W.A.I.T. Part 3: Desiring Your Timing, Not God's Timing

As a recent graduate from a Master's program, I have had to meet many frustrations head on that involve the timing of circumstances in my life. Back in August, I was immensely frustrated that everybody else seemed to have direction in their lives while I was floundering. I kept wondering why others had become successfully employed while I remained on the sidelines. What I seemed to be forgetting was that God has a purpose behind every situation and circumstance in our lives. Also, I was forgetting that God is outside of the function of time, which is clearly outlined in 2 Peter 3:8-9 ~ "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
In hindsight, I can understand why I had to struggle through unemployment. If I had become employed right out of school, I probably would not have given God the credit. Instead, I had to wait until December to find any sort of employment, and that still is not full-time or in my field, but I think I am more thankful for that than I would have ever been with a full-time position in exercise science back in August. The waiting period taught me how to rely on God and not on myself. I had lost the ability to enjoy the blessings I had in my life, and had become too distanced from God, so He stripped me down so that I would humble myself and come back to Him. God wanted to use His timing in order to teach me a lesson, and I'm forever grateful.
We all need to remember to be patient in life. Instead of immediately assuming that God has forgotten about us, we should instead remember that He is just preparing something greater in order to glorify Himself. In my young adults group, there are some single individuals who I'm sure wish they could find the right person to marry. It is hard to trust that all will work out in the end, but that is why we need to be close to God to build up our faith. This is true for all situations in life, whether it be deciding where to go to school, where to get a job, or what car to purchase. These are decisions that require prayerful consideration, and we must trust that God will answer when it is most appropriate.
On top of that, we all yearn to once again be with Jesus, but we have to be patient for that as well. To please God and glorify Him, we must live pure lives, assuming that each day could be our last. I believe 2 Peter 3:10-14 outlines this warning quite well because it states, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him."
Partnered with this, we must refute all of those people that we know who claim that the world is coming to an end in December. It would be ridiculous to assume that we mere humans would be privy to such information. If people continually insist that the end of the world is coming, I suggest that you refresh their memories about how Y2K was supposed to destroy all technology, but surprise, surprise, that New Year went off without a hitch or computer glitch. An even more reliable source that you should turn people towards is the Bible. It flat out states that nobody but God is aware of when the Second Coming will occur, along with the end of the world. All one needs to do is turn to Matthew 24:36-37, which states, "'But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.'"
Again, we must all remember to be patient in life. Not everything will happen when we want it to, and some situations will arise that we wish never did. What is important is that we all remember that God has a plan and a purpose behind every action and situation in our lives. He will bless you when He sees fit. Holding this concept close to your heart will help you to thrive in your current circumstances.

W.A.I.T. Part 2: Enduring the Life of an Outcast

In this day and age, the goal for many people is to be well liked by many. Social networking sites, such as Facebook, seem to promote this concept. Everybody desires to have the most "friends" in order to improve their status amongst their peers. Even a song from the Broadway musical, Wicked, promotes this idea. The song "Popular" has the following lines:
Please--it's all about popular!

It's not about aptitude

It's the way you're viewed

So it's very shrewd to be 

Very very popular.

What I find to be difficult is that, as a Christian, we are called to follow the unpopular path of Jesus. We all strive to feel included, but following Christ might, on the surface, make it appear that nobody cares. What we all must realize, though, is that the love of God is all encompassing and much more important than the love of man. When put in perspective, having the everlasting God on my side is much more important than gaining favor with fallen humanity. People are not dependable and their opinions are skewed, so being popular in their eyes is not a good goal to strive towards. Instead, it is important to focus on the words found in John 15:18-21, which say,  "'If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: "A servant is not greater than his master." If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.'"

Instead of walking around in a despondent fashion because the world does not seem to understand you, it is better to embrace the role of the outcast. If Christ was hated, then it makes perfect sense that you and I will be hated by the world for promoting the Good News. Life as an outcast can be quite frustrating, so it is again important to focus on Scripture in order to be reminded of the eternal goal you are working towards. Colossians 3:23-24 serves as a good remember because it states, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Our goal is to glorify God and do His will so that we receive our reward in heaven, which is priceless compared to any earthly reward. Matthew 5:11-12 also reminds us about our heavenly reward ~  "'Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." 

It is a blessing to be insulted for following the path of Christ and not something to be downtrodden over. We must remember that being a Christian puts us on the same plain as our Master, which puts us out of favor with society. This means that life as an outcast is inevitable, and should be embraced and accepted, even if you yearn for acceptance. By accepting Christ in your heart and having faith in the Gospel, you gain God's favor, which trumps the acceptance of any human being. No human can provide you a spot in heaven, along with everlasting life, but God can do all of this for you.

I will leave you all with one last thought. Being a Christian not only provides you the life of an outcast, but it also paves the road for enemies to come into your life to try and tear you down. Your response to those who persecute you can illuminate where you are in your walk with Christ. Instead of stooping to the level of your enemies and hating them as they hate you, meditate on this verse from Matthew 5:44-46 ~ "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?" Loving your enemies can help to further glorify God and could help turn some skeptics towards Him if they begin to wonder why a social outcast can be so accepting of both their role and those who persecute them.

W.A.I.T. Part 1: Don't Base Your Calling on Worldly Standards

Many of us question our purpose in life. We're not quite sure if we are ever actually on the correct path. Some of us find ourselves questioning whether or not we even meet the so-called standards to be a qualified member of the Christian faith who is meant to bring forth the Good News to the nations of the world.
There is nothing wrong with doubting your abilities, but wondering if you are good enough to be a Christian is ridiculous. We need to remember that the only reason we are Christians in the first place is because God called us and we answered that call. We must remember what is written within 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, which states, "'Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.'"
Everybody has their shortcomings. The human race is fallen and riddled with sin and deceit. By nature, we are a bunch of lowly screw-ups, but with the help of God, we can become great leaders, encouragers, and influential when it comes to sharing the Gospel. God blesses us with unique gifts and the ability to utilize them. He puts us in situations that make us uncomfortable in order to prove that we must rely on Him and that the reason we are successful is because of God's grace.
A great 20th century example of an individual who relied on God for his calling is Eric Liddell. He was the son of Scottish missionaries and by 1924, he was the fastest sprinter in the world. Eric wanted to serve God in some capacity, but he wasn't exactly sure how he could do that. An excerpt from David McCasland's book, Eric Liddell -- Pure Gold, states, "In his own eyes, he seemed to possess so few of the skills he thought necessary for Christian ministry. Not only was he not an orator, he dreaded the thought of speaking in public. Forty thousand shouting fans in a stadium didn't bother him at all, but forty people sitting quietly in a church hall terrified him." But God decided that Eric was meant to be a speaker. Eric prayed for guidance and this prayer was answered by a visit from D.P. Thomson, a member of the Glasgow Student' Evangelistic Union who was hoping that Eric would come and speak. David McCasland wrote that "D.P.'s infectious enthusiasm not only made it seem imperative that Eric come and speak, but made it sound completely possible for a young man who dreaded the public platform." As means of response, "Eric paused for a moment, pondering the invitation, then glanced up and with a broad smile said, 'All right, I'll do it.'"
Not only did Eric trust to follow God's calling to become a public speaker, but he also decided to respect the Lord's Sabbath, which would impact the races in which he could participate in the 1924 Olympic Games. Eric Liddell was favored to win the 100 meter in the 1924 Olympics, but once he saw that the finals of the race were on Sunday, Eric declined to participate. Eric still entered into the 200 meters and the 400 meters, though was not considered a contender in either, according to McCasland's book. When Eric Liddell ran in the 400 meters final, not only did he win the event, he also set a new World Record time of 47.6 seconds. A description of Eric's running style throughout the race was written by one of his competitors in the final, Horatio Fitch. Fitch wrote, "Tho a sprinter by practice, he ran the pick of the world's quarter milers off their feet. Tho a small man, he makes his legs move fast enuf to beat his rangy competitors. His form is all wrong by our standards, for he runs almost leaning back, and his chin is almost pointing to heaven, yet he won his race on pluck and stamina. And most difficult of all, he had to set his own pace all the way, where one instant's faltering judgement would have meant defeat." This quote serves as a great reminder that even though Eric didn't run in the typical fashion of the day, Eric met God's standards because he lived to glorify His name, and thus flourished in his endeavors.
The next time you question whether or not you are qualified to share the Gospel, remember that God provides you with everything you need in order to thrive.

Eric Liddell winning the 400 meter in Paris, 1924.

Why Aren't I Thriving?: A Multi-Part Series

I have decided to try something a little different with this blog. In order to expand upon my last post about trying to thrive in God's love, I have decided to start a brief series outlining potential roadblocks to thriving that I learned about in the past year. I think it's very important to be aware of potential struggles along the narrow path and I think this "Why Aren't I Thriving?," or W.A.I.T., series is a way to explore these issues.
This year I am determined to live with a deeper awareness of my surroundings and with a deeper awareness of the people in my life. I gained some inspiration and desire to change while listening to the song, "The Redeemer," by Sanctus Real. This song is a reminder to move forward and thrive despite finding yourself down for the count. Even if it means starting over completely, it is totally worth it in the long run in order to follow the path and purpose God has planned for your life. The following is the song in its entirety:

Sometime I just wanna start over

'Cause everything looks like a wreck

And I need the courage to carry on

'Cause I can't see what's ahead

And there are places I've wished I could be

Battles I've wanted to win

Dreams that have slipped through my hands

I may never get back again

But I'm still a dreamer, a believer

Oh, I lost my faith in so many things

But I still believe in You

'Cause You can make anything new

Sometimes I just wish we could say

All the things that are easy to hear

Ignore the injustice we see

And explain every unanswered prayer

But I'd rather speak honestly

And wear a tattered heart on my sleeve

"Cause in the middle of my broken dreams

Redemption is here

And I'm still a dreamer, a believer

Oh, I lost my faith in so many things

But I still believe in You

"Cause You are the answer, the Redeemer

Oh, I've given up on too many things

But I'm not giving up on You

"Cause You can make anything new

I don't have every answer in life

But I'm trusting You one day at a time

"Cause You can make a weak heart stay alive

Forever

And this is where heaven and earth collide

I lift my hands, I give my life

This is how my weary heart stays alive

Oh, I'm still a dreamer, still a believer

And You are the answer, the Redeemer

"Cause You can make anything new

Yeah, You can make anything new

On a final note, I would like to call to your attention Psalm 37:23-24, which reminds us that the Lord will not forsake us, even when we stumble. As I launch the W.A.I.T. series, meditate on these words in order to focus on thriving: "The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand."

Strive to Thrive

Even though we've already entered the new year, I would like to say that I'm not the biggest fan of New Years Eve. It seems to just be one of those evenings that people forget their inhibitions and blame it on alcohol. To me, that's no excuse and just plain silly. On top of that, most people will ask you how you celebrated and if you didn't spend your night doing something completely outrageous or surrounded by friends, it seems as though many frown upon that, which makes no sense.
I'm also not a big fan of New Year's resolutions. It seems as if you are just setting yourself up for failure because most people resolve to do something that is too extreme to actually accomplish. This is why I'm choosing to not make a resolution, but am instead going to strive to thrive. The idea came from listening to Switchfoot's song "Thrive." The lyrics that caught my ear were "I wanna thrive not just survive." The entire premise for this song seems to center on spiritual warfare and how we desire to conform more to the Son, but the voices that Satan plants in our heads seem to get in the way. Because we are all haunted by our own inner demons, whether it's our past, how we treated others, or sins we try to keep hidden, we tend to feel like fakes when we claim we are Christians. This feeling makes it seem like we are just surviving in this world, instead of thriving in God's love. We need to not give in to the lies that Satan plants in our minds so we no longer feel like strangers in our own skin. When we're uncomfortable in our own skin, it is apparent to everyone around us, which can be a hinderance to sharing the Gospel. If we don't seem to believe the Good News ourselves, why would others believe us when we share with them?
Starting in 2012, my desire is to try and thrive more, instead of just surviving. I spent the end of 2011 just surviving, but now that I have discovered some answers in life "coincidently" (I don't believe in coincidences), I feel that I can finally look to the future and leave my past behind. Verses to focus on in order to thrive can be found in Matthew 5:13-16. These verses state, "'You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.'"
Everybody's goal should be to shine their light into the lives of others. If you get caught up despairing over your own life and circumstances, you will lose your saltiness and stifle your light, which is then no use to others. Try to focus on what you do have so that your light can shine through to others and you can thrive thanks to the Father in heaven because just surviving is no way to live your life.

Finding Where I Belong

Ringing in 2012, I realized how close the lyrics to Switchfoot's "Where I Belong" apply to my life. I joined friends at an Irish pub to celebrate the new year, but I just felt out of place. I'm not opposed to dancing and loud music, but I just wasn't in the mood. My friends are a lot of fun, but I always feel awkward on New Year's Eve. I think that's because my life is finally following Romans 12:2, which states, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." I've come to realize that I really don't conform to this world, which makes me feel a bit out of place. Most of the time I'm not bothered by this, but it seems to be exemplified on New Years. All the more reason I can relate to the following lyrics from "Where I Belong":

Where the weak are finally strong
Where the righteous right the wrongs
Still looking for a home
In a world where I belong
This body's not my own
This world is not my own
But I still can hear the sound
Of my heart beating out
So let's go boys, play it loud
On the final day I die
I want to hold my head up high
I want to tell You that I tried
To live it like a song

My goal for the new year is to embrace my non-conformity and to not let it drag down my thoughts. I need to remember that it is better to not conform to the ways of the world and that following Jesus is the  only proper way to live my life. By following the path He provides, I'm bound to discover that place where I belong.