Often in my Job I get the chance to speak, this is the message and poem God gave me to share at Wednesday’s Free Lunch:
It is always frustrating, that I keep acting up and end up playing.
Falling short of everything I wanna reach, no matter how many times, I hear someone preach
Or sit in a pew under a steeple, we keep falling short of being good people.
Still playing
I’m a creature created to reach you, but Everytime I try to meet you, I don’t take time and begin to cheat you.
All my actions come with selfish gains to make me feel better, ive broken rules and discarded treasure.
Still playing
I could do nothing good of my own ability, I could only ask in humility.
I couldn’t reach you, but then I realize it’s because I didn’t really seek you.
And God I need you.
Started praying
God watch my steps and plant my feet, I’m nothing without you cause you’re all I need.
And At those words I could let it go and place it in your hands, so these would no longer be my plans.
It is no longer devastating, when I trust in you God and begin waiting..
Waiting for the established steps that you created because they are the best. I’ll know you’re standing next to me during every single test.
And when I drift or begin to swerve, I pray for a reminder that its not the world that I should serve.
And in the end It’s not about the things that I have done,
But about the way you reach for me with the sacrifice of your son.
You loved me before you formed me, and made me your own, and now I’ll give you glory and praise you at the throne.
1peter 1:3-7 is a passage that really speaks truth into this poem. It says:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:3-7 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/1pe.1.3-7.ESV
Life didn’t change for me until I began seeking him. I assumed or maybe got told that being a Christian and following God meant my life would be easier, but as time went on, I didn’t see that.
Infact I felt the opposite and distanced myself from God for a time. And not even intentionally. I honestly thought I was saved (I wasn’t) and thought i didn’t need to apply effort to grow or follow him in any particular direction.
But then wondered why he didn’t speak to me or why I didn’t have these cool things happen to me. *And when good stuff happened I never thanked him. But you better believe when bad stuff happened I blamed him.
How are we going to act like God doesn’t care when we’re the ones that aren’t seeking? He’s saught us. Hasn’t he? Don’t we have millions of churches? Don’t we have millions of Bible’s in this world? FULL of HIS word? Don’t we have ample amounts of free time we could talk to him? Or see beautiful works of nature that scream his name? Yet we let ourselves get distracted and fill up the silence with anything and everything else.
My problem wasn’t the absence of God, my problem was my absence of looking at his presence. And so one day, I ACTUALLY said, God, fix me. Direct me. Help me to seek you and your will, not the will I think you’d like me to have. I let that go. I actually had to pray that he would help me want to want Him and His plans.
And you know what? Life still gets tough. However, I have a Redeemer who restores me and my soul and stands and walks with me through the storm. He fights with me and for me. (Isaiah 43:2) When God is for me who can be against me? (That’s Romans 8:31) The enemy can try, but he isn’t going to win because I’m gonna fight with scripture, and prayer, and community, and fight with love and love always wins. Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection won it all. And not only that, Romans 8:34 mentions that Jesus is at the throne interceding/praying on our behalfs.
Who do you want to lead your life? Do you want to join this winning side? Everyone, saved or not is going to be challenged. That’s life. But do you want to win or be defeated? Jesus is the champion that fights for those who love him and call on his name. Take time today to pray and surrender and let God lead you. I promise it’s worth it.
And even in all this, I am still imperfect and have messy moments. Maybe even more so when I deliver messages like this. So please, if you’re reading this, pray for me. Pray that I would be filled with Joy and stand up against the enemy and choose joy no matter what. And also that I remember that it is okay to not be okay and that I don’t always have to have it all together.
Sarah's Story 