” The lyrics simply instruct us to just ‘go.’ You see, we get so caught up with wanting God to do something in the world to make a change that we forget we are the ones who can go make that change.

Going Against the Current

So many people fight against the current that they don’t understand what letting go can do for them. True, some battles are meant to be fought, and for good cause. Battles toughen us up, and I will give you an example in a moment. But first, let’s look at what happens when you rest in a promise.

After a day of ministering, Jesus and his disciples got into a boat, and he said, “Let’s go to the other side.” During the night, a storm arose. It was so fierce the boat began to fill with water. Jesus had fallen asleep. Meanwhile, his disciples fought the wind and waves, bailing water out of the boat and struggling to keep it from sinking.

The disciples were freaking out, thinking they were going to die. They were upset that Jesus could sleep through it all, and he didn’t care. They challenged him on it. And what did he do? He stood up and said just a few words. “Peace, be still.” Suddenly, everything was calm. Then he turned to them and asked why they didn’t believe.

You see, Jesus told them at the beginning of the journey, “Let’s go over to the other side.” Not, “Let’s go to the middle of the sea and drown.” When God tells you that you can accomplish something, there is no reason to believe you cannot do it, no reason to doubt it, even in the middle of a treacherous storm that would remove any confidence you had.

Grace That is Sufficient

Then there are times when we are left to fight battles and live with what we are given to get through them. I will give you an example: Paul. He wrote most of the New Testament. Most of the time, he spent in prison for his belief. He also suffered from what he called a ‘thorn in his flesh.’

While we are not told what this is, it is revealed that it’s something that Paul requested the Lord take away, but it was one prayer that went unanswered, “My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul considered himself blessed to be given the opportunity to spread the gospel of Christ. Paul’s story is a blog all to itself.

Letting Go of Our Oars

When we’re asked to let go, we can give up the fight and choose to focus on what’s important. True, there are occasions when we need to do some of the paddle work, but even then, we can refocus and see the bigger picture. Sometimes that’s all we need. But placing our focus on where it belongs allows us to back on course. He guides us to our ultimate purpose. That’ll be different for every person.

Will there be anxiety? Perhaps. Uncharted waters can sometimes bring the unsureness of unfamiliarity. But they can also bring the excitement of the opportunities of a future unwritten. Well, God knows, because he has promised you you’d make it to the other side.

Photo by shayan abedi on Unsplash