This post is specially dedicated to my friend Janna, who listened, rebuked, and pointed me to Truth this past week. Thanks for helping me exercise discipline in my thoughts and emotions. You’re a true friend.
I don’t know what’s been going on with your life, but a lot of interesting, unexpected events have been happening in mine. Some good, some bad, but all of them have occurred totally beyond my realm of control. It’s like one day I was casually strolling in the park and the next thing I know, I am trying not to get crushed by flying boulders and rainbows. If I were to be totally honest with myself, I hate it when I am not the one in control — I completely freak out. Trusting in God is hard, and I tend to seek answers within myself or turn to my friends, who could then provide me with immediate gratification, before humbly communicating my anxieties before God.
I want to hear from God, but only on my own terms. I want God to tell me what I should do with my life, what decisions to make, what paths I should avoid, and I just want to know my future now. In the depths of my heart, I kind of want it to be picture-perfect, too. But what if God is more concerned with my holiness and sanctification, rather than my future security in this transient life? (Answer: He is.) What if He is using all these uncertainties and challenges to show me my sinful tendencies and calling me to repentance? (Answer: He is.) What if God is trying to teach me to surrender all my emotions to Him, to open my eyes to His wonderful faithfulness, and to mold me to have a more a dependent-like faith? (Answer: He is.) What if God is breaking me so that I come before Him in desperation? (Answer: YES, HE IS.)
See, I know I should choose to believe in God despite whatever doubts and that I should choose to have joy despite my circumstances. Hence, the blog title. But my faith is weak. I am fearful of my future. I am fearful of making poor choices and mistakes. I am worried about failure and not looking my best (according to my own standards), and also disappointing others. My emotions can, and often do, overwhelm me. It’s only when I begin to lose my mind that I confess that I cannot manage things by myself.
Time and time again, God’s Word empowers me to focus on what is true and what is not true. His Word speaks life into mine, calms my fears, and brings me great hope. Let me share with you one such passage, which has strengthened and comforted me during all that has happened to me in one week. God is good. Always.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:4-9).
Just from what I shared today, I hope that you, dear invisible reader, will also be able to evaluate yourself, your life, and where you stand with God. I am praying for you all, Christian or not.
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I didn’t really read or find anything on the internet that I wanted to share beyond the Christianity and Food categories this week. However, there’s a lot of links that I really enjoyed in just those two categories alone, so check ’em out!
Persevering Joy 