This week I had a really hard
time trying to figure out what I was going to write about. I started to write
something about sin, and then I wrote something about loneliness. I felt that
bringing up something negative would just kill the mood for this month of
posts. So I decided to combine both loneliness and renewal since I can relate
with both of them in my life at this moment. I wanted to start off by talking
about this feeling you get. It’s this feeling where you could have a whole room
full of people, and still feel completely alone. I mean not one of those people
understand who you are and what you have been through. I am at the point in my
life where my trust is on the brink of destruction. I mean I don’t know how to
save it from falling off the edge. There are so many times I just wanted to
reach out and meet someone, but I have this fear in that they are just going to
crush my already shattered heart. I mean I feel like I am fake every day, or
just a lair when someone asks me how am I doing. It says in the Bible that we
shouldn’t fear. Fear is something from the Devil, and that we should trust in
God with all our hearts. Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will
strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right
hand.” I had this idea of just being
like every other guy, and shutting down completely and hardening my heart. Of
course that was a bad idea because my trust for God is still this beating
heart, and it hasn’t skipped a beat. An everyday question I had was how was I
going to shake this little feeling? And the truth is I didn’t, it still sticks
with me like a cancer, but I for some reason have still put my trust out there.
Yes maybe deep down there is this clock that is counting down the days before
lies began, but I am honestly hoping I don’t have to be woken up by that alarm.
The problem with building trust on top of an already unstable structure is that
if the lies and deceit start piling its weight on it’s just going to crumble to
the ground, so please walk carefully. 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear
has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” This verse makes so much sense to me. I mean
the reason I have so much fear is because of my life. I mean every door of love
I open it just gets slammed right back in my face. How could I possible know
what loves is? I mean love isn’t lies behind the back, or hiding behind a message.
Well part two of this post is
about renewal. Well the only place I know love from is God. Is that the only
place I need it? As Christians we are called to love one another. So, after all
the pain heartbreak, sadness, loneliness, and fear what is next? Maybe it’s
that time were you just want to restart, and it is possible. We make so
many mistakes during the day and we feel horrible about them. Most people compile
things up for an entire year, and then feel that it’s their fresh start when
the ball finally drops. The truth is because Jesus sacrificed himself on the
cross for our sins we are forgiven, so every day is a fresh start. It’s weird
for me that last year all the really good things in my life shattered before
the New Year which technically didn’t give me a new start but a new way at looking at
life. Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to
this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you
may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
When I was finally open to the possibility of my
heart actually shattering, again things really changed. I started to dig deeper
and I found out that if love shatters than it wasn’t really love. I learned
that if someone is scared to tell you something important about your future
than that isn’t really love. I don’t really know what that is maybe that is
just a sign that the ride is over, and it is time to get off. “Nothing is set
in stone.” I read something like this and I can’t help but think that isn’t
love set in stone? If God is all powerful, all mighty and he has the ability to
live for all eternity, then isn’t love set? What I circled around in this month
is love because it should be in every part of our lives. No matter what view I
look at it, I don’t see how hiding, faking and lying has anything to do with
love. I bring this up because you can’t have a new start without love, and
sometimes it’s just hard when you can’t trust. The renewal starts when you can
call out all of your feelings about what had happened and say goodbye. I mean I
make mistakes every day, and nobody is perfect, but I am grateful I can wake up
the next morning and be able to forget about my mistakes, and start again. Psalm 51:12 “Restore to me the joy of your
salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” I
hope that all who is reading this can put aside all of this worldly stuff and
put Christ first and get to truly feel what it is like to be Renewed.
Comments
I love really honest posts where people share so much of themselves. Thanks for sharing Jack.
My philosophy on love goes like this:
God loves me unconditionally, so I'm going to love me unconditionally and I am going to love others unconditionally.
Job was tested to see if he would love God unconditionally.
Therefore, regardless of how much my partner hurts, disappoints me, and makes mistakes because he's human, I am not going to lose faith in him or our love. I am going to be that 1 Corinthians 13 love towards him and when we're not seeing eye to eye, trust God to speak to his heart.
And you know what happened? I was blessed with a love that is 1 Corinthians 13 towards me. God is faithful. My efforts throught God's grace bore good fruit so I am not departing from it at all.
Wishing you much love and no fear.