Letting Go of the Good

I'm going to preference this post by saying this subject is not where my heart currently is, but it's where I'm praying to get.  The journey of remembering to choose joy daily is filled with a lot of learning.

Today was a day that a nap, going for a walk, or watching a movie sounded way more appealing than getting ready and going to church.  Per usual, by going, God showed me something I needed to hear.

Lyrics of one of the songs that played said "You're all I need, so be all that I want, Jesus".  One reason this is one of my favorite songs is because honestly, many times there are so many other things consuming our hearts than Jesus.  Many times, these are the things we put most of our focus into.

I think many of us realize why God calls us out of sin- there are earthly consequences to sin that make for an obvious answer of why He asks us to give these things up and return our focus on Him.

Currently, I am processing another area God may be calling us to let go of- things that are good as well.  God makes so many promises in the Bible- hope, grace, and a well thought out plan for each of our lives.  However, He does not promise that we will get everything we ask for, even if it is something "good".  Things I am learning to let go of: security/comfort, having answers of why, and hearing the answer "yes". 

Security/Comfort

I feel things deeply, and I love and care about my people.  If I had things my way, I would spend every day feeling secure in friendships and relationships and have a constant since of belonging.  Feeling like we belong is a natural desire as humans- it makes us feel loved and valued here on earth.  However, God doesn't promise that on earth we will feel the same effort from others that we are putting forward.  

Instead, He promises us belonging in Him.  But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine". (Isaiah 43:1) While the world may feel lonely at times, the very One that created us and knows every one of our flaws calls us HIS.

As encouragement to anyone else letting go of this, here are some reasons I'm learning it's okay to let go of the need of comfort/security: 1) God has provided friends in places I wasn't expecting.  These have been sweet, needed relationships. 2) God is using experiences to teach me to better love and include those around me and help them feel valued by not only me, but Jesus. 3) I'm not great at slowing down, so sometimes I truly need Jesus to cancel my plans to make me slow down, breathe, and give my time back to Him.

Knowing why

We all want answers.  We want to know why our loved ones life was taken before we were ready.  We want to know why someone we love didn't see our worth.  We want to know why the mountain stood in the way of what we long for.  God doesn't promise us having any of these whys answered here on earth.

He doesn't give us the whys, but he assures us the whys exist.  There is a reason for everything, and it is better because HIS thoughts are better.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts". (Isaiah 55:8)

To be honest, this is really difficult for me to see in the moment.  But here are ways I'm learning it's okay to not have the answers. 1) Honestly, knowing the why doesn't always help.  It doesn't take grief away, it doesn't cure the heartbreak.  It simply isn't needed. 2) It is SO sweet to look back on life and see how God used a situation for his glory.  He used loss I've faced as a way to love people that are hurting, and he's used changing my plans to bring me the sweet spot in life that I'm currently in.  My life would look so different if He had given me what I wanted in the moment, and looking back I can begin to see those Whys that I was longing for at the time.

Answering with Yes

I'm sure you can immediately think of multiple things you have been praying for that God has answered with a no, not yet, or with a yes with a twist you weren't expecting.  It's so hard to pray and feel like you are doing everything you can to turn a situation over to Christ to be met with an answer you were not wanting.  It may feel like He is not listening when we experience this.

However, He is doing exactly as promised.  "Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:12-13)  He may not be answering with a yes, but He is listening and answering us with the BEST answer.  I would much rather His best than my best.  We find Him when we seek Him, and He uses some of his no's and waits to draw us closer.

Here are some reasons why God answering differently than I want is okay. 1) I've been praying about a situation for months and months, and I am slowly watching God's answer unfold.  It is not how I wanted, and admittedly it has come with some tears, but I can see His grace fully and beautifully.  While His answer looking differently than I hoped will come with adjustment and some emotions, I am truly excited to see His plan unfold in a better way than I could have come up with.  2) Just take a second to think what your life would look like if God answered yes to everything.  Like really dig down and think about some of those prayers when you were a dramatic teenager begging God for something you thought you couldn't live without- thank goodness He knows better. :)

It is so easy for things to take center focus in our minds and hearts.  This is a process we will face and fight for our entire lives.  To circle back to the walk through Judges that I am in the process of, I am reminded that no matter how many times we let our hearts and minds lose focus, He is constant.  Judges 10:6-18 is yet another story of Israel turning to idols rather than God.  In verse 11, God not so gently reminds the Israelites from group after group from whom He delivered them.  He reminds them that He continuously fixes the messes they cause.  The Israelites re-cry out to God and ask for deliverance.  The chapter ends by saying "He could no longer bear to see Israel suffer" (Judges 11:16) 

God sees our pain and understand that life is hard.  No matter if the hardship is caused by our own sin or the way of the world, He is listening and consistently ready to deliver us and draw us closer to Him.