You know, I almost got off the bus. Trying to build this thing, lead a team at work, and serve with my Church has been taking its toll! I’m pretty good about resting when I need to (follow my weekly #SabbathChronicles posts) but it can still be tiring! Especially when things don’t move the way you “think” they should!
And then my Pastor preached a message at our Catalyst Night of Worship that got me all the way together called “Please Remain Seated” and it had me thinking about how we can remain seated where God placed us even when it doesn’t look like we’re going anywhere (or even going in the right direction). And if you know anything about me already, you know that I love God’s Word and that’s probably going to be the first thing that pops into my mind when I get to pondering life and purpose. Here’s a few of the verses and thoughts that came to mind and encouraged me:
His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness…
2 Peter 1: 3-10 NRSV
There are so many good nuggets in that passage of scripture! The gist of it is that first God gave us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him. Having everything we need is directly tied to what we know about God. If we know that God is is our Provider, then we understand that lack isn’t something we have to live with forever. Or, if we know that He is our Comforter, then we know when we are sad He can give us comfort.
And then it goes on to say that because of this truth we should make efforts to grow our faith with goodness, our goodness with knowledge of Him, our knowledge with self control (it goes on) and with all this in tow we will never stumble. It’s a lot but the main thing is that as we grow in our understanding of Him more of life will become clear.
I am confident of this, that the One who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6 NRSV
That thing that you began, believing and trusting that He was in it…He will complete it. It’s not up to you to make it happen. It’s up to you to trust, listen and obey. He’ll make it happen.
So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 NRSV
Don’t grow weary friend! Don’t grow weary in well doing, for in due season you will reap if you don’t give up. I truly wanted to give up but then I remembered He started this so He’s gotta finish it and if I just keep trusting, listening and obeying I will see the harvest. It’s the same for you!
Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:30-31 NRSV
This verse made me think about my 3 year old niece. She is just a ball of energy until she isn’t and when she isn’t she is done! But then she takes a nap or goes to sleep at bed time and is ready to go all over again! She may not be waiting on the Lord (lol) but that pause for sleep was exactly what she needed to recharge her engine. When we wait on the Lord in our weariness we’ll be revived. We’ll be able to go again.
He has made everything appropriate in its time…
Ecclesiastes 3:11 CSB
I actually want to write this one out word for word from the Amplified version:
He has made everything BEAUTIFUL and APPROPRIATE in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divide purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]….
The thing that you’re working for will be beautiful at the appropriate time. Continue to work, continue to pray. You shall see its beauty at the right and exact moment.
There are so many more but then this blog will be entirely too long – haha. But I wanted to give you a glimpse into what helps me keep focused on my purpose of helping you steward life well! I hope this helps you keep focused!
Friend, don’t give up if it doesn’t look like what you think it should.
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