I had a rough Spring break. I had a lot of conflict and people who opposed my choices. I will admit that I got angry and I was confused as to why people who claim to care about me would act this way towards me. I felt like I had been ganged up on and that everyone was just out to get me because they didn't like the choices that I was making. I didn't understand why I was being treated like a child who can't make decisions for the next steps to take in life, but mostly, I didn't understand why God was letting me go through such a rough time. I don't just mean this one disagreement, but over the last year, things have been thrown at me like darts. Everything felt upside down and I felt lost and alone without the approval of my family. But I went to church this morning and everything changed. Pastor Paul Wright talked about a lot of different things this morning, but he mostly focused on Caleb (One of the spies that came back and actually said that the Israelite army could take the promise land despite the giants). He talked about how Caleb literally means, "follows God around like a dog", but Caleb wasn't even mentioned for a long time after he quieted the people who were fearful of the giants. One thing that Pastor Paul said that really stuck out to me was that Caleb wholly followed after God. If you wholly follow after God, the things that people say to you and do to you really don't matter. If you are following Him, that's all that matters. If you are constantly listening to everything that everyone around you says, are you really listening to the voice of God? (I am preaching this to myself above all people). It is a concept that everyone knows, but seems to throw out the window in times of chaos and stress! We forget that God is all powerful and we start looking at the rising waters beneath our feet, just like when Peter walked on the water. When we begin worrying about how others will feel or what they will say, that's when you start sinking and eventually drowning. You will feel like you have no motivation for anything and depression will start creeping in and taking over your life. Trust me, I've been there! When you get to that point, you start to question if God is even listening, then if He even cares, and finally you begin to wonder if He is even real. You will wallow in self pity and doubt until one day, the silence breaks and you hear His voice. He says something like, "Hey you! Yeah. You. Over here. See here in my word? This is what I've been trying to tell you for so long. I love you. Come home." It really is that simple. A verse that Pastor Paul used in his message this morning that really helped bring this concept home for me is Galatians 6:9.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
See I grew tired of trying to do the right thing and feeling like I still lost, but one day, I will reap a harvest that can never be taken away. Be different as God calls you to be different. Don't fret and worry about people who say that you are doing the wrong thing as long as you are following His word. Pray about His will and follow it! Don't grow weary of following Him for He is with you wherever you go! If you find yourself becoming weary and burdened,
"but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Is. 40;31
To sum it all up:
1. Rely on the direction of God and do not worry about what other people think of you.
2. Look to Him in stress and chaos
3. Do not grow wearing in doing good.
God Bless!
