Everything is just hard these days.
If you’re like me, every new email in my in-box makes me tired before I even read it.
So I decided two things: 1) I’m going to send this series to you in short posts, one a day and 2) Then I’m going to stop posting for the rest of the month.
Before diving in, may I make a suggestion? Maybe read these in the morning, or whenever you are doing your devotions? Take a little time to soak up the faithfulness of God through His Word.
Last Monday I wrote about dealing with chaos as a spiritual practice that God may use to make us more like Jesus.
Kind of like alcoholics admit they are powerless over alcohol, I suggested that a first step is to admit we are powerless over much of the chaos swirling around us in this season.
That doesn’t mean that God is powerless, or surprised, or not at work on our behalf!
I believe we have two choices:
We can choose to live BOTTOM UP – starting with our circumstances and projecting onto God (That is…If things are bad, God must be bad.)
OR we can choose to live TOP DOWN – starting with the character of God and trusting Him to bring the meaning to our circumstances.
As I live in the tangled mess of uncertainty that is my life right now, I remember three truths a friend shared with us years ago – you have nothing to prove, nothing to lose, and nothing to fear.
These truths are rooted in the character of God. But it’s only as I trust Him, living top down, that they make a difference.
I’d like to share these with you accompanied by a bunch of Scripture that I pray will bring some calm to your chaos.
Truth #1: You have nothing to prove.
We each have an ego-driven self that is bent on proving our control and worth, and if we ever had a year that showed us the futility of that it’s 2020, amiright?
Circumstances are tenuous for everyone – schooling options, job opportunities, health, family dynamics, Covid restrictions, finances… When you lean into these to define your worth you’re living out of your false self. But…
God is EL ROI – the One who sees me.
Circumstances change, but what will never change is God’s presence and the way He cherishes you. No.Matter.What.
You are a beloved child of the creator of the universe. This is your true identity and you don’t have to prove anything.
As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.
Isaiah 65:2
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
zephaniah 3:17
You have searched me, Lord,
psalm 139:1-12
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork…
Ephesians 2:8-9
Which of these do you need to hear most today?
What does it say about who God is and who you are?
Thank you, Laura, for these verses which was uplifting for me!
I’m so glad, Brenda. I feel like the perspective of Scripture is more precious than ever these days!