Why should I be waiting until something 'amazing' happens
for me to actually embrace, and do more with my faith?
I'm probably never going to lose my leg, I mean I might
later on in life, but for now, it’s firmly attached, with me always, and heck,
mighty fine.
That should be what my faith is like too! (Though I hope
that I'm 'certainly' never to lose my faith).
I've heard so many amazing testimonies about people who have
been changed and bought up in challenges. By the amazing hand of God, they've
overcome or are still in struggles that would completely consume them if it was
all in their own power. They've come through so many trials to triumphs, and
the biggest testimony is the person that they are. The person that, when you
move away from the words they are saying, pour out their being in worship and
joy; in the midst of all these trials, they are a living and acting testimony
because of the conviction they have found in their faith.
Some people get caught up, they think that they need
something else to happen in their life before they can fully feel God, or
respond, or act on what knowledge they may have already... they feel cheated
because of their story, or they don't feel as changed as they 'should'. They
always feel there needs to be 'more' before they can fully appreciate God.
Why?
I guess there's always the desire to want to be able to tell
an awesome story. To be someone who has actually fought off abdominal snowmen,
or joined a secret army.
The truth is, we are in an army, but we haven't had to earn
that, or show that outwardly; we haven't had to go through any obvious trial or
to have gone from the slumps to get where we are with God. That was done for us
on the cross by Jesus. He's the only story we really need to look into.
We are breathing, living, and farting, creatures. That
itself should be something. How great that we can actually live, and experience
all that life has.
A laugh, a tear, a warm embrace.
I know that I always get caught up, and have seen others do
this, wanting more from my story. The thing is, the story is ours and we can't
ultimately change it; and if you feel like changing it, please don't go losing
your leg on purpose.
Living in comparison to another person that will cause you
to stumble. We have our stories the way they are for a purpose, they equip us
exactly for what we are called to do. We are always at the beginning of a
journey, and those who are not in struggle, will not always be able to
understand why our story cannot be like the person who's actually gone through
earthly hell. I can also assume, that those going through trial are never going
to understand anything properly either.
Everything is revealed and given slowly, because if we knew
it all at once, why would we seek to find more, or why would we want to look
for more? It would be easier, but how do we grow?
In John 21:20-22 (ESV) Jesus is talking to Peter.
20 Peter turned and saw the
disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one
who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who
is it that is going to betray you?”21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this
man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it
is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You
follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the
brothers[b] that
this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to
die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that
to you?”
Directly Peter has asked Jesus about the purpose of another
one of his disciples and the response is one that I think still weights a lot
for today. “If it is my will that he remains until I come, what is that to you?”
There is a different plan set out for each of us. Each of us will have a different journey, a different story; different experiences.
If there is someone else with a crazier, cooler and amazing story compared to us, then it should be an encouragement, but not something that stops us in our own journey.
“What is it to you?”
There is a different plan set out for each of us. Each of us will have a different journey, a different story; different experiences.
If there is someone else with a crazier, cooler and amazing story compared to us, then it should be an encouragement, but not something that stops us in our own journey.
“What is it to you?”
Again I need to remind myself that I don’t need something ‘amazing’
to happen in my life, in order for me to praise more, or do more, with the
faith that I know and understand. I may get stuck, but I’ve been given such a
great chance to just live.
How is that not encouragement enough to do more?
It is truly amazing to have other people willing, strong and vulnerable enough to share openly with their trials, and to be an encouragement. It is also such a blessing that we are all able to relate to one another.
We need to do the best with where we are at, and what we are
given.
