“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop a look around every once in a while, you might miss it” – Ferris Bueller
These past few months, especially since my last update (don’t judge), the times keep coming and they just don’t stop coming. Since my last update I have gone through a major break up, a small depressive state, realized that I might have more trauma than I thought, graduated, and moved crossed country after just recently finding an amazing church community (granted the new community is pretty great too). Throughout it all, it has felt like there are so many weeds from my daily life that are trying to distract and strangle my relationship with Christ and thank Him that He’s kept me coming back to Him every time.
What put this all in perspective for me is a Martin Luther quote shared by a brother in Christ: “I have so much to do today that I’m going to need to spend three hours in prayer in order to be able to get it all done.” Starting my day out with Him has been essential to reminding me that He is sufficient and that in the mercies of every new day, He will see me through to the next day. Whatever is happening, in the context of eternity and His amazing plan, all that matter is Him and as He provides for the birds of the air and the things of the field, how much more will our intentional and caring Creator provide for us. In that I’m slowly able to find more and more contentment, living my best Philippians 4 life, trying to thank Him in any and everything for truly I have not even the faintest grasp as to the enormity of how He has blessed me.
In this time, the Lord is constantly reminding me that He has intentionally created me, knowing all of my faults, for good works and that He will equip me to do those to His glory. I have found myself looking to Psalm 139 for reassurance that I am loved, Isaiah 43:1 to see that He has called me by name, and Ephesians 2:10 to be reassured that I am made for good things, that I would be an instrument of righteousness and not impurity.
Finally, as I look forward to the World Race, and as I’ve come back home to CO and to see my family and others, He is continually teaching me to love selflessly. Trying to realize 1 John 3:16-18 and 1 Corinthians 13 to love all around me, especially those who are in need and those who revile me. Learning to react with patience, kindness, and love. Christ died for a crowd that jeered at His name and conspired against Him, that sought His death even as He sought out their redemption. He redeemed Saul who persecuted him with passion and zeal, turning him around that now Paul’s zeal and passion would be put to the kingdom of our living God and I can’t wait to see how this process being enacted in my own life will do the same.
Jackson, thank you for sharing some of your testimony from the past few months and how the Lord has been there with you through it all. Encouraging to hear your story and the peace, love, and joy that He can bring no matter the circumstances.