This season of blessing is a scary place to be for a couple of reasons. It seems so arrogant and ungrateful of me to not sing praise to the Lord. Yet, I know so many incredible people who are in deeply painful, frightening seasons of their life where the blessings are much harder to find. As we reflect on Memorial Day, how can I not be reminded of the families affected by the sacrifices of military service? What about the victims of abuse, cancer, tragic accidents? I cannot explain the hows or whys of their suffering or of my great circumstances. Just as many suffering people cry, "Why? I don't deserve this suffering," I find myself with the opposite, but equally honest question, "Why? I don't deserve this blessing."
I have grown quite comfortable in this season of blessing and am painfully aware that the nature of life is such that we will likely not be in this season forever. There have been difficult seasons in my life prior to this, therefore, I can appreciate how good we have it right now. This world, however, is not heaven. There is an Enemy on the prowl. God tells us that we WILL have trouble in this world.
The thoughts of the heartache, illness, and sin that our family could face are enough to make me physically shudder. I refuse to allow the Enemy to haunt me with a paralyzing fear or rob me of my joy. Yet, I want to be realistic and wise. I want to know how God would have us best utilize this season that we are in. Today, as my husband & I discussed this we were reminded of a few passages:
"These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards." Matthew 7:24-27 (The Message)
I once heard someone preach on this passage on the radio. One of his subpoints has always stuck with me: It did not say IF the rain came, but WHEN. The storms came to both houses. The difference was their foundation. Over lunch today, Daddy and I were discussing how poignant this analogy really is: Beautiful skies and sunny weather are a builder's most productive time. A foundation cannot be laid in the midst of a storm. The storms are the occasion for us to hunker down and hope the foundation is secure. So, how then, would God have us prepare?
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33
"Make sure that when you eat and are satisfied, build pleasant houses and settle in, see your herds and flocks flourish and more and more money come in, watch your standard of living going up and up—make sure you don't become so full of yourself and your things that you forget God, your God." Deuteronomy 8:12-13 (The Message)
Don't get comfortable. Don't get cocky. Remember the Lord. Be good stewards of that which He has entrusted you with. Have a love for Him that is true and deep and real and based on His incredible gift of salvation alone...these other blessings are just icing on the cake.
I don't think God desires for me to hide my blessings under a bushel, but I am convinced I am called to love Him far more than my life. Glory to God!
5 comments:
Jen, I know what you mean exactly.
Currently, my family is very blessed and I refuse to live with the "Waiting for the other shoe to fall" mentality.
We have had our sorrows and trials and I know we have them again, but when we do, God will still be sitting on his throne,sovereign and loving us ~~ and I will still love Him through our pain.
I love this. . . Especially the part about when the weather is nice that is when God is working in us to build a strong foundation so that when the storms come we are prepared! I love that!
I have had a lot of the same thoughts and questions. Great perspective! Thanks for sharing!
You were able to speak directly to my heart today. We are both in the same spot with our children turning 3 within days of eachother. I am so emotional these days. You have such a gift to write these words. You said everything I am feeling. I never thought I would be so emotional over their birthdays but I am once again surprised. I to shudder at the thoughts of the pain they could encounter in the future. Thank you for writing what I have been feeling for a few weeks now. God Bless you and your family!!! Oh by the way, your cake was PERFECT! I LOVED IT! Check my blog soon for pics from our Birthday Party that happened yesterday! God Bless.
I just have to tell you that your words speak to my soul on a regular basis. It's such a great reminder that God gives us the times of blessings as times to make our foundation stronger. Great thoughts, Jen.
Beautifully written! God has used you this week to speak to me and I am so thankful for that! I, too, find myself feeling guilty for being blessed in the midst of friends who are suffering and haven't known how to deal with the guilt. Thanks for sharing those passages today!
And... Happy Birthday to your precious little ones! Their pictures always bring a smile to my face. They are just precious! I love how they just enjoy life! Mommy and Daddy have done a great job of teaching them that!
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