Last Sunday, the pastor said: You can’t make improvement without sacrifice. What an amazing statement. I started to think about how true that is. To sacrifice is to suffer loss of, give up, renounce, injure, or destroy especially for an ideal, belief, or end. I think it’s safe to say that a famous athlete sacrifices privacy and free time in order to continue to be a well paid athlete. Any skill takes time and energy to develop which usually results in a person giving up (sacrificing) something that they where used to doing.
As we were sitting there listen to Pastor Raul talk about Genesis 22 when Abraham sacrifices his only son Isaac. Raul looks to us world racers and asks me to list off all the things that I/we gave up in order to go on the world race. Lemme tell ya, that was not a very short list. And at times I have asked myself, why would I give it all up?? But then like a flood, comes this list of times in my life that I have been asked to sacrifice something/someone I loved dearly followed by how God blew me away with new provisions.
I remember thinking that I could never live my life without Josh, and wanted to hold on to him- but God helped me to let go of him. Through that God has provided the both of us with amazing significant others, that wouldn’t have been possible if we hadn’t been willing to let go.
Or when I was in college and so in love with the honors program in addition to my two majors. I remember God telling me that something had to go; and I was too afraid. Eventually I gave in and how beautiful it was for me! I had free time and was able to sleep!
Leaving InterVarsity leadership felt like I was walking away from part of myself; but had I not done that I never would have been able to meet the Bailey family.
I never wanted to leave California- I was determined to stay there for the rest of my life. But no matter how hard I tried that wasn’t an option. Then when I came back, I also couldn’t find a job in music therapy. I can’t remember another time when I felt like I was asked to give up everything I had known. And what came of it? I was able to help raise some of the most wonderful (though challenging) children at Mooseheart that I have ever met in my life. Not to mention I got to leave a not entirely healthy relationship, was able to be around my family more and eventually meet Rob.
Every time I have needed to/been “forced” to give something up- God has ALWAYS had something even better in store for me. Every act of sacrifice has also drawn me closer to Him. He has always provided, even through the darkest of times! What better to learn more about Him, and draw closer to Him now than to leave as much as I can behind and simply press into Him!
