A Struggle begins within

My heart and soul have been chained for so long. Many years of living the "me way." Allowing others to steal my joy and blaming them for unhappiness. But there came a time in my life where there was a change. I had to stop living the struggle within. The change had to begin with me and my God. Just over a year ago our family started living a more productive life in Christ. It has been a journey full of blessings but it has also been full of tests. I had a conversation with a friend and we were discussing how co-dependency can rear its ugly head in friendships and be a silent killer. But the fact is, it doesn't have to be. Our pastor challenged us recently asking how often we pray to God and actually speak to him. Then he led with this follow up response. "If I only spoke to my wife once or twice a week when I wanted something from her what kind of relationship would I have with her?" It's the same with Christ. If we only speak to God when we need or want something from him our relationship can't be a strong one. In order to grow in Christ and be able to bring people to him we must be intimate with him, we must grow to know him.

 Just when you think you are beginning to live the good life following God, you will be tested. Who knows where evil comes from.  People will come into our lives and pick us apart limb from limb. Pointing out every flaw we have refused to see. We thought we were following God. We thought we were doing everything right but when you have those people who point out your every flaw its hard to believe you are doing anything right.

Jeremiah 29:11

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 

Thankfully this verse was inscribed on my heart. Knowing that God's plans are greater than our own makes life a little easier. We still have to deal with mean people. We still have to weather the storms. But most importantly we have to continue living on a mission. As a Christian we are to believe the valleys are just struggles that we have to fight through. When we believe in God and call upon him during these storms of life our hearts are filled with hope.  When we make it out of the valley we can look back on what we have been through and see that the Hope we had has turned to faith. Over time those little nuggets of faith we have earned will turn to grace. The same grace that has been extended to us in our times of need. Only then will we begin to live our lives for him. We must be humble, we must be obedient, and we must trust him. Easier said that done! I know! At least for me it is. I give it to God, then I take it back.

 

Our family recently started a Bible Study. It's something we have never done before. To be honest tonight was the first night. It is called Heaven is For Real. It is about a little boy who died and went to heaven, he was brought back to life and shared his experience of seeing Heaven first hand. I am excited to see where this study leads us as a family. My prayer is that it makes us stronger as a family and that we grow closer to God. That our family will learn to live on mission serving him in our community.