Accepting Stillness for the Blessing that It Is

Accepting Stillness for the Blessing that It Is
Posted by Renee Goble 

“Abide in me, and I in you[… ]I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me, you can do nothing.” 

John 15:4a, 5; ESV

Honestly, I didn’t feel like writing this week. In fact, I was less than excited. It was one of those weeks where you just feel grumpy and you don’t want to talk to people at all. You just want to be left alone to think and drink copious amounts of tea while you mope about your life… your uneventful life. 

After returning from a 6 month mission trip, I was expecting to rest. I expected to spend my days going on road trips and staying out late at the beach, possibly working on the side while exploring America. 

I like to do things.  I’m always doing things—whether it’s serving in youth group, or helping out at church, or studying, or going on long missionary adventures.  I feel most satisfied when I’m out helping people, or exploring the world or writing. It’s the way I’m wired. But this year God has been emphasizing “rest” to me—something that I desperately needed, but didn’t want to admit I needed.  

Which is why this season has been a struggle. My expectations for what rest should have looked like haven’t totally been met. 

Do you know how weird it is telling people that you feel God is calling you into a season of rest for the remainder of the year? 

If you’re me, you feel like you should be coming up with a more productive answer than—“Oh, I’m reading a lot, and hanging out with friends, and trying to be intentional about spending time with God… no, I don’t currently have a job, no I’m not in school… yeah I’m living with my parents again and I don’t have a car… no—I don’t know what’s next. Yes, yes I have been watching more TV than I should…”  

People are usually pretty interested and understanding, even if they look a bit confused by your decision. However, when you’re two months into this season and you have at least two months left to go, and people are still asking you, “what are you going to do?” You kind of just want to crawl into a giant hole and hide and say – “I DON’T KNOW! Leave me alone!” 

This has been a season of quiet and soul searching. It’s been a time where everything that I have once used to form an identity has been stripped away, and I am left with who I am in Jesus. It’s been a time where I have had to face my deepest fears and hardest thoughts—and there’s been nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. 

So, I find myself with a lot of time on my hands, no money, and this restlessness settling in. When I try to look for jobs, I keep getting this sense of uneasiness, as if God is saying—“not yet, not now, wait with Me, rest with Me”... And I don’t really like it… 

…Which is why I need it.  

Until I can learn to be satisfied with being me and being me with Jesus, I will never be ready to do anything for Him.

Something I learned in university is that “being is more important than doing.” I have this little phrase written in my Bible, in my journal, and on my computer. I’ve talked about it, I’ve read about it, and oh my—have I thought about it. It’s a beautiful and encouraging concept… which I am just now beginning to deeply comprehend.

Like Martha and Mary in the Bible, God is first and foremost concerned about you spending time with Him. Martha was a gifted servant—she was great at it. There is nothing wrong with being a “Martha” as long as we realize the value of simultaneously being a “Mary.” We must understand the importance, the necessity of being still otherwise we will not be able to fully grasp the importance of serving—of doing.  

Yes, we will be held accountable with what we chose to do with our time—I am NOT advocating laziness. I’m not even advocating everybody do what I do and quit your jobs for a season. You need to do what you are being called to do, but more than that—you need to know who you are called to be.  

Jesus’ disciples were with Him two years and during that time—yes—they did ministry. But countless hours were spent soaking up the words, teachings and love of Jesus, so that they could display it to others. Because if you don’t have that solid foundation built upon a relationship with Christ, and if you haven’t spent time resting with Him and discovering His heart, what makes us think we can really do anything worthwhile for Him; especially when we really need to be doing worthwhile things with Him?

 Are we choosing to know Jesus? Not just in our heads, but are we choosing to know Him intimately and passionately, in a way more real and loving than we can yet comprehend? 

We will be held accountable for our choices, and it is important that we know what we should be doing. This requires becoming the person God created you to be. And the way we become that person is by spending time with Jesus. And ones of the best ways to spend time with Jesus is to rest with Him; be still with Him; and discover who He is in the intimate quiet moments when no one is watching, waiting, or judging—and you are forced to face your infinite smallness as you bask in the enormity of His grace and love.  

Doing should be the outpouring of our relationship and love for Christ, because when all our works are stripped away along with all of our ministries and activities and opportunities; all we will have left is our relationship with Jesus. 

Till next time friends, 

~Renee

Just One Bite

Just One Bite

Posted by April 

But Samuel replied: ‘Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

- 1 Samuel 15:22 (NIV)

My daughter is the queen of negotiation. Everyday we find some thing new to wheel-and-deal over. I tell her, “Honey, did you pick up your toys?” And with a mouthful of food she says, “Yes—well, at least the ones I was playing with before dinner.” If I tell her, “Pumpkin, eat all your vegetables.” She points to her plate and replies, “Okay, Mom. How many of these things on my plate are really vegetables?” You should have heard the debate we had about tomatoes really being a vegetable or a fruit.  New challenges, new scenarios, it does not matter the situation, my daughter will find a way to insert her will. 

Although her bargain-style approach to my requests can become aggravating, I cannot come down too hard on her. You see my daughter is just like me; for I, too, love to negotiate. No, I do not debate food choices or portion sizes with my mother, nor do I argue about cleaning up. Yet, I am responsible for trying to bargain with my spiritual parent—Jesus. 

In many instances in my life, I have known the truth of God’s Word, and instead, I have chosen to pursue the things that I thought were best—negotiating with God every step of the way. In my heart, I would feel convicted when I knew I was doing something wrong.  For a second, I would stop and think about my actions. I would ponder if this was the best Biblical choice. Then, quietly, that little voice in my mind would start echoing, This is not that bad. God wants you to be happy. This not a big issue  and everyone else--even Christians--are doing it. Yeah-- this can’t be wrong…right, God? As I continued to ignore the warning, the sting of conviction eventually subsided, and the momentary severity of my sin would diminish. So many times I was willing to surrender to the power of compromise to accomplish my will.

At this point, you may be saying, “This has no relevance to me. I do not compromise on anything serious.” Okay. Maybe your compromises were not as extreme as mine, but we all do it! It may not be a major life choice, but most often compromise can sound like this: “I did not read my Bible today and forgot to read yesterday…but I will read three chapters tomorrow. This way, I can catch up on my favorite T.V. show and be spiritual, too.” Or, tell me if this sounds familiar, “Wow, it is already Sunday! I have so much to do. Umm…I’m not going to church today, but I will be there next week.” For some compromise may even be something like dating a person who is not right for you,  reading certain books, or hanging out with people who make poor choices. Whatever the situation, the power of compromise appeals to all of us!

I have news for you, compromise is not new concept. It was even a challenge for the first people on earth. In Genesis chapter 3 (I encourage you to read the chapter, if you have not), the Bible tells us that Eve, the first woman, struggled with the same battle. In this chapter, she is faced with a tough choice: Eat a delectable piece of fruit or obey a command that God gave her and her husband, Adam. Adding further difficulty to the situation, in the background we see the crafty and cunning serpent calling out to her saying, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” (Remember the little voice that echoed in my head earlier. Doesn’t this phrase sound familiar? Satan, the serpent, loves to add confusion and temptation whenever compromise is involved. I will be touching on this topic in my next devotion.)

Eve was in quite the predicament! She could select what seemed to be a fleshly-pleasing, and even crowd-approving choice, or obey a commandment that prohibited her cravings. As her flesh desired something strongly, and Satan tempted her with confusing and conflicting thoughts, Eve chose to fall back on what she wanted, and not what was best for her. So, no surprise, but like the rest of us, Eve chose her desires over God’s commands. 

Eve’s choices, my daughter’s choices, and even my choices are all motivated by one factor—a desire to serve my will. My choice to negotiate with Jesus and ask Him to look the other way, while doing what I wanted, was (and still is) rooted in the problem of selfish disobedience. This disobedience, when consistent and repetitive in action, will eventually become a tool of destruction—reeking havoc in our lives. But thankfully, Jesus offers us a cure. 

If we chose to surrender our will, and submit to His, Jesus begins to change our heart. His Holy Spirit fills us, empowering our lives with wisdom and a desire for obedience. Jesus tells us in John 14:21 that, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them” (NIV). This means that those who love Jesus, and seek to have a relationship with Him, will also desire to cast off their desires and compromises, and through His grace will keep His commandments (obedience), even when its not easy. Through actively seeking out Jesus, we begin to throw aside the things that are less worthy, instead of desiring temporary and unfulfilling pursuits. Our hearts will thirst for Jesus. 

Friends, learning to obey can be difficult. I still have not mastered the skill. But, when we realize that it was through obedience that we were saved, since Jesus also obeyed His Father’s plan of the cross, our love will come as a natural, beautiful thing. As we see that Christ’s sacrifice was the ultimate act unselfish obedience, our hearts will begin to focus on what truly matters. For His sacrifice reminds us that our compromises—no matter how tempting—are not worthy, or even necessary, when we consider how deeply we are loved by Jesus and how His obedience saved us.

When Even Plan B Goes Awry…

When Even Plan B Goes Awry…  

Posted by Michelle 

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will council you with My eye upon you.

-  Psalm 32:8 (NASB)

I am one of those people who loves making plans. I like planning my days, filling out planners, schedules, and calendars. Not only do I make a plan A, B, and C, I also make a plan D just to be “safe.” Overkill? Absolutely. I also like making plans in a broader way. I plan out goals and dreams that I want to achieve. But, here is what I’ve learned over the years about myself, planning, and God’s say in matters. 

He is a better planner than I am.

His plans always work out. They are always best for everyone in the long run (even when we can’t see that far ahead). His plans develop, grow, and shape us. His plans are better and more intricate than anything we could come up with. 

But, I really, really like making plans! This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Planning ahead makes us more organized, more productive, and typically prevents inconveniences. The determining factor of whether or not your love of planning is healthy or not is this: what do you do when God’s plans supersede yours? 

It is bound to happen! The all-knowing Coordinator of the universe has a way of bringing unexpected events and circumstances across your path. These are unavoidable, unplanned for, and many time inconvenient interruptions in your picture-perfect plan. A talkative neighbor drops by just as you are leaving for the store; your mom suddenly needs your help doing laundry when you wanted to hang out with friends; traffic makes you late for work; etc. 

One response is to become annoyed or frustrated and try to get back on track with your own plan as soon as humanly possible. Your perfect plan is calling! A different response is to see these interruptions for what they are – moments planned by God. These moments are forks in the road, and if you take just a second to ask God what He would like you to do, you will find that He has a better path than yours mapped out for you. 

You might find out that the neighbor that is so talkative is really lonely. You might find that your mom has been overwhelmed and having help would be such a relief to her. You could be avoiding a catastrophe by being delayed in traffic. You could possibly be the only bright light in a difficult world that a person sees that day. You never know… But God does.

We can make plans, but we have to be able to let go of them and follow God’s leading when unexpected moments come. We have this idea that we can plan out our options and decisions along the roadways of life that will then make our lives stress free and convenient. But, can we really know what today brings, let alone tomorrow? Sometimes if feels as if we are riding a roller coaster backwards – one where there are forks in the tracks and the way you lean determines which fork you go down. (Terrifying analogy - I know). You never would be able to really know what is going to happen next. But, by listening to His guidance and instruction, we can be ready to lean into the right turns when they come along and hold on tight to Him during the sudden drops. He knows what is ahead.

When your plan for the day doesn’t work out, and even your plan B goes awry, take a moment to remember that God might have something else in mind for you today. Remember that, if you pay attention, He will “…instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go…”  (Ps. 32:8, NASB). We just have to pay attention. Once you let go of your own plans you will be amazed by the things God has planned out instead.

Damaged - Delivered

Damaged - Delivered  

Posted by Sarah 

He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound
          -  Isaiah 61:1 (NKJV)

I’ve met people over the years that have been damaged by a fallen world. Damaged by those who were damaged themselves. They are the walking wounded that have held years of secrets manifested in anger, tears, addictions, relationships, and scars on their arms. For these people life stops at that one moment – the moment they were damaged. 

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, on average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in the Unites States. According to Safe Horizon, that fights against violence, 1 in 10 children suffer from child maltreatment, 1 in 16 suffer from sexual abuse, and nearly 1 in 10 children are witnesses to family violence. Safe Voices, that works to end domestic violence reports 1 in 4 teenage girls in a relationship (26%) endure repeated verbal abuse. Additionally, a study done at Women’s College Hospital in 1995 reported that in 1,000 women 15 years of age or older, 36% had experienced emotional abuse while growing up, 43% had experienced some form of abuse as children or adolescents, and 39% reported experiencing emotional abuse in a relationship in the past five years. According to The Covering House who helps girls who have been trafficked or exploited, 300,000 children are being at risk of being prostituted in the United States while the average age of the girl who is prostituted ranges from 13-14 years old. 

The National Child Abuse Statistics stated that in 2007, there were over three million reported cases of child abuse in the U.S. involving as many as six million children.  Additionally, The Domestic Violence Resource Center estimates the number of incidents of domestic violence range from just under a million to several million per year. It is also estimated that 70 percent of people know of friends or family who have been abused. 

I can’t tell you how many of these wounded people stay untreated and unhealed because of their shame and embarrassment. They are often the untouchables who keep you at arms length for fear of rejection or hurt. Others are bitter or cynical while some drown their hurt in various vices. Sadly others painfully suffer the pain of victimization through depression and fear.  

I have met too many who experienced abuse:

· Sexually 

· Emotionally 

· Verbally 

· Physically

Their stories are all different and so are their ages ranging from five years old to their eighties. They all have the same story – they have been damaged. 

Although our society has tried to start a conversation on this issue, still many haven’t begun to engage in it. It has been silenced or buried in the recess of the heart and mind. It’s become a taboo. Something we are uncomfortable with. Something we don’t want to hear. Yet, the cries of the damaged are longing to be heard. Longing for someone to listen. 

There is Someone. He understands their cry because He was damaged Himself. 

His name is Jesus. 

In the Bible, the books of Psalms, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all tell us of the agony Jesus would experience as a victim of abuse. Years ago He who was innocent was accused of blasphemy. Taken away from loved ones. Beaten and mocked. Spit upon. Flogged. Crowned with thorns. Stripped of His clothing and dignity and nailed to a cross with notorious criminals. He suffered an excruciating, humiliating death where He hung naked. Where he suffocated and died. 

Jesus can identify with the damaged. Isaiah 53 talks openly about Christ’s suffering calling Him in verse three “A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” and then in verse 4 Someone who has “borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” Jesus understands the damaged.

Ever since the first man and women (Adam and Eve) choose to take their own path away from God, the world has become fallen. Sin entered the world and God’s heart broke as He saw man abusing his freewill by choosing to commit dark, heinous, acts - acts that He never condoned or had in His plan for humanity.

Jesus loved the damaged so much that He became our remedy. Developing a plan from the beginning of time, God revealed His concern and solution to the problem in Isaiah 61 and proclaimed it Himself in Luke 4:16-22 . He would become our Savior.

God’s promised in Isaiah 61:

· Healing for the brokenhearted

· Liberty for captives

· Freedom for those who are bound

· Comfort for all who mourn

· Beauty for ashes

· Mourning for joy  

· Heaviness for praise

These promises are salve on the wounds of the damaged. Jesus understands and wants to heal. He can do this because He not only went to the cross to forgive and bring us into a relationship with Himself but He also rose to be a living God who saves hurting humanity and gives hope.

Isaiah 61 is the gentle offer of help from Jesus to those who have been damaged.  When trust is shattered and you are broken, Jesus Christ is a safe place. Psalm 32:7 states this saying, “You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.” 

Jesus wants the damaged to know that they are not alone. God’s Word (the Bible) doesn’t shy away from the truth. In fact, the Bible paints the world as it showing real people who experienced real issues like abuse. Take Joseph whose story is written in Genesis 37:18-28. A victim of his jealous brothers who were conspiring to kill him, Joseph was stripped of his clothing, thrown in an empty pit without water, and then sold Joseph into slavery. Then there was Tamar, who was innocently tricked and raped by her half brother Amnon (2 Samuel 13:1-22). 
Yet, Jesus didn’t just address the issue, but also provided hope for the damaged. In Zephaniah 3:5, God advocated for those who were abused saying, “The Lord is righteous in her midst, He will do no unrighteousness. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He never fails, but the unjust knows no shame.” Although people will fail, God will always be good, always fight for what’s right, and never fail us.

Additionally, God is calling for us to look like Himself. God often uses people to be safe place for those who are hurting. Listening ears. A place to confide. A shoulder to cry on. Someone who cares. Maybe Isaiah 61 is also for us.

For the damaged there is deliverance. There is healing - It’s found in Jesus Christ; Savior, Healer, and Safe Place. 

* Dedicated to the damaged 

“He will love you,

Like no one’s loved you,

And you will never be afraid… 

You’re His children,

How much He loves you,

He will never leave you alone” 

Plumb - Damaged [Redemption Extended Version] (2010) 

Words of Wisdom

For Reals?

Posted by Selma 

But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “ Hosanna to the Son of David! ” they were indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?” 

 -  Matthew 21:15-16 (NKJV)

Children are so precious! I love spending time with them. One in particular comes to my mind - she is my adopted grandchild. One day I babysat for this very spunky, bright, four-year-old and the moment she arrived, I enjoyed how eager she was to dive into her day and enjoy life. I think the thing I love most is her love for Jesus. She shares about Him effortlessly as she slowly recites John 3:16, “For- God- soo- loved-the- world…’’ to anyone she comes in contact with.

I watch her play while walking wobbly in pretend high heels and wearing a bedazzled tiara, humming a tune from a children’s praise song. It really brought a smile to my face and it reminded me about when I once heard a pastor say that if you can share about Christ with a child and they can understand, you can share Christ with anyone. So I thought I would give it a try that day. 

I called the little hazel eyed princess over and started building a bridge with a simple story about a man that was sick who didn’t know Jesus as his Savior. This little one is always accustomed to me telling her stories about Jesus and I just so happened to have recently shared the gospel with my friend who was very ill and dying of a rare disease. So this story was fresh on my mind (note to self you can use bible stories but you can also share everyday life stories that honor God).

She listened attentively and gazed at me as I told her that everybody needs Jesus in their life. I also told her that He loves us so much that He (God the Father) sent Jesus (His only Son) to die on the cross so we could be with Him forever. Then I asked her, “Do you have Jesus in your heart? ’’ She said, “Nooo” nonchalantly.

I told her that I asked the man in my story if he would like to pray with me and ask Jesus into his heart and he said yes! I began to start to explain to this pre-schooler that Jesus says if you “believe’’ Jesus will come into your heart. Then we can one day live with Jesus in heaven forever.

I told the four-year-old, “Remember when Jesus died on the cross?” I told her that Jesus died for all the bad things she had ever did. I told her He did that for her and if she said she was sorry for those bad things, He would erase them and make them all go away.

I told her that when we say no to Jesus that makes Him sad because you can’t go to heaven. She replied, “For reals?’’ with a look of concern. She put her toys down and said to me. “I want to pray with you.’’ I could see she really grasped what I had conveyed to her. I wrapped my arms around her and told her how special it was to ask Jesus into her heart. Excited, we held hands together and she prayed that afternoon for Jesus to come into her life. The smile on her face said everything. She was so happy and so was I!

Now you may say she didn’t understand but what matters is the motive of her heart and I believe she was saved. Now to all who say, “I’m not qualified to share with someone the gospel,” “I’m too shy,” “I don’t know scripture,” “what if they tell me something and I don’t have the answer,” and “I’m not a good speaker” -

God wants to use you if you are willing to step out. The Holy Spirit will give you the words to say at the very moment you need them.

Remember its Jesus who does the work and saves, not us. We are just His tools used for His glory (meaning we are Gods mouthpiece but Jesus Christ is the Teacher - He’s the one in control and the One who is able to save, not us).

This is a challenge to all of you who say it’s too hard to share with someone about Jesus. My suggestion to get your feet wet is to try sharing the gospel with a child. Many of us have opportunities to share Christ when we come in contact with children in our families, circle of friends, or neighbors. Another idea is that you can help out and volunteer at your church in the children’s ministry.

Children are simple and not complicated. They love hearing a good story and that’s how we need to be when we share with adults. The Lord will honor it and you can ask the Lord to help give you the courage and ability to share with others the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

Most of all, the children will be blessed!

Here’s a song dedicated to my little 4-year-old’s journey with Jesus…it’s her favorite song:

Where is the Reset Button?

Where is the Reset Button?

Posted by Michelle  

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

   - Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

Have you ever wished that life were more like a video game? Growing up I would try to keep up with my brother by playing with the cool video games that he enjoyed. Without fail, though, at some pint in the game, I would get stuck. The boss monster would be too strong, I’d fumble a jump, or I’d just get lost. Luckily, I had two comforts. Number one, I could always reset the game and try again, or, two, I’d get my brother to help me out of the rough patch. 

In my life, there have been many times that I wished I lived in a video game. It sounds odd, I know, but the thought of starting over whenever I made mistake or went down the wrong path in real life was so appealing. 

Perhaps you have experienced something like that too. One day you suddenly realize that you are exactly in the situation that you never thought you would be drawn to. Maybe you said something that couldn’t be unsaid, or maybe you are just lost in a world where you can’t decide what is right or wrong. 

I’m sure all of us have felt the sting of regret. The thing about regret, though, is that sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking that feeling regret means that there is no hope of fixing things. So, we try to justify our choices, rather than feel the regret, and keep going. Once we hit rock bottom, though, that regret quickly turns into despair when we can’t see any hope of changing or undoing our mistakes. 

But there is always hope. We don’t realize it, but there actually is a reset button in real life too, and there is always Someone ready to help us navigate the rough patches of life. God is always ready to press the reset button when we come to Him with our regrets and mistakes. We mess up, hurt ourselves and others, but God is able to wipe us clean and connect with us as if it never happened. Can we navigate this crazy life and all the ups and downs brought on by people’s free will? I certainly can’t - not without becoming collateral damage. It is such a relief to have a God who can forgive those regrets that we stumble into, and, even greater than that, a God who then shows us how to avoid those traps and mistakes in life that would eventually become regrets in the future. 

So, where are you right now? Are you stuck in a pattern of running from the feeling of regret by justifying the things that are ultimately damaging you and others? Are you tired of always taking the wrong turn in life, over and over again? Press the reset button by giving up your regrets to God. “His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning,” (Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV). I am so glad that they are, because I need his mercy every day. At any moment you can turn your day, your year, or your life around by giving up your regrets and mistakes to God. He knows how video games work. 

Higher

Higher

Posted by Sarah 

 

“[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him…] - Philippians 3:10 Amplified Bible

The other day I heard a song that made me write. I didn’t quite yet know what to say but it stirred so much, I had to say something. Maybe it was because of the intimacy and honesty it cultivated with my Savior as I sang the words:

I could sit/
I could just sit and wait for all your goodness/
Hope to feel your presence/
And I could just stay/
I could just stay right where I am and hope to feel You/
Hope to feel something again/

And I could hold on/
I could hold on to who I am and never let You change me from the inside/ I could be safe/
I could be safe in Your arms and never leave home/
Never let these walls down

But You have called me higher/
You have called me deeper
And I’ll go where You will leads me Lord/
You have called me higher/
You have called me deeper/
And I’ll go where You lead me Lord/ You lead me/

I think the lyrics from All Sons and Daughter’s Higher struck a cord in me because it was me! For a long time I let fear dictate my life. I listened to fear’s speech filled with the “what if’s” of rejection, failure, and the obscure and dreaded unknown. I agreed with fear’s overly cautious advice until I realized what fear promised never actually happened! In fact it was fear that often hedged me into my little comfortable radius keeping me from the life God called abundant.

The first step to freedom and abundant life happened about two years ago when I gave my life over to Christ. Although God did a major work in my life with fear, I had to daily choose to live differently and live in the reality that I no longer had to fear.

One day while I was having some quiet time, Jesus gave me gentle and loving promise and proposition through Isaiah 41:13 saying, “I, the Lord your God, will hold you by your right hand saying to you, ‘fear not, I will help you.” He would lovingly take me by the hand and help me through my fears. However, the promise was predicated on one thing – was I willing to take His hand? Was I willing to do deeper with Him?

Jesus asks us all this question.

Are we willing to take God’s hand? Are we willing to change? To leave behind what we know? What we think is right or good? To leave our old lifestyle patterns and habits? To go outside our comfort zone? To trust God and not ourselves?  To completely let fear go?

Jesus will never force us. His proposition is gentle and full of grace and compassion. It comes from a heart that wants relationship with us and to grow in intimacy with us. He is calling us higher. Calling us deeper.

That day, I answered. At first it was hard and uncomfortable. It was different. It was change. It was hard. It was scary. But I was assured I didn’t have to fear anymore and I had God to help me through it. Step by step old habits, unbelief, insecurity, and fear began to dissipate. God was patient with my struggles. Gracious when I fell and dusted me off to take His hand and continue with Him.

As I started living the abundant life Jesus intended me to have, I grew closer to Jesus. I discovered more of who He was and enjoyed dialoguing with Him about life. I discovered a relationship with Him.

Out of my anxieties, I learned that Jesus never called us to live the mediocre life, He called us to something greater, something “higher” and “deeper.” In fact Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life and that more abundantly,” (John 10:10).

It was His call to me to come on an adventure and it is our call to us. It may not look like we thought it would and It might interrupt our plans but from experience, I would say those are the biggest blessings and the things that have brought the biggest joy in my life. They were experiences I thought I couldn’t do. Things that I actually feared, but as I took a step, I saw the wonder of God using a person who was simply willing. I also learned precious lessons along the way and
uncovered the beauty of the various shades of God’s nature and character.

That’s the abundant life -- the higher, deeper call God is giving us.

Isn’t it time to stop settling for less?

Isn’t time to answer?