Week 8 - Unstuck

I keep getting stuck. Stuck on old things. You know, focusing on what happened then with a determination to avoid it happening now. Truth is, I’m not in control of my present anymore than I am my past.

The past is designed to teach us lessons. I can reflect on past mistakes and learn from them. I can reflect on past victories and be encouraged. I can reflect on what God has done, in order to strengthen my faith in knowing what He is capable of doing. But, His mercies are new every morning.

Reflecting is different than dwelling. Dwelling means I choose to live in the past. Reflecting means I stop by for a brief visit. Dwelling means I don’t move forward. I get stuck. Think about it. When do we ever enjoy being “stuck”? When does being “stuck” aid progress? Stuck in traffic. Stuck in an elevator. Stuck on an airport runway, in the house, or even in the mall during a storm or flood. Being stuck turns a potentially helpful experience into a hindrance. So it is with being stuck in the past.

For me, I have been stuck on the past miscarriage. Worrying about the past disappointment and heartbreak, I have failed to thoroughly enjoy this present miracle. It is a miracle. Present day, right now, God-given miracle. This time, Reggie and I have just sensed that this experience is different, that the past was one opportunity to grow, and this will be a completely different and new opportunity and experience. And, I am encouraged by God’s word to the Israelites as they lamented over their plight as exiles (self-inflicted plight, I might add).

“Behold, I will do a new thing, now shall it spring forth; shall you not know it?” (Isaiah 43:19)

Today I choose to be ‘unstuck’. I choose to walk in the new mercies, the new thing, that God is choosing to do in our lives. Today, I choose joy.

Moving forward,

Kim

Week 7 - Abiding

Abide in Me, and I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me…He who abides in me, and I in him bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:4, 5b

Now I understand what ‘abide ‘means. There is currently a child who is “abiding” in me. He eats what I eat and drinks what I drink. Her sustenance is based upon my health and well-being (realizing that God is the one who truly sustains). He goes where I go. She rests, dwells, and makes herself at home in me. He abides.

In the hustle of life, it can be tempting to do everything but abide in Christ. We are efficient, effective, successful, proud, and…exhausted. We have bought into the lie that we indeed “pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.” So, we strive, toiling for glimpses of satisfaction, rest, peace and comfort, yet strangely find these out of our reach. We abide, but in the wrong things.

Abiding gives the connotation of resting, dwelling, or “making yourself at home” in something or someone. In reality, we all abide in something – our abilities, our education, our money, our looks, our jobs. There is something we regularly choose to depend upon, to rest in, that we mistakenly expect to bring about the results we desire.

And yet, according to God’s word, the key to true fruitful living is found in abiding, in resting - in Jesus. He is the one who works in us to will and act according to His good purpose. By choosing to spend time with Him, pray to Him, talk to Him, worship Him, listen to Him, obey Him, and follow Him, we find peace, purpose and joy. In the end, this is what matters.

Learning to abide,

Kim