There is a song that sings ,”Oh, the joy I’ve found, surrendering my crowns. At the feet of the King, who surrendered everything!”
In these lyrics, it communicates something so powerful for all of us.That those things in this life that we so easily cling to, those crowns, aren’t our identity. Jesus is our sole identity and purpose. And He calls us to surrender all of those things that we put before Him, and come running to Him. His arms are already outstretched, and waiting for our embrace.
My whole life I have held tightly to these so called “crowns” (possessions, money, status, future plans) that they have controlled me. And the funny part is, I thought I had control over them. But what I came to realize was that God is fully in control, and He has always been! Once I realized that it’s not by my own strength but by God’s that lives within me, I was overcome with peace. All of those feelings of anxiety, worry, sadness, and doubt were lifted from my shoulders. Because in the end, Jesus paid it all for me, and He calls me to live my life for Him.
I graduated from High School in May of 2017. I felt overwhelmed with my plans for the upcoming year. All of my friends knew where they were going for college, and what they were studying, but I was the complete opposite. I didn’t have a specific passion to go after nor a college that I was particularly attracted to. There were many nights of me crying out to God in frustration because I felt as if He forgot about me. He forgot to direct my paths towards any specific passion or college. But I now understand why God put me through that season of the unknown. He was shaping me for the World Race.
So fast-foward to a few months later, and I committed to attend Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, and moved out of my parents house and into a cute little apartment with my older sister.
Life was different than what I was used to. I didn’t have my family around 24/7. I didn’t see my friends everyday like I used to. Instead I was attending a University and lost as to why I was even going there. But I knew God had me there for a reason. He brought me through a season of loneliness in order to show me my need for Him. He allowed me to go through the trials that I did so that I could see that He is my ultimate friend, and Savior.
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” -Matthew 16:24
This verse become my life verse. Something I woke up every morning and reminded myself of. All of those things that I previously found my identity, and joy through could never fulfill the desires of my heart. But Jesus alone satisfies my soul completely.
God is calling me to serve Him in greater ways than I can imagine. He has lead me to the World Race, and prepared my heart to serve Him with all of my life. And let me tell you of the Joy that I have found, surrendering my crowns to my Lord and Savior! Continue to follow me as I prepare for this next step in my faith, and watch as God molds and transforms me in the process through this blog!
Blessings,
Emily Baumgartner
