This past week, God has really spoken to me about the concept of Journey and how it relates to my life right now, so I just thought I’d share some of what’s on my mind 🙂
Trip vs. Journey
Going on a trip usually means you know where you’re going, how long you’ll be gone, what you’re planning on doing while there, etc.
Embarking on a journey, on the other hand, is typically a lot less structured and “set in stone”. Journeys typically involve unforeseen twists and turns and the need for flexibility.
The WR is going to be a journey, not a trip. It’s going to hard, it’s going to push me way outside my comfort zone, everything is not going to go as planned, and it’s going to require a lot of flexibility and willingness to just “go with the flow”.
Life is a Journey
Having said that, I think that it’s important to remember that life in itself is a journey. None of us know what God has planned. You may think you have life all planned out, but then something happens that leaves your plans totally up in the air.
So what does that mean for us? What I have taken away from this is not to get too set in my ways, but to always be ready and willing to change my path if I feel God calling me in another direction. We don’t have to have it all figured out! We just need to take life one step at a time, trusting God with the rest.
Encountering Others on the Journey
As we journey our way through life, we are going to come into contact with other people who are on their own journeys. We may be part of their story for a long period of time or only an hour or two. But it’s important to remember (1) their journey doesn’t start and end when we enter and leave and (2) we have the ability to positively or negativity impact those around us.
The people we encounter along the way have a story. They have gone through things we don’t or can’t understand, they have grown up in different circumstances, they may have different values and priorities in life, and you’re entering the scene in the middle of something. You may not know what that something is, but everyone has a story. I think that this is so important to remember. So often, we get caught up in the part of the journey that we are part of, without taking the time to really get to know the people we are meeting.
I also think that it’s really important to remember that we affect other people. Our actions, our words, or our lack thereof can impact the people around us. I’m so guilty of getting caught up in my own fears of not being liked/accepted that I don’t reach out to other people and probably often come off as being mean and/or standoffish. That’s not what I’m trying to do, but I think it’s important to realize that even if it’s not what I’m intending I could be making other people feel rejected. And in realizing that, taking steps to change. I want to make a positive impact on the people I encounter along my journey – even if it’s only a smile as I pass someone by on the street.
The key takeaway here, for me at least, is that I’m not the only one on a journey. I need to turn outside of myself and look at how I’m impacting the people I’m encountering and get to know those that I can for the beautiful children of God that they are.
Journey with Jesus
The most important part of our journey is the One we are journeying with. Staying close to God throughout the journey allows us to hear and receive His guidance and direction. It also allows us to love others with Christ-like love.
I was raised in a Christian home, so I’ve always known about God. But, I wouldn’t say that I’ve always known Him. I’ve gone through many stages in life, from not spending any time with God in a given week except on Sundays to spending time with Him daily, feeling a deep personal connection. I’ve gone through seasons of doubt and seasons of deep trust. But one thing has remained constant: God’s love for me and His desire for me to turn to Him.
Journeying with Jesus doesn’t mean that everything is going to be neat and tidy or that nothing bad or hard is going to happen. But what it does mean is that He’s going to be there for you – in the good times and the bad times.
The WR is going to be a journey. The rest of my life will continue to be a journey. I pray that I’m able to make it a journey with Jesus and positively impact the people I encounter along the way. My prayer for you is that you too choose to make your life a journey with Jesus, clinging to His promises.
