The Next Thing...
Lately I've been in a rut, in a not-so-good sticky-stuck place. You ever been there?
It can be a tricky place to be, and how easily we can find ourselves right back there again; but as I go through this difficult season of grief, and growth, and pruning; I am reminded by beloved mentors, family and friends, and the simple pages of a workbook that in all my stress and anxiety about "figuring out my existence" as I like to call it, there is really only one thing I need to do, one thing I can do...the next thing.
But what is that? How do we know what "the next thing" is? If you're anything like me, you like to have things figured out, you like all the answers neatly delivered to your doorstep in an Amazon Prime package the same day, but life doesn't always work like that; in fact, it rarely does. We all have God-given gifts and purposes and dreams in our hearts, and we can set goals and make plans to achieve certain things; but sometimes life throws us a curveball (or 27) and it can leave us feeling discouraged and defeated. But that isn't the voice of God speaking to us when those thoughts cross our mind! God's plans for us always prevail!
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 37-39)
What does that mean? That means that nothing, and I mean NOTHING, can separate us from the love of God! God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of a sound mind! When we fall, when we fail, when we mess-up big time; that doesn't mean it's time to give up! God is a God of love, patience, and forgiveness and He isn't done with you yet! Sometimes He has to slow us down a bit, to help us catch our breath, get rid of the things weighing us down, give us time to heal and space to repent, and restore our strength and focus; but when we are ready, He puts us back in the game; and the time on the bench is never wasted either. Because we have a race to run, a purpose to fulfill, a Prize to win! When we fall hard, that means it's time to GET UP STRONGER! Not by our own strength, 'cause ya girl don't play with a scraped knee #neosporin but by the strength of Christ within us, which calls us from out of the grave and places our feet back on solid ground.
When I place my faith in people, in a career, in a place, in this world; I am never satisfied. I always feel inadequate, ill-equipped, and unfulfilled. But when I remember that my hope and my faith lies in Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow; who is unmovable and unshakeable, who has defeated sin and conquered death then I am able to remember that if my God is for me, then who can stand against?! Ahh! If I could just preach this to myself more often!
If you've fallen off your track today, if you've forgotten who you are, if you are at the bottom of your pit.. hear this, because I need to hear it too. YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD!! You're purpose is WAY too important and WAY too powerful for anyone, or anything, on this earth to stop it. God will do what only God can do, He will fulfill His purposes; but we are called to do what we can do, and that is to seek Him fiercely, praise Him constantly, and trust Him obediently. Easy to type, sometimes difficult to do. But it doesn't have to be, just ask God for help. It starts by doing the next thing, whatever that thing is, do it!!
Pray, take a walk, take a shower, do the dishes, write a blog post, go to work, apply for that job, make a video, call that person, finish that paper, put in that notice, buy that plane ticket. Whatever your "next thing" is, ask God, talk to Him about it, listen in the quietness of your heart for what He calls you to, and trust Him with it. Then go do it! Life is an amazing, incredible, abundant gift; every single second, of every single day and I'm so tired of wasting it. Let's build each other up, let's take those next steps together. Let's ask for help where we need it, and reach out to help others when we're able. Each "next thing" is a victory, each "next thing" matters, keep going!! and know that your story is amazing and your life is a miracle!
I love you guys & you're awesome!
Always,
Nicole