So...here it is that time of year when everyone's thoughts turn to love or that special someone. So...it got me thinking. I feel like each of us has/had an idea of who we would like to end up with. For some conservative Christians it was "the list" of what you needed/wanted in that special someone for others it was the "dream guy." Who ever he/she was, you just knew that they would come around. For some, only one take was needed before the match was complete. Others of us have had a few tries at the love story and have yet to finish it. Others have become content with where they are at. God bless them! So...what about the guy or girl you dated at one point in time who you were sure was "the one?" What went wrong and why are you not together now? For many the questions still come, the longings still there for that one to be "the one." Will it work? How do you finally move on?
One thing i have learned throughout the years of heartache, no matter how much we question or long for something else, something more. God is in control! My little sister Paula is one such an example of a life controlled by God. She is a mother of 5 children...starting at the young age of 16 and now 25, she has given up maintaining any sort of control in her life and relies heavily upon God to sustain her every day. She has witnessed and experienced how releasing control and allowing God to be the one calling the shots is vital to life. But back to love...I know people are always telling us to just be content and when that happens - presto - life, love, careers fall into place. Perhaps, it does not always work like that...but i see more clearly everyday that what i long for, if not given over to God, is futile.
What do you think? Is it healthy to long for things we want to do, achieve, accomplish in this life? Or is it more important to focus our hearts longings on what Christ would have us do, achieve, accomplish? Are they one in the same? If we let go and let God (cheesy, cliche, i know) - the life we will live is one immeasureably more satisfying than any you or i could ever hope or imagine for.
Live it. Love it. Own it.
Mel,
ReplyDeleteYou know I love you and admire you for accomplishing so much in your life so far. You AMAZE me with your energy and zest for life. I am so happy God chose me to be your sister. You are so special and so loved by all of us here!
And about the control issue... once you let go, it's amazing at how the longings of your heart become those of Christ.
I agree with Paula about letting go of our desires. I don't think that our desires are bad or wrong. We just need to measure them against what God has called us to do and be as Christians. If our desires are in line with his calling for our lives, then there is nothing selfish about it. For me, it's a daily process of letting God have control of my life. And believe me, there are many days where I fail at that and decide that I'll be in control. I guess that's why they call this process a journey. You don't truly arrive at the destination until the day that we get to meet Jesus. I doubt my ramblings clarified anything -- but thought I'd at least post my thoughts. :)
ReplyDeleteMelissa--I think you hit the nail on the head. We will always have desires and ambitions of our own but I also believe that as we live our lives to honor and glorify God our ambitions and desires become in line with what God wants in our lives. Do we get there immediately? No, it is a process that we go through as we live our lives. If we didn't go through the many facets of our lives, we would not have experiences to draw strength and knowledge from. I think I am rambling like Priscilla. Thanks for the thought provoking writing. Love you!
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