This past school year has been quite a journey. It has had its ups and its downs, probably more extreme than ever. I have learned what it means to emotionally suffer for Christ, how to be real with God, what it is to really experience a glimpse of God, and a lot more about balance. I have become much wiser, gained more maturity than before. I have grown so much this past year.
And yet, the more I grow, the more I experience Christ, the more he reminds me that I sure do have a long ways to go. My attempt to have a consistently “good” relationship with Christ is boring and unnatural and unrealistic. My relationship with Christ is just that: a relationship. Its going to change, going to have its ups and downs and will probably never perfectly repeat itself. And God isn’t stupid. He understands how to change a life and bring it to holiness. He knows that sometimes its going to be hard, that sometimes us humans will mess up. But that is the great thing about it, and I think where God takes his joy. He loves to see someone that is completely worthless and broken and failing become a world changer through His own power. So, there will be times of hardship or transition or whatever, but hey, God is still in control and he understands.
There will even be times where we don’t seem to be doing anything or are “failing.” Well, these times are normal and happen frequently. Even if people aren’t coming to know Christ through that person, God is still pleased. I think the important thing to God is if there is still desire, or a deep long, or something that is doing its best to follow Him and obey. That’s what makes God happy. God has promised to carry out the work he started in us until the day of completion. Ultimately, he is in control. We have chosen to follow Christ. He’s leading us along the narrow path. At times, we get tired, distracted, or fall down really hard, but Jesus is always right in front of us. When we cry out to Him for help, he never fails to lift us back up again. Sometimes he yanks us up pretty hard. And so, we continue along our journey in life with God. We don’t know the way. That’s his job. And the destination?
HOLINESS!
Therefore my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU TO WILL AND TO ACT ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD PURPOSE.
Philippians 2:12-13
And yet, the more I grow, the more I experience Christ, the more he reminds me that I sure do have a long ways to go. My attempt to have a consistently “good” relationship with Christ is boring and unnatural and unrealistic. My relationship with Christ is just that: a relationship. Its going to change, going to have its ups and downs and will probably never perfectly repeat itself. And God isn’t stupid. He understands how to change a life and bring it to holiness. He knows that sometimes its going to be hard, that sometimes us humans will mess up. But that is the great thing about it, and I think where God takes his joy. He loves to see someone that is completely worthless and broken and failing become a world changer through His own power. So, there will be times of hardship or transition or whatever, but hey, God is still in control and he understands.
There will even be times where we don’t seem to be doing anything or are “failing.” Well, these times are normal and happen frequently. Even if people aren’t coming to know Christ through that person, God is still pleased. I think the important thing to God is if there is still desire, or a deep long, or something that is doing its best to follow Him and obey. That’s what makes God happy. God has promised to carry out the work he started in us until the day of completion. Ultimately, he is in control. We have chosen to follow Christ. He’s leading us along the narrow path. At times, we get tired, distracted, or fall down really hard, but Jesus is always right in front of us. When we cry out to Him for help, he never fails to lift us back up again. Sometimes he yanks us up pretty hard. And so, we continue along our journey in life with God. We don’t know the way. That’s his job. And the destination?
HOLINESS!
Therefore my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU TO WILL AND TO ACT ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD PURPOSE.
Philippians 2:12-13
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