The other day, my dad was encouraging me in ways I could mature in. I wasn't in the greatest of moods, so I kinda wanted to cut it short. But, I haven't really been able to stop thinking about what he said.
When hard seasons come my way, most of the time I don't deal with it to well. In 2008, I was going through a tough season with basketball stuff, I got sick and had to go to the doctor a few times because of it. I also fell away from God. Then when we moved here in 2009... what happened? I got sick. I really had a hard time with trusting God, and was very rebellious.
Early 2010 God really did a great work in my life, but I did go thru another storm, I didn't get sick, but I struggled with God for a few days, but then realized he had a great plan.
Then back in November, when my boyfriend broke up with me, I got sick and didn't trust God. It felt like my life was over, and God had ruined my life. I hate to say it, but this is really how I felt. This was the hardest season I ever went through.
My dad asked me why this keeps happening. I said because I haven't been putting my trust in God, but he also said because I'm looking to be identified by other things. I'm must say I did find joy in being known as "the basketball girl" or "Mark's girlfriend", but you know, that's not how it needs to be. I need to be identified in Christ alone.
I love the song "In Christ Alone". The first verse says "In Christ alone my hope is found. He is my is my light, my strength, my song. This Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace. When fears are stilled, when striving cease. My comforter, my All in All. Here in the love of Christ I stand."
He is the only solid ground! My All in All. He is the only one I need to be identified in.
Paul says in Philippians, "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God depends on faith - that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."
Philippians 3:7-11
Please pray that God will give me guidance through this. I want to be "found in him" and count everything as loss like Paul. He was truly a man after God's own heart. Isn't he a great example on how to serve our amazing God?
That is just what I've been learning too, through studying the doctrine of adoption and reading the book, "Because He Loves Me." It is so freeing to hear and rejoice in that message: Christ calls me his brother, God calls me his child, and he does this at the greatest expense to himself imaginable. This is why I was born; this is who I am. He will build me and make me like himself, and never let me go.
ReplyDeleteWow! That is really great! And so true! Thank you for sharing that. =)
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