Hi everybody! You can probably guess what this blog is going to be about based on the title. These three deadly little words have been taking over my life in the last several weeks.
Let me be totally honest with you. Right now I am working on my senior project, which is turning out way to be more complicated than I originally thought, and is going to require that I raise a few thousand dollars. Who knew that installing a simple playground was so complex? Secondly, my choir was invited to sing with the King’s Singers at Carnegie Hall in New York, and guess what? That means more fundraising (don’t get me wrong, I am pumped about this. Just keep reading). And lastly, The World Race. I am thrilled and beyond excited to go on my gap year, but in order to go, I have to raise $15,800. (Hang on just a little longer. I promise this is not a pity party. I’m getting to my point;)
Doubt, stress, and fear are not welcome company, but I choose to hang out with them far too often. Why is that?
Well, reason number 1 is that it seems logical. If there is a reason to stress, why wouldn’t you? I mean, it makes sense! I have multiple valid reasons, and I feel entitled to it.
Reason number 2 is that stress, fear, and doubt are much easier to maintain that hope is. They come whether you ask for it or not… but you have to choose to fight for peace, for hope, for encouragement. Oddly enough, fighting for it is really just surrendering to it. Strange how that works, isn’t it?
Reason number 3 is that we don’t like to need anyone else. We like to be independent, to try and solve things on our own, even if it is completely obvious that we can’t.
These three words seem appealing in the moment, and it is easier to wallow in them than to try to escape, but they leave you torn down, in tears, hopeless, overwhelmed, and in-over-your-head.
Isaiah 54:10 says, “‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” I don’t know about you, but having mountains be shaken and hills be moved sounds like a pretty good reason to freak out. Even in that, however, God’s unfailing love and covenant of peace NEVER FALTERS. It is rock solid.
Let’s go back to reason number 2 for a moment. Remember how I said that fighting for hope, peace, and encouragement really means to surrender to it? Take a look at this:
“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
How often do I purposefully come and kneel at Jesus’ feet and let him give me rest? Not often. It requires me to surrender my reasons, my stubbornness, my pride. But in doing so, I gain the peace of God, which transcends understanding! I am really not losing anything at all! And then this:
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed- or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42
Is that convicting or what? Simply being in Jesus’ presence puts all tasks in perspective: they are specks of dusts in comparison with him. No duty, no task, no act is as important as spending time with him and listening to his voice.
Also, we have a hard time trusting. Personally, I often feel like I have to do things myself to do it right. But Psalm 9:10 says, “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” What an incredible thought! Just knowing God’s name draws us to trust Him! He is able. He is trustworthy.
Now if you read my last blog post, this may be sounding familiar. That is because all of this leads right back to me relying on me, and not on God and His sovereignty. I am trying to do it all myself, which is completely impossible. There is no way that I can raise $15,800, and there is no way I could do it while trying to figure out my New York trip AND my senior project. But the good news is, God is over all and through all and in all. He is able to do more that I could ever ask or imagine. He is faithful to complete the good work He started in me. Anything is possible with Him. He is everything I am not, and yet he loves me completely. He will take care of me. My reasons, my stubbornness, and my failing self-sufficiency; my worry , my fear, and my doubt, all pale in comparison to the peace of God. To the wonderful love of the Prince of Peace. Simply surrender and trust. Doubt, stress, and fear can take a hike, because I know who my God is, and I know what He feels about me.
I know this has been incredibly long, and if you made it this far, thank you so much! If you would like to support me on my journey, you can do so on my blog’s home page or by check (contact me and I can tell you how:) I hope this blog has been an encouragement to you. As I wrote it to you, I was also writing to me, because I forget this truth A LOT. Anyway, let me leave you with this.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
-Kirsten
