Life...you know...life...
Oi! Lately, more often than not, when I say "life", it's with a negative bent. You know - "I guess that's life", "what am I doing with my life?" "life is hard". That kind of life.
What I want to be saying is, "so much is happening in life!" "life is good", "this is the life". That kind of LIFE. LIFE to the full that's unhindered by my own fear and doubts.
Fear. I've been beginning to recognize that fear is at the root of so many of what I consider to be my life problems. I'm so afraid to step out. To try. To trust. That I'll fail. That I won't make the right choice. That I'll fall flat on my face...
The thing is that everyone fails. Everyone falls. And that's totally provided for in Grace. In Mercy. In God. Why is it so hard to live LIFE without fear. Out of a place of trust and in an attitude of living in God's truth?
Joshua 1:9 says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
In Luke 12:32, Jesus says, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom."
And in John 14:27, he says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
"Do not be afraid" is the most frequently occurring command in the Bible.
God wants us to trust Him, and to trust in His plan for our lives. And more than any other, he is to be trusted. He has come to give us LIFE to the full! (John 10:10).
I don't have the answers. All I know is this is something I'm dealing with, and I think lots of other people are dealing with: How to live LIFE out of a place of joy and trust, instead of settling for life and just going through the motions.
I do want to say, that we were meant for LIFE. And that wanting to live life on a grander scale is a good thing. And an attainable thing, in Christ. So, I have hope. I have hope that God will lead me through this valley, and push me through my fears. Whether it's gently, or with a bit more force than I'd like, he'll lead me to LIFE. I just hope it's sooner rather than later. 'Cause right now, life stinks.
