My mother used to tell me this story when I was younger, and it goes something like this:
One time, there was a little boy who was walking on the beach.
As he walked, he noticed hundreds upon thousands of baby sea turtles, crawling for their lives from the sand toward the water. He looked up and saw the seagulls and hawks and all of the birds circling, who wanted to eat the little sea turtles, and he became worried.
Then he stopped walking, bent down, picked one up,
and ‘plop’! He threw it (nicely) into the water.
Then she would pause.
She would look me in the eyes and asked me the question, “Even though there were hundreds upon thousands of sea turtles on the beach, did this little boy change the life of the one he threw into the ocean?”
These past few months have been absolutely life-changing. I have been taught, loved, and cared for by every single person who I was surrounded by. I was hurt sometimes, and life became really hard at points. But what can we learn when our lives are filled with ease and comfort?
The Lord was able through my broken and willing heart, to reveal its condition as it has never been revealed before my eyes (or I guess, my perception? My brain? I can’t actually see my heart with my eye, but you know what I mean). I become aware of loads of pride, deception, and lies that have turned my heart toward death, and I did not even realize it.
The Father, in his grace and kindness, showed me! I no longer had to live out of a broken heart because I became aware that I was not walking in life. I was actually choosing to walk in death.
Instead, Jesus gives me a new name. Death no longer names me. Abba told me that even though there is pride, deception, and falsehood present in my heart, I am his kid, and he has made me exactly how he meant to according to the purpose he has for me.
Even though I have added things to myself, because I did not think what the Lord had made was good enough, he told me that he, WITH JOY, would take it off. He says I am worthy of care, and love. He said I was worthy to LIVE.
He desires for me to live only in the way he has created me to live. He calls me to live a life that brings the life he gave me into other people’s bones.
He calls me to empower others. Just as he did when he said to the woman, caught in the act of adultery, who was about to be stoned by the temple leaders and the crowd surrounding her and Jesus,
“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8.10-11)
In Jesus, each one of us is able to NOT condemn others; to not condemn ourselves! We have been fully forgiven, and our sin has been removed as far as the East is from the West (I encourage you to look up how far that is), and guess what? We are now able to forgive others just as we have been forgiven. This, my dear friends, is good news.
Therefore, if we are no longer stuck in, then what are we?
Free. In him, we are fully, deeply, and absolutely free.
All we have to do is pick up this freedom out of the hand of our Father, and never, EVER, put it back down.
We can change people’s lives. Jesus says that “As the Father has sent me [Jesus], even so I am sending you.” (John 20.21) We are not alone, either, because he gives us the Holy Spirit when we come to know him!
Just as the little boy knew what would be life for that little turtle, we too, know life for all people. Jesus says that “this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17.3) That’s it.
Life is to know God. To know God is freedom. With freedom, we bring hope.
One turtle at a time.
So, what is keeping you from picking up freedom out of the hands of God?
“For freedom, Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5.1
I really appreciate everyone who has supported me so far on my journey with World Race: Gap Year! As of today, I am 82% funded!!! My next deadline is January 15th, and I’ll be fully funded! Praise God!
As of today, I’m home. We were only planning on coming home for a week during Thanksgiving, and then two weeks for Christmas, but my entire squad was exposed to Covid! Our quarantine has now turned into 6 weeks until January 7th, when my squad and I will be launching internationally to ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA!!! We’re continuing our Monday-Friday teachings online, and getting together as a squad throughout the week! And even though this year is continually changing, I’m excited to take in everything the Lord has for me here.
I love it when you all read my blogs and respond. It brings me much encouragement. Feel free to always reach out. I would love to hear any thoughts and questions in the comments, or as my contact information is on my contact page, you can reach me here!
As my wonderful squad mentor, Kate Goeler would say,
Love you. Mean it.
-Elijah
