A friend of mine is currently volunteering with CERV - Philippines. This young lady is quite the go-getter and you can follow along on her adventures on her blog -- Volunteer Philippines 2008 -- under the 'Links' section.
I'm discovering while changes in life may not always be pleasant, in many ways they are necessary. Changes to one's diet, for example, are often necessary to improve one's health. Changes in Bible study habits and in prayer time can lead to drawing closer to God. Changes to how one does an 'every day' task can lead to saved time which can be used elsewhere. Yet so often (myself included) we resist change.
I don't know about you, but often I have to first decide what to do with whatever negative thoughts come my way (speaking of changes . . .). Do I listen to those thoughts? Do I believe them? Or do I jump right in with God's promises and God's Word and get on with the business of moving forward? Do I stay where I am or look to where He is leading?
And a lot of times, I'm just overwhelmed by the big picture. I see A, then B, but not all the steps that will get me there in-between. This has often led to me deciding to go do something else. Like watch something (anything, sometimes!) on TLC while searching for some sort of comfort food. Or something. :-P Not a good rut to get into!
But yet God can (and oh so wants to!) help us get out of our self-made ruts. He wants us to put our worries and our fretting and our fears aside. The following verses from the Bible have been bubbling up over the past little bit in my mind (and heart):
". . . Come to Me, all of you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for you souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." ~Matthew 11:28, 29 (NKJ)
"Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? . . . Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." ~Matthew 6:27, 34 (NKJ)
"Give us this day, our daily bread." ~Matthew 6:11 (NKJ)
So God knew I'd have all these things to face. He knew (and knows) every choice I'll make before I make it. And yet, when I know I've screwed things up, if I look, if I wait, I'll find His provision to get out of the rut or whatever else I've gotten myself into. It won't always be easy, it will frankly suck at times. But He will be there, His light shining through the darkness of my worries and fears and blunders.
And that gives me hope to carry on, to change, even as time keeps moving along.
2 comments:
And again...I have neglected your blog for umpteen ages. Certainly not intentionally! I'm just sort of a loser that way.
Anyhow, I see you wrote this a week or two ago, but it is so fitting with what we've been talking about recently. Change really does suck sometimes, doesn't it! And I think the hardest parts are when you feel that nothing is coming out of it...you can't see yourself growing (spiritually, emotionally, whatever) because of it, and may, in fact, feel like you're regressing...not even staying on the status quo! We just gotta stay faithful and keep our eyes on goal, huh? So much easier said than done!
*hugs* And thanks for your wise words!!
Thanks, Andrea, for your kind comments! As you can tell, I haven't checked the comments sections in umpteen ages either, so we're even. ;-)
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