I love the concept of riding God's wave. It means that wherever I am or go or whatever I do, I can rest assured that God's got me. I can trust that He will take me to the places that He wants me to be in, that He will provide the life that is best for me, and that He will teach me everything I need to know. Now that's not to say that I will always enjoy the wave, infact more often than not I'm faced with opposition and hardships. Neither does it mean that it's the easiest way. But it is the path that is the best for me and that will make me a better version of me, not to mention stronger, wiser, more mature, more faithful, more knowledgeable, more firm in my faith and more grounded in Him and as a person.
I could also choose my own way. I often do. And, the beauty of God is that He gives us the choice and the free will to make that choice. No one forces me to take God's way. I want to. I find it the most exciting, the most daring, the most exhillarating, the most comforting, the most difficult, the most cliff-hanging, the most challenging, the most hopeful, the most sustaining, the most awe filled... but ultimately the path that brings me freedom. See, if I was to go my way I wouldn't be the person you see today. I'd be totally different. To be honest, if I'd have carried on my way I could still be battling with horrific low self-esteem, but I'm not. I'm free. I could be stuck in an unhappy marriage being miserable most of the time and feeling unfulfilled. But I'm not. I'm free. I could be in some dead-end job working 9-5 with no excitement, no thrills no motivation and no way out. But I'm not. I'm free. I could still be battling with things I overcame years ago. But I'm not. I'm free. I could be a real nasty person if I'd have chosen my way. But I'm not. I'm free. None of these things weigh me down anymore. Neither am I tied to them with a ball and chain like I once was or could have been. Neither do I need to get my kicks out of the unstable things the world has to offer such as one-night stands, alcohol, drugs, gambling.... No I have a healthy, loving, faithful and constant Father who provides everything I need and gives me HOPE.
I'm not saying I'm perfect or that I don't struggle. And neither am I judging the path anyone else has taken. Like I said, we have the freedom to choose. Praise God. To be honest, this week and for the majority of this year I have been miserable. My job is extremely stressful and a real hardship most of the time. There are issues I face on a daily basis which at times are really difficult. I don't know where I'm necessarily headed or what's round the corner. I am mentally exhausted. But I know that in all of these things that 'God is working for my good' (Romans 8v28). I have hope that His wave is going to carry me to where He wants me to be, and not only that but to the place that is best for me. I would rather endure these temporary things and be firmly anchored and held up by my loving Father, than potentially deal with these things and more and have nothing. I know this sounds a bit extreme, but you get the picture.
It's a bit like the Israelites in Exodus 14. They have been freed from slavery in Egypt, and are on their way to the land promised to them by God. Yet Exodus 14v17 we learn that 'when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them through the Philistine country, though that was shorter'. God had better plans for them, plans to protect them, to save them from harm, to teach them more about Himself and His love, plans to spend time with them, plans to show them His wonders, plans for personal growth and maturity.
Often the same happens to many of us. We find ourselves in a church or a town or a job that we had no plans of being in. To take the easy route would often be to quit, or to miss out, (although praise God that He works for our good in ALL things - not just when we choose the right thing!). Today perhaps you are on an unexpected and perhaps difficult path. Surrender it to our Father and let Him carry you. Perhaps He has something to teach you, a gift to nurture in you, a mountain He wants you to avoid, a difficult situation He wants you to overcome and get to the bottom of, or perhaps He just wants to walk the path with you and spend time with you. Often it's not about the place we are going to but the path we are taking. Let's choose God's path, because really, the pressure is off us. Let Him decide, let Him be your strength, let Him be your hope, let Him be your guide, let His wave be the one you ride.
PS here's a really good song I love about this by Sonicflood - proper oldskool!
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