In recent conversations with friends, I’ve realized a lot of us are stuck in a place of desperation. We get discouraged easily, we have a hard time seeing how God is working in our lives. Were in all kinds of arm wrestling battles with sin that we’ll never win, and often circumstances in life get so hard that our faith begins to dwindle and we wonder if God is even real. We get taught all sorts of theologies and ideas and we’re trying to live inside of Gods will all while trying to understand what Gods will even is. We seem to be as Ephesians 4 puts it “darkened in our understanding.” The joy that we had when we first believed in Jesus seems to have been replaced with a huge mix of emotions, fears, doubts and a long list of junk we never signed up for.
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.”
Does anyone remember when they first met Jesus? How overjoyed they were that He loved you unconditionally! I mean, you had done nothing for him up until this point yet he completely forgave you, wrapped you in his righteousness and called you His very own. Yet as months or even years pass, the teachings pile up and we lost sight of what it’s all about. Our joy turns to despair, and we become like the disciples on the boat in the midst of the storm crying out “Lord I’m perishing!”, not really sure if we’ll ever make it. Throughout my life there have been a ton of hardship. Or storms if you will. In those moments I would have done anything to get out of them, but as I look back I am so incredibly thankful for each moment of suffering. I realize that it was in those moments I’ve learned the most about God and his character. I’ve learned His faithfulness to keep his promises like Ephesians 8 where He “allows all things to work out for my good”. I’ve learned that He’s always with me, even in the depths of my sin. He’s shown me that He truly is the only place of true healing and peace and joy. The desert can seem like a scary place, but you’re not alone. Jesus’s very name coming to earth was Emmanuel, which means God with us, and His last words were that He would be with us always! Look for God to show himself faithful to you in the midst of trials! You can trust him.
“Perfect love cast out fear, and fear has to do with punishment”
There is complete and full assurance in Gods love! Because we know we’re not going to be punished! I love how Romans 8 puts it, that there is literally nothing that can seperate us from Him. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” So you no longer have to live in fear of sin. You no longer have to feel guilty and ashamed of your sin. In fact, the moment you fall into the very sin that haunts you the most, God can do some of the most healing in you if you would learn to run to him instead of running to the bushes. The last thing that God wants for us is for us to run and be sad and mope around for 3 days until we get the courage to do it all over again. It takes so much courage to trust God to love you in the midst of your sin, but I believe that’s the place he wants to heal you and set you free. To fill you with living waters and to make this thing a reality, not just in your mind but in the deepest places of your heart!
So Take courage brothers and sisters. A promise of rest awaits you!
Love you all!
Kyle
