It astounds me how dependent I am on God. Daily I go through a routine of deciding what it is I want to do with the day. They’re my decisions. People tell me to get a job or a career. Other people question my sanity for sacrificing so much and going on a mission trip for a year. Still others tell me what a great opportunity it is for me to go and do God’s work in the world. I feel the pressure of what it is I want to do with my life; and I fear whether or not I will make the right decisions. The emphasis is put on the plans I have made for my life. My plans. My decisions. My goals… Right?
Fortunately for me the weight of those burdens are not my own. I’ve come to learn that, though our plans and actions may have good intentions, God is going to redirect them to align with His will for my life instead of my own. Even if that means I end up at rock bottom, wondering what just happened and how I got there.
But the good news is He does it for my good. I look at life as a continuous story that God is telling through us. He is the faithful author and I am the disobedient character who has to surrender the pen. Sometimes I try to wrestle the pen from Him and do things of my own strength: I want a nice job, I want a happy marriage, I want financial stability, I want to be a great father someday, I want my family members and friends to be healed, I want to be successful… Or I refuse to move where God is leading us because I worry about all of the negative “what ifs” that could take place. Either way I am putting my trust in my own abilities rather than in my faith in God’s control over my life.
Does any of this sound familiar to you? I get the feeling this may resonate with some people.
When we strive to accomplish things in our own strength, we become exhausted because we are weak. Even if those things we work for are good, they may not be what God wants for your life. Chances are, He wants you to have less of your current life and more of His life in you! The best way to get that is to surrender to the Author of all things and walk with Him day-by-day, moment-by-moment, as He continues to align your story with His will.
What happens when we surrender?
We still have the choice to follow where God is leading or not. As we follow Him in faith and obedience we catch glimpses of His glory in our lives. God promises us many things once we have truly let Him have the pen. Tired from work and the expectations of this world? He offers rest and a lighter burden (Matthew 11:28-30). Feeling worried about a big life decision or guilty about some decision in the past? He offers peace beyond understanding (Philippians 4:7). Afraid of some obstacle that seems to keep you stuck? He offers freedom from the yoke of this world (Galatians 5:13).
It is amazing the weight that is lifted from our shoulders once we recognize our full dependence on God. He is able to do so much more with your story than you could ever imagine. I believe that we will all be truly be amazed at what God can do with our story once we submit it to Him, for His power is made perfect in all our weakness.
Hey guys! Thanks for reading my first post. I hope it spoke to some of you. This topic was significant in my decision to go on The World Race. I believe everyone has a story that is worth telling, and that story is best told when in step with God. My past few years have been a mixture of ups and down. Last year my engagement broke off and currently I have no job. Honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Despite things not going how I originally planned, I will choose to let God shine through my story. I’m learning more and more of my dependence on God and how my weaknesses are nothing to be ashamed of. Letting God write my story is a moment-by-moment commitment, and allowing my heart to align with His is a life long journey. Focusing on God as the author puts things into perspective; something I think we all need to remember daily.
This post really is meant to put God as first and foremost. I don’t want people saying that I have a great opportunity: I want them saying that God has provided me with an awesome opportunity to serve Him! I hope that my story can help provide others perspective. Stick around for more because I plan on sharing more of my heart and connecting you guys to the awesome stories of many others around the world!
