That sweet moment when you’re brought back to gospel sanity.
The truth, once again, falls fresh on your heart and mind and you feel like you’ve heard it anew. Like it is the most amazing fresh insight from God.
That it is for sure.
You know it must be from God because who longs for the beauty of death unless you have the Holy Spirit who brings just that?
Like the beauty of the yellow dying leaves changing and falling around me, my life could be similar.
As I die to myself a bit more, will I change too? Actually become more like Him…more beautiful?
I have been striving. Counting my own muscles…skills…abilities. Thinking about my brain’s abilities and lack of. Instead of God. Has God called me to homeschool or not? Has he called me to parent? Marriage? Has he called me to be a pastor’s wife? Has he called me to ministry of writing?
What has He called you to in this season of life?
Do you struggle, like me, with feeling like you can’t quite get some of these roles right? Maybe you long for them to be perfect and they’re not.
I am not sure what I’m seeking but it might be perfection from myself or approval from others. Perhaps it is my own approval. I am seeking more strength and an improved mind. Perhaps that last one is a good thing. But it can’t be the only thing. I need to first and foremost seek God to provide all that I need for that which He has called me to. Perhaps even come to understand and be OK with the fact that I can’t. I don’t have it. But say, “Come through for me, please.”
Instead of wondering and counting abilities. Perhaps I can just say this, “Lord, will you provide all I need this week for parenting well, loving my husband well, homeschooling well, studying well. writing well, ministering well.”
“I need you. I don’t have what it takes to do all of this and to do it well. But for some reason I feel called to all of these things to some degree. Help me to know how much and when. Help me to know how. Give me the brain and abilities to do it. Give me your joy. Your peace. Your clarity and organized thoughts. I don’t have it. But that is good. Because you are sufficient for me. When I am weak you are strong. Come through Lord. I yield.”
I was confronted with this quote by Tim Keller today:
“If you make anything else besides the real God your god, you’ll never find mercy from that god; it will always punish you. A false god can’t die for you if you fail it…it can only punish you and demand more from you.”
I heard this moments before taking communion. Before being strengthened by his body broken for me and blood shed for me.
As I took in the bread and wine, I was thankful to find mercy from the one true God.
Approval from anyone other than God will never be enough. Something tells me that if I could come up with enough strength on my own to do all I am called to do, it would never be enough. It would only punish me and demand more.
“May he grant you your heart’s desire
and fulfill all your plans!
May we shout for joy over your salvation,
and in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!
Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with the saving might of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
-Psalm 20:4-7
Linking up with these refreshing and inspiring sites this week:
Thank you for this timely encouragement. “Approval from anyone other than God will never be enough.” A very clarifying reminder that I needed to hear!
Thank you for visiting, Kim. So glad this was timely. I think I could hear it every day! May we continue to turn our hearts to the Lord!
So needed these words today Amy. Some days these swirling thoughts of not getting all right can be overwhelming. You words minister sisters!
Thanks for letting me know you identify! Sometimes I think…maybe I’m the only one! I do believe we can get a grip on these swirling thoughts through the word. Sometimes it just feels so challenging. May we grow in this. Blessings…
Beautifully encouraging! Thank you for sharing at The Weekend Brew!
Thank you Barbie…God’s truths always encourage! Thank you for the Weekend Brew…
I so hear you. Thank you for offering grace to all of us. Blessings to you and yours!
So thankful for God’s grace offered to us all. What a privilege it is to remind through writing. Thanks for visiting!
I struggle in similar ways, Amy. I think if I can’t do something well, I shouldn’t attempt it at all. But I’m trying to defeat that thinking with the alternate thought that God wants me to just show up; He’ll take it from there. Thanks for sharing your heart!
I like how you worded that…that “He’ll take it from there.” I think you’re right, Lisa. Why do I have to keep learning/re-learning this truth? 🙂
Much wisdom here in this post!
Thank you Elizabeth…it is all God’s wisdom. Blessings…
Dear Amy,
Tim Keller’s quote made me stop and read again. How poignant and relevant?! Yet it is true… there is only full-fledged abundant and grace-filled mercy in the heart of the Father who gifts us and counts our abilities as continual gifts He has bestowed. What a beautiful way to point to our daily dying to our selves, like this yellow leaf, changing to the true colors so that we can radiate His glory and look as the perfect image of our Holy God who reflects Himself in our hearts as we come to him daily(sometimes second by second).
Blessings to you Amy!
Dawn
I think I’ve read that quote 10 times in the past week. It causes me to pause each time! Thank you for visiting. Blessings…
Amy, I so loved how you worded it – “That sweet moment when you’re brought back to gospel sanity.” So grateful He works in us in just that way! Blessings!
I love that Scripture from Psalms. Yes, I do struggle with meeting my expectations with my roles. Thanks for the encouraging and wise words. (And thanks for so faithfully linking up at I Choose Joy each week!)
Beautiful post!
Love, love, LOVE that quote by Tim Keller. Copying/Pasting it for later use.
And yes, sweet Amy– I still struggle with this. Always having breakthroughs but I think this will be a life long journey for me. Glad the Lord doesn’t give up on me!